A growing number of business laptops no longer have SODIMM slots. Instead they carry a flat memory module held down by screws, and the names on the spec sheet are CAMM2 and LPCAMM2. They look similar and they sound similar, but they are not the same part, and neither fits the SODIMM slot your last laptop used. This guide explains what each one is, which systems use them, and how to check before you order memory for a laptop or a fleet.
The short answer
- CAMM2 is a JEDEC standard. It is a flat module, JESD318, that attaches to the board with a compression connector instead of sliding into an edge slot like a SODIMM.
- There are two kinds. JEDEC describes DDR5 CAMM2 and LPDDR5/5X CAMM2. The LPDDR form is the one commonly called LPCAMM2.
- They do not swap. The pinouts differ and the mounting procedures differ on purpose, so a module cannot be installed where it does not belong.
- Neither fits a SODIMM slot, so you cannot upgrade a CAMM2 or LPCAMM2 laptop with SODIMM memory unless the maker built that model to take both.
- NEMIX RAM does not currently supply CAMM2 or LPCAMM2 modules. We supply SODIMM, UDIMM and RDIMM, and we match them to the systems that take them.
What CAMM2 is
CAMM stands for Compression Attached Memory Module. JEDEC published the CAMM2 common standard in December 2023 as one document covering the electrical and mechanical requirements. A CAMM2 module lies flat against the board and is clamped onto a connector, which gives it a lower profile than a SODIMM. The standard is also designed for multiple memory channels on one module: a dual-channel connector can be split into two single-channel halves, so the same idea can scale in capacity.
What LPCAMM2 is, and how it differs
JEDEC covers two memory types under the one standard. DDR5 CAMM2 is aimed at performance notebooks and mainstream desktops. LPDDR5/5X CAMM2 is aimed at a broader range of notebooks and certain server segments. The low-power form is what laptop makers call LPCAMM2. Thin laptops often solder low-power memory to the board, so the appeal of LPCAMM2 is low-power memory on a module you can replace. In its first generation one 128-bit module does the work of two SODIMMs, and the first modules came in 32GB and 64GB.
| CAMM2 (DDR5) | LPCAMM2 (LPDDR5/5X) | SODIMM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory type | DDR5 | LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X | DDR5, DDR4 or older |
| Aimed at | Performance notebooks and mainstream desktops | A broader range of notebooks and certain server segments | Most upgradable laptops, mini PCs and small desktops |
| Fits a SODIMM slot | No | No | Yes, if the generation matches |
| Fits the other CAMM2 type | No, different pinout and mounting | No, different pinout and mounting | Not applicable |
| Does NEMIX RAM supply it | No | No | Yes |
The practical point is in the last two rows. If you read "CAMM2" on a spec sheet, check whether it means the DDR5 module or the LPDDR module before you look for a part.
Which systems use them
Most laptops still use SODIMM or soldered memory, and CAMM2 and LPCAMM2 are found on a short list of business and workstation models. This list is what we could confirm from published sources, and it is not complete. Model lines change by variant, so the exact configuration matters.
| System | Module type | What we read |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 | LPCAMM2 | First laptop to use it, with a 64GB maximum at 7467 MT/s and a module that can be swapped |
| Dell Pro 5 14 and Pro 5 16 (Intel Core Ultra X7 with ARC graphics) | LPCAMM2 | Replaceable LPCAMM2 on those variants; other Pro 5 variants use SODIMM |
| Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S (Intel variants) | LPCAMM2 | Up to 64GB of user-replaceable LPCAMM2 |
| Dell Pro Max 16 Plus and Pro Max 18 Plus | CAMM2 | Dell publishes a CAMM replacement tutorial for the 18 Plus; one review reports options up to 256GB at 7200 MT/s on the 16 Plus |
| Dell Precision 7670 and 7770 | Dell's first CAMM | Built with a CAMM module or SODIMMs, and an earlier design than the JEDEC CAMM2 standard |
Dell's own earlier design is a useful warning. The Precision 7670 and 7770 used a CAMM that came before the JEDEC standard, with a different contact layout, so do not assume a module from one generation carries over to the next.
How to check what your laptop takes
- Read the memory line of the manufacturer's specification for your exact model, which will say SODIMM, soldered, CAMM2 or LPCAMM2. Variants of one model can differ.
- Use the service manual or the maker's memory tutorial. Dell publishes step-by-step memory replacement videos by model, including one for the CAMM on the Pro Max 18 Plus.
- Confirm the configuration you bought, since a model sold with LPCAMM2 on one processor option may use SODIMM on another.
- Look for the slot. A SODIMM has a notched edge and sits in a slot; a CAMM2 module is a flat board with screws.
- Check before you order, not after, because a SODIMM purchased for a CAMM2 laptop does not fit.
What this means for a fleet refresh
Laptop fleets are rarely uniform, so one order often mixes SODIMM, soldered and CAMM-family models. Sort the list by memory type first. The SODIMM models can be filled with standard modules, the soldered models cannot be upgraded at all, and the CAMM2 and LPCAMM2 models need their own modules from the system maker or another source. Where a model gives you a choice of capacity at purchase, order the amount you will need over the life of the machine, since it may not be a part you can easily buy later.
What NEMIX RAM covers
We list SODIMM models for the laptops that take them, matched to the maker's published specification. Start with the Dell Pro and Pro Max collection, the Dell Precision mobile workstation collection, the Lenovo laptop and desktop collection or the full laptop memory collection. Our platform guides explain the rules by brand: see the Dell laptop memory guide and the Lenovo memory guide. For the differences between full-size and compact modules, see the SODIMM guide and our CUDIMM vs UDIMM, CSODIMM and SODIMM guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is LPCAMM2 the same as CAMM2?
LPCAMM2 is the low-power form of CAMM2. The CAMM2 standard covers a DDR5 module and an LPDDR5/5X module. They share a connector design but have different pinouts and mounting, so they are not interchangeable.
Can I use SODIMM memory in a CAMM2 or LPCAMM2 laptop?
Not in a slot built for CAMM2 or LPCAMM2, because a SODIMM does not fit it. Some models are built with a choice of memory type: Dell says the Precision 7670 and 7770, for example, were built with either a CAMM module or SODIMMs. Check the manual for your exact model.
Which laptops use LPCAMM2?
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 was the first, and Dell uses it on some Pro 5 14 and 16 variants and on Intel versions of the Pro Precision 5 Series 16S. Dell's Pro Max 16 Plus and 18 Plus use CAMM2. The exact module depends on the configuration, so check your model.
Can I upgrade a laptop with LPCAMM2 memory?
Usually yes, because the module is replaceable, unlike soldered memory. You need the right module type for the model, and capacity is limited by the maker's specification, for example 64GB on the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7.
Does NEMIX RAM sell CAMM2 or LPCAMM2 modules?
Not currently. We supply SODIMM, UDIMM and RDIMM modules, and our listings cover only systems that take those. If you are planning a fleet refresh, send us your model list and we will tell you which models take SODIMM.
Is CAMM2 coming to desktops?
JEDEC aims DDR5 CAMM2 at performance notebooks and mainstream desktops, but laptops are where most people meet it today. Check your motherboard's memory support list before assuming a slot type.
Sources
The standard's scope, memory types and keying come from the JEDEC announcement of the CAMM2 standard. ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 details are from Tom's Hardware and ServeTheHome. Dell model details are from Notebookcheck on the Dell Pro 5, the Pro Precision 5 Series 16S and the Pro Max 16 Plus, from Dell's CAMM replacement tutorial for the Pro Max 18 Plus, and for the original Dell CAMM, Wikipedia's CAMM article. All were read on October 28, 2026. Laptop configurations change, so confirm your exact model with the maker.
Laptop memory, matched to the hardware
NEMIX RAM is a US-based memory specialist, in business since 1993. Every module is researched, matched, and compatibility-tested by NEMIX RAM, is JEDEC-compliant, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Purchase orders, net terms and volume pricing are available for IT teams, resellers, and government and education buyers. Request a quote with your model list and quantities, or contact our sales team. You can also read our fleet memory upgrade guide.
NEMIX RAM is an independent memory supplier and is not affiliated with JEDEC, Dell, Lenovo or Micron. CAMM2, LPCAMM2, Dell, Lenovo, ThinkPad and Micron are trademarks of their respective owners, used here only to identify compatible systems.