DDR4 vs. DDR5: Which One is Right for You?

DDR4 vs. DDR5: Which Onea is Right for You? If you’re shopping around for new computer parts, you might have come across two confusing buzzwords: DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules.

What are they? Can you put DDR4 in DDR5? If so, how do you do it? And what’s the difference between these two standards of RAM? Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers to these questions – we’re here to help! Read on to learn more about the differences between DDR4 and DDR5 memory, why they exist, and how to install them in your gaming PC.

It’s hard to believe, but in just a few short months we’ll be welcoming a new generation of RAM into our lives. No, it’s not Y2K all over again, or some other doomsday prophecy based on technology. Rather, it’s something even more exciting—the dawn of DDR5!

What Is DDR4 Memory?

Today’s computers, mobile devices, and servers need more bandwidth than ever before—especially in terms of capacity. To help satisfy that demand, memory manufacturers have introduced DDR4, a faster type of random access memory (RAM) that can store twice as much data as its predecessor, DDR3 (at speeds up to 2133 MHz). If you’re wondering how DDR4 compares to its predecessor and what factors you should consider when upgrading from one type of RAM to another, read on for answers to those questions and more. Whether you are a gamer or simply want your laptop to be able to multitask quickly and efficiently, these are facts worth knowing before investing in new hardware components.

Why Choose DDR4 Memory Over DDR3?

DDR4 might be new, but it’s already widely used in many of today’s high-end desktop and laptop computers. For example, Intel’s powerful new Coffee Lake architecture contains not only a CPU but also supports up to 64GB of memory using DDR4 modules with speeds up to 2666MHz. And if you want your own server or workstation that can keep up with demanding applications like graphics editing, 3D modeling or even rendering, you can build a powerful solution by choosing either DDR3 or DDR4 modules. So which one should you pick? That depends on what your particular needs are and how much money you want to spend—or whether you have extra budgeting freedom in mind.

How Fast Is it?

DDR5 will double memory bandwidth, which makes it twice as fast as DDR4. Faster memory means faster overall performance and higher resolutions, so if you’re gaming or editing video regularly, you’ll definitely want to look into moving to a DDR5 system when they arrive on shelves. For example, if you have 8GB of DDR4 at 2400MHz in your current computer and move to an 8GB module of 2800MHz DDR5 (the fastest we’ve seen so far), you could see up to a 20% increase in performance over your current setup – about what you get from upgrading from two 7200RPM hard drives to one 10K RPM drive. Not bad!

The Cost Factor

If you’re interested in building a new computer, here’s what you need to know about DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The latest technology in memory isn’t something that most people think about, but it plays a huge role in how well your computer performs when trying to multitask or render complex graphics and video—such as when creating professional-quality content with design software like Photoshop or After Effects. While RAM seems straightforward enough, there are still several things you should be aware of before making your purchase; otherwise, choosing between these two types of RAM could cost you more than you planned! Let’s take a look at both options and see if we can figure out which type is right for your budget and needs.

Conclusion

It's all about compatibility with your motherboard. If you're shopping for a computer now, find out what type of RAM slots your motherboard uses and go from there. If you're building a custom rig down the road, buy based on what's available at that time and go from there. There isn't much difference between these two RAM types in terms of performance--it will mostly come down to how many banks you want to fill up versus how much money you want to spend--but it's worth knowing which one is right for your future plans, whatever they may be!