DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM: Which is Better for Your Computer, Specification & Gaming performance

 A new era in memory has started with the support of DDR5 by both AMD and Intel's most recent CPUs. That being said, DDR4 is still relevant today.

As long as both DDR4 and DDR5 memory standards are still available, choosing between them may be one of the most crucial decisions you'll have to make. 

It establishes the types of motherboards and CPUs you can utilise in addition to value and performance. This article is all about DDR4 and DDR5 also the Gaming performance.

 

·      What is DDR4 ram?

DDR4 RAM

DDR4 is the fourth generation of RAM technology. For "Double Data Rate 4," it stands. Since its release in 2014, it has evolved into the industry standard for memory modules.

 DDR4 RAM outperforms DDR3 RAM in terms of speed and data handling capacity. Additionally, it consumes less power and offers up to 128GB of data storage per module.

 

·      What is DDR5 ram?

DDR5 RAM

"Double Data Rate 5", or DDR5, is the newest form of RAM. It was made public in 2021 after being announced in 2018. 

Compared to DDR4, DDR5 RAM is supposed to be even faster, have greater storage capacity, and consume less power. 

It also introduces new features, like Error-Correcting Code (ECC) and On-Die ECC, which make data more dependable.

 

·      Can I replace DDR4 with DDR5?

Since DDR4 and DDR5 RAM cannot be installed in DDR4 slots, a new motherboard and CPU are needed for switching from DDR4 to DDR5.

 

• ·      Different between DDR4 and DDR5

Physically, the DDR5 RAM modules are the same as the current DDR4 sticks. Still, that's not exactly shocking. The new DDR5 doesn't have any extra or new pins over its predecessor, unlike the DDR3 to DDR4 changeover.

 The 288 pin arrangement is still there, although the pinouts are a little altered. But the true distinction is in the level of architectural design. DDR5 DIMMs contain two separate 32-bit channels, whereas DDR4 modules only have one 64-bit channel. Additionally, the burst length has been increased from 8 to 16 bytes. Now let's examine in more detail a few of the most significant differences:

 

·      DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM Specifications

·      DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM Performance

We'll be using an Intel Core i9-12900K and Kingston's Fury Beast DDR5 RAM for this specific comparison.

 The first consumer-grade processors to hit the market supporting DDR5 memory were Intel's Alder Lake-S desktop CPUs; however, as they also support DDR4 memory, a direct comparison between DDR4 and DDR5 is feasible.

We will use the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro DDR5 motherboard as our test motherboard. For this specific comparison, we selected the version of the motherboard that is compatible with DDR4 kits, but you may also get it without changing anything else about the hardware.

The Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 memory modules run at 1.1V, DDR4-4800 by default. It operates at JEDEC mandated timings of 38-38-38. 

With only a brief visit to the Intel XMP 3.0, the Fury Beast may be enhanced to DDR5-5200 with CL40 and 1.35V.

 

·      DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM Compatibility

Probably the most important distinction between DDR4 and DDR5 is compatibility. Because Intel is still supporting DDR4 with CPUs from the 12th and 13th generations, it is unexpectedly compatible with older Ryzen 5000 CPUs, many of which are still in use today. 

The only desktop CPUs that support DDR5 right now are AMD Ryzen 7000 and Intel's 12th and 13th generations; Ryzen 7000 is the only one that needs DDR5 at all.

It's crucial to remember that while CPUs from the 12th and 13th generations support both DDR4 and DDR5, LGA 1700 motherboards can only support one of the two memory types.

This is because a motherboard cannot (or will be very difficult to) handle both DDR4 and DDR5, as they differ both physically and electrically. 

It is crucial to confirm the type of RAM that is compatible with the motherboard when constructing a new PC.

 

·      Compatibility and Price

The power consumption of RAM should be taken into consideration when selecting it.

 While DDR5 RAM is anticipated to have a voltage of 1.1V, DDR4 RAM operates at 1.2V.

 This indicates that DDR5 RAM is more energy-efficient than DDR4 RAM since it will consume less power and produce less heat.

 

·      Capacity Improvements

How much data RAM can hold at any given time depends on size. DDR4 RAM can currently hold up to 32GB per module.

 DDR5 consumer DIMMs can now support 128GB per module with the maximum IC capacity quadrupling. 

This means that DDR5 RAM can handle larger data sets and run applications that require more power.

 

·      Speed and Bandwidth

RAM’s clock speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), showing how quickly RAM can send data to the CPU. 

DDR4 RAM usually works at speeds between 2133MHz and 3200MHz. DDR5 RAM, on the other hand, is expected to work at speeds up to 6400MHz. This means that DDR5 RAM will have twice as much bandwidth as DDR4, making it possible to transfer data faster and make the system run better.

 

·      Clock speed and data rate in DDR5 vs DDR4 RAM

A computer’s ability to operate is constrained by its clock speed—how many times the RAM modules can access its memory per second. 

The standard default clock speed for DDR4 is 2133MHz, whereas the default rate for DDR5 is 4800MHz. 

To run RAM faster than these speeds, you may have to enable the XMP profile in your PC’s BIOS if it’s not already enabled. Either way, even the fastest DDR4 cannot reach the same high speeds that DDR5 can.

Another of DDR5’s key improvements over DDR4 is its data transfer rate. For Intel’s 12th generation “Alder Lake” processors, DDR4 will run at speeds up to 3200 Megatransfers per second (MT/s), and DDR5 will run up to 4800 MT/s. 

This means DDR5 transfers data at up to 38.4 gigabytes per second (GB/s), while DDR4 tops out at 25.6 GB/s. Overall, DDR5 can be 50% faster than DDR4’s maximum data rate.

 

·      Is upgrading to DDR5 worth it?

Considering how long DDR3 stayed relevant while DDR4 was mainstream, it will be a couple of years at the earliest before compatibility and support issues make a DDR5 upgrade necessary. DDR5 is undeniably an improvement over DDR4 for memory bandwidth and capacity, but the modest performance gains over DDR4 in most nonprofessional tasks and its high latencies sour the deal.

When you add in the price difference, it makes little sense to choose a DDR5 kit for a PC unless you plan to use it for specific, demanding tasks like mass file compression or photo and video editing. Even if you want to future-proof your PC, it makes sense to let the technology develop for a couple of years before springing for a DDR5 kit.

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