DDR4 vs. DDR5: Who Wins?
The world of computers is an ever-changing one. From the processors you use to the screens that you see, it seems like there’s a new technology every day. But what about memory? How much does it change? Quite a bit, actually! What’s the difference between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM? Are they better or worse? Are they worth upgrading to? It can be hard to know how to choose when there are so many options to pick from. In this article, we’ll break down the difference between these two types of RAM and how they work. We’ll highlight their pros and cons, as well as which one you should use if you have to make a choice now.
Contents
What are DDR4 and DDR5?
DRAM4 and DRAM5 are the two types of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) found in many computers. The first DDR4 memory module prototype, created by Samsung, was presented in January 2011. While SK Hynix officially introduced the world's first DDR5 DRAM chip on October 6, 2020.
DDR4 SDRAM is a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) with a high bandwidth ("double data rate") interface. DDR4 provides for DIMMs with capacities of up to 64 GB, compared to DDR3's limit of 16 GB per DIMM. DDR4 has several advantages over its predecessor, DDR3, including increased module density and reduced voltage needs, as well as faster data rate transfer rates.
DDR4 is designed to be a cost-effective solution for desktop PCs, laptops, and servers. It offers lower power consumption than DDR3 and DDR2 and has high bandwidth, making it perfect for applications that require a lot of processing power. DDR5 is designed specifically for gamers and content creators who need high performance at a low cost. The result? Dramatic improvements in graphics quality with smooth gameplay on HD screens.
The Basic Differences Between DDR4 and DDR5
Without getting too technical, DDR memory comes in two flavors: DDR4 and DDR5. DDR4 provides rates of up to 32GT/s, which is more than adequate to operate nearly anything. It also costs less per gigabyte than DDR5. However, as bandwidth grows, so does the expense. DDR4 memory is less expensive to develop than DDR5 memory, hence the former has higher-priced chips than the later.
DDR5 will have a larger bandwidth and lower latency, with speeds of 4,800MHz or higher. In comparison, high-end DDR4 speeds range from 3,600 to 4,000MHz; also, DDR5 consumes less power than DDR4. It will also enable us to have more RAM capacity and, as a result, a far more powerful laptop or computer.
Pros and Cons of DDR4 vs. Pros and Cons of DDR5
DDR5 RAM has a number of advantages over previous generations. These enhancements are mostly in the areas of speed, performance, latency, and power management.
The primary benefit of DDR4 memory is its cheap cost. Another benefit of DDR4 memory is its increased availability. Because it is utilized by all major manufacturers, there are more brands to select from when purchasing gadgets that are pre-installed on it. When purchasing components for a computer or server, this allows the buyer to acquire suitable parts at any time
Benchmarking for Performance DDR4 VS. DDR5
Here are two Intel Core i9-12900K and Corsair Dominator Platinum 64GB DDR4 and Corsair Dominator Platinum 64GB DDR5 benchmark results, courtesy of Anandtech.
The Core i9-12900K, DDR4 version, scored 8,144 points on the AS SSD benchmark and 7,752 on the Cinebench R15 CPU multi-threaded test. The DDR5 version (with the most recent available firmware), averaged 9,233 points on AS SSD and 8,657 points on Cinebench. Both scores are excellent and have improved significantly over their predecessors.
They are also a testament to the performance increase provided by the 14nm+ process. With clock speeds as high as 4.4GHz for the Core i9-12900K, this CPU is able to overclock very easily.
What Can You Expect From DDR4 and DDR5?
DDR4 and DDR5 aren’t the same things. That being said, they can work in tandem with each other to drive your CPU to a higher performance state. So what are the differences between DDR4 and DDR5 memory?
DDR4 is four times faster than DDR3, but it runs at only 2133MHz and needs to be clocked two notches down to 2133MHz. This means you’ll have to buy twice as much memory in order to do the same amount of work.
DDR5 is way faster than DDR4, allowing memory to reach 2133MHz. However, you’ll have to pay a lot more for that kind of speed. It requires clocked at 1866MHz, which can’t be achieved until the CPU is clocked at 2.2GHz. As we mentioned above, the 12900K is clocked at 2.6GHz.
But we can perform more work because of faster RAM.
What CPU will support DDR5?
One thing to remember is that not all processors support DDR5 RAM. In fact, a number of Intel processors support both DDR4 and DDR5. Some of those include the i3/i5/i7 processor families, as well as the more recent Skylake and Kaby Lake chips.
Which Memory Type Is Best For You?
Unfortunately, the answer isn't clear. While both DDR4 and DDR5 offer higher capacity, lower latency, and lower power consumption, DDR4 offers lower latency, while DDR5 offers higher capacity and higher latency. All that being said, they're both very different memory technologies, and each has its own pros and cons.
Is DDR5 better than DDR4?
The speed of the CPU doesn’t directly affect the speed of memory. But there’s a difference between RAM and processor cores, and as PC enthusiasts know, the CPU is more important to the overall speed of a system than RAM.
Conclusion
The difference between DDR4 and DDR5 memory is more drastic than you might think, and it can affect your computing experience. Because of the lack of speed improvements from DDR4 to DDR5, they’re only useful for systems that require faster memory. For most people, though, you probably won’t need to upgrade. For PC gaming, for example, DDR4 is an excellent choice. You’ll still get speed improvements in games that require high speeds and over long periods of time. DDR5 isn’t worth your money if you plan on using your PC for a few years.
It’s always best to start out with DDR4, but if you want to upgrade in the future, you can! DDR5 is available now, though, and the price drops as you buy newer chips. You can find affordable DDR4 RAM for less than what you’d pay for DDR3 at similar speeds.
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