New memory module form factors and interface technologies to meet the demands of AI PCs.
The client PC market is undergoing a transformative shift. As AI becomes a cornerstone of modern computing, the architecture of client systems—particularly notebooks and desktops—is being reimagined to support the immense data processing needs of these workloads. From real-time inferencing to generative applications, AI is redefining what performance means in a personal computer.
With the proliferation of AI-powered features like intelligent assistants, real-time language translation, and advanced image processing, client PCs are becoming AI-enabled endpoints. This shift is driving a surge in demand for higher memory capacity and bandwidth—two essential ingredients for seamless AI performance.
Compared to conventional PCs, AI PCs require significantly more memory to handle large models and datasets. For example, running a generative AI model with 8 billion parameters at 4-bit precision requires at least 4 GB of memory, while a 70 billion parameter model could demand upwards of 35 GB. In general, AI PCs are expected to have at least 16 GB of RAM for basic tasks, with 32 GB or more recommended for more complex applications. Additionally, higher memory bandwidth is essential to ensure fast data transfer between the processor and memory, which directly impacts the latency and efficiency of AI workloads.
To meet these demands, the industry is embracing new memory module form factors and interface technologies, namely LPCAMM2 and CUDIMM/CSODIMM.
LPCAMM2 brings the benefits of LPDDR memory—originally designed for mobile devices—to the notebook PC space with the flexibility inherent in a memory module. Unlike soldered-down LPDDR, LPCAMM2 offers a modular, low-profile design that supports ultra-thin notebooks while enabling memory upgrades and repairs. This form factor delivers high data rates and low power consumption, making it ideal for AI-enabled portable PC systems.
CUDIMM (Clocked UDIMM) and CSODIMM (Clocked SODIMM) employing DDR5 DRAM represent the new mainstream client memory module solutions for data rates of 6400 MT/s and above. These modules incorporate a Client Clock Driver (CKD) to maintain signal integrity at higher speed.
Both LPCAMM2 and CUDIMM/CSODIMM utilize on-module power management ICs (PMICs). The PMICs allow for very fine-grain control of the voltage levels supplied to the various components on the memory module. As such, module suppliers can really dial in the best power levels for the performance target of a particular configuration.
In fact, the memory interface chipsets, which for LPCAMM2 is a PMIC and SPD Hub and for CUDIMM/CSODIMM consists of the CKD, PMIC and SPD Hub, are key to enabling the performance benefits of these new module form factors. Rambus offers these complete chipsets for LPCAMM2 and CUDIMM/CSODIMM with advanced reliability and configurability features.
Advancing memory performance has been the mission of Rambus for 35 years. We’re intimate with memory subsystem design on modules, with expertise across many critical technologies, and have demonstrated the disciplines required to successfully develop chips for the highest performance modules and deliver them at scale necessary for the computing market.
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