Summary
DDR4 and DDR5 are the two primary forms of memory that are often used in current computers. Together, they cover a number of generations of processors and motherboards spanning desktop computers and laptops. Although DDR4 may be the most common form of memory at the moment, this is gradually shifting to other types of memory. DDR5 memory is becoming much more widespread as a result of the introduction of Ryzen 7000-series CPUs as well as the 12th, 13th, and 14th generations of Intel’s processors.
Currently, you do have an option when it comes to Intel, but when it comes to AMD, you do not. Because of this, it may be difficult to determine if DDR4 or DDR5 is the superior option for your subsequent computer system. Is it worthwhile to upgrade to something more recent in order to have access to this more recent and quicker memory?
In order to assist you in making an educated decision on the kind of memory that is most appropriate for your planned update, the following comparison between DDR5 and DDR4 is presented.
DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: Both the cost and the availability
There has been a significant decrease in the cost of DDR5 RAM ever since it was first introduced in 2021. Then, the price for 16 gigabytes was going to be more than $1,000. Currently, the majority of them are sold for around $3 per gigabyte, which implies that you can get 16 gigabytes of DDR5 RAM for less than $50. This is a significant reduction in cost, which not only enables you to get the basic minimum of memory for a very little investment, but also enables you to contemplate upgrading to larger and more powerful kits. In 2024, the cost of acquiring 32GB or even 64GB of storage space is not even that high.
However, you will be required to spend a higher price if you want to achieve higher speeds and better timings when compared to the finest DDR4 RAM out there. For instance, a quality 16GB kit operating in the 5600MHz region would cost you anywhere between $40 and $50. On the other hand, if you invest in 32 gigabytes of dual-channel DDR5 RAM operating at 5600MHz, you will be looking at paying between $100 and 120. Despite this, it is an outstanding deal when you consider where costs were only a few years ago. Furthermore, knowing that the most recent generations of central processing units (CPUs) have benefited from better and faster memory, upgrading to a larger and faster kit can be the way to go in order to improve the performance of your personal computer.
DDR5 is already a common feature with Intel’s Alder Lake 12th generation and the more current Raptor Lake 13th generation and its 14th generation update. On the other hand, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 CPU is the only one that employs DDR5 data storage. It is quite probable that the next generation of Zen 5 central processing units (CPUs) from AMD and Arrow Lake processors from Intel will be DDR5 exclusives.
This means that acquiring DDR5 RAM for your custom computer is now just as simple as acquiring DDR4 RAM. Simply look into the many possibilities that are available at merchants such as Best Buy, Amazon, Newegg, or your local electronics store. You will most likely discover a broad variety of options accessible at these specific stores.
DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: Our practical examinations
In May, we put DDR4 and DDR5 through their paces on Intel’s 12th-generation i9-12900K processor. The results of our tests showed that DDR5 was 11% quicker on average across all of the individual benchmarks that we evaluated.
Quite a bit of the outcomes were determined by the benchmarking software that was used. The results of the 3D Mark Time Spy test show that DDR5 performed just 7% quicker than DDR4; nevertheless, in both of the Geekbench 5 tests, DDR5 completely outperformed DDR4 in terms of performance.
It is essential to keep in mind that DDR5 confers an advantage onto Alder Lake, which indicates that the implementation of DDR5 RAM is optimal for the performance of Intel’s 12th-generation CPUs. You will also experience comparable performance benefits of higher-speed DDR5 memory with newer Intel 13th and 14th generation CPUs. This is because both of these processors are newer designs that are better able to take use of greater memory speeds and come with stronger native support for faster RAM. There are decreasing gains, with the very fastest kits being more beneficial for benchmarking than for providing real-world performance improvements; still, the option is there to you if you so want.
DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: The performance
There are a lot of aspects that influence memory performance; nevertheless, the speed of the memory is the most significant component that differentiates the various kits.
Megatransfers per second, often known as MT/s, are the units of measurement for this, but it is sometimes expressed as an MHz rating. The effective performance number is the same in both scenarios, which means that it may be used interchangeably in any scenario.
The DDR4 standard extends from a minimum frequency of 1,600MHz all the way up to a maximum frequency of 3,200MHz. Manufacturers, on the other hand, have created DDR4 memory packages that greatly exceed these constraints. The use of extreme memory profile (XMP), which allows for automatic overclocking, has made it possible for these kits to enable even higher speeds. Kits that are capable of operating at 4,000MHz are not unusual; nonetheless, there have been examples of extraordinary kits operating at frequencies higher than 5,000MHz. It is possible that the practical performance advantages of such high-speed memory are not immediately apparent. As a result, kits of this sort are not only uncommon but also expensive; yet, they do exist.
On the other hand, DDR5 has its own set of specifications, which begin at 4,800MHz and go all the way up to 6,400MHz. However, much as with DDR4, there will be faster memory available in the future, and manufacturers have already started launching kits that are far faster than the DDR5 requirements. There are a number of manufacturers that have shown kits that are capable of operating at frequencies higher than 8,000 MHz, and there are even proof of concepts that reach as high as 12,000 MHz.
To put that into perspective, the raw speed of DDR5 is far higher than that of even the fastest DDR4 at the top end, while the middle sits around the 5,000MHz level, which is comparable to the top end of DDR4 RAM.
When it comes to performance, timings are the other side of the coin. They are responsible for controlling the latency of certain memory functions and have the potential to have a significant impact on the performance of memory in the real world. Even though they are nearly always more lenient on higher-frequency memory and will be on DDR5, it is very improbable that they will cause DDR5 to function differently from DDR4 in terms of performance.
The channel design of the memory is further improved by DDR5, which makes use of two smaller channels to manage memory access rather than a single bigger channel. The width of the channel has not changed; nevertheless, the possibility exists that two smaller channels might enhance efficiency. This could assist provide DDR5 an additional performance advantage over its competitors from the previous generation.
DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: Having the capacity
According to DDR5, the dies are twice as thick as those used in DDR4, which is one of the most significant modifications that DDR5 brings to the architectural level. In conjunction with the introduction of new chip designs, this indicates that DDR5 memory chips may be created with capacities of up to 64GB, while DDR4 memory chips could be generated with capacities of up to 16GB. As a result, memory sticks with a greater capacity should be developed. There is a staggering 512GB DDR5 stick available from Samsung, despite the fact that 128GB of memory on a single stick seems to be a viable alternative.
Despite the fact that there are relatively few popular uses for such memory capacities, the availability of the option to increase stick capacities makes it somewhat simpler to plan for upgrades that are intended to be implemented over a longer period of time. Additionally, it opens the door to the possibility of increasing memory capacities on smaller systems such as Mini-ITX models.
Do you want to discover how much random access memory (RAM) you require? You should look at our guide.
DDR5 vs. DDR4 RAM: Powered by thermal energy
Because of its enhanced performance, DDR5 requires less power than previous generations of DDR memory, as has been the case with each and every generation of DDR memory after it. In comparison to DDR4, which has a typical voltage need of 1.2v, DDR5 only consumes 1.1v (volts). A portion of the reduction in power consumption that occurs in mobile devices such as laptops and tablets is attributed to this.
It is common knowledge that a lower voltage would indicate that the circuits would operate at a lower temperature; however, this is not the case with DDR5. The voltage regulator for the memory included in DDR5 kits is located on the modules themselves, as opposed to being located on the motherboard.
This, in conjunction with the much increased density of the memory chips and the enhanced performance, results in DDR5 operating at a higher temperature than DDR4. This indicates that prior to adding DDR5 RAM, you will need to ensure that you have heat sinks that are compatible with the RAM.
The DDR5 memory is superior, but at what price?
The performance of DDR5 modules is more than twice as fast as that of the fastest DDR4 modules. The 12th, 13th, and 14th generations of CPUs from Intel, as well as the Ryzen 7000 series of processors from AMD, have combined to make personal computers noticeably quicker and more powerful than ever before. Those who are interested in upgrading will find that the current costs are a significant benefit.
Despite the fact that DDR5 has certain problems with heat performance, it is not anything that a computer that is properly cooled cannot manage. A recognized standard, DDR4 can be found in the majority of computers that have been created after the year 2015, and the high end will serve you well. On the other hand, if you want to ensure that your computer is ready for the future, you should update to DDR5. In light of the fact that this is the new standard, DDR4 is rapidly becoming outdated.
