DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM: What's the Difference?

DDR is a form of SDRAM that stands for Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. Don't worry, you do not have to remember all that! SDRAM synchronizes data transfer between the CPU and memory of your PC system. 

In 2000, DDR memory was released, and by 2014 the fourth iteration of DDR memory was launched (DDR4). Each iteration of DDR comes with performance improvements over its predecessor.

DDR5 is the fifth iteration of DDR, doubling the bandwidth and capacity of its predecessor. Just like with new generations of processors and graphics cards increasing core/thread count and clock speeds, new memory generations come along to raise the ceiling, allowing applications to do even more things at once and typically resulting in more efficient computing.

Memory Bandwidth

One of the main differences between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM is speed. The JEDEC spec of DDR4 operates at effective speeds of up to 3200MHz, up from its initial 2133MHz at launch, while DDR5 RAM can operate at effective speeds of up to 6400Mhz. And that is just the beginning, memory manufacturers are already talking about pushing the bandwidth even further, so don’t be surprised if you see DDR5 running at 8000MHz or more. You can find a broad variety of DDR4 RAM and DDR5 RAM on our main website.

Voltage

On DDR4, power regulation and management are integrated into the motherboard for memory; on DDR5, each module has its own PMIC (Power Management Integrated Circuit). With this change, DDR5 memory ICs require less power, with Vdd dropping from 1.2v (DDR4) to 1.1v (DDR5), which translates to improved efficiency and power regulation, resulting in a higher ceiling when overclocking among other things.

The downside is that despite its lower voltage DDR5 modules run warmer than a DDR4, so good heatsink & cooling technology is key to high performance. The CORSAIR patented DHX cooling technology on DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR5 separates our premium product apart from our competitors’ solutions.

• Better voltage regulation
• Improved DRAM yields
• Reduced module power consumption compared to DDR
• Increased efficiency vs voltage regulation on the motherboard

Capacity

Another difference between the two types of DRAM is capacity. DDR4’s density cap per module is already being hit at 32GB with a small selection of high-end kits, and DDR5 prom­ises to raise this to a theoretical maximum of 128GB per module (or four times the density of DDR4 currently). This allows for a single user to work with larger, more memory-intensive projects and potentially allows for more immersive gaming experienc­es as game studios take advantage of the general increase in available memory for features and assets in their games.

With all the major improvements from DDR4 to DDR5 mentioned in this article, it is fair to say, yes, DDR5 is better across the board in terms of features and benefits. Check out the full range of CORSAIR DDR5 Memory.

Note: Memory support is governed by a combination of your motherboard and CPU. While your CPU may support both DDR4 and DDR5, your motherboard typically supports only one, either DDR4 or DDR5. This means you may need a new motherboard to take advantage of DDR5.