DDR4 vs. DDR5 RAM: What’s the Difference?

Overclocking has also improved, with Intel updating XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile) to 3.0 for DDR5. While XMP 2.0 only supported two profiles, the latest version boasts five. Three are set by the memory manufacturer, with two more for you to change and edit your own settings. Intel hosts spreadsheets with settings from common manufacturers if you are curious what these profiles look like.

You may have noticed that despite the overall higher clock speeds, the latency of DDR5 memory is slightly slower than DDR4. However, this does not tell the whole story and as memory manufacturer Corsair explains“DDR4 typically has a CAS latency of 16, while DDR5 will have a CAS latency of at least 32. However, because of its faster clock speeds, the newer standard has better overall performance.” In other words, more is needed cycles to complete a task, but these cycles are much faster than before.

The real nerdy stuff

There are a few other changes to the DDR5 standard that don’t really affect which slot you put in your particular computer.

DDR5 memory should use less power overall than DDR4, though not in a way that will allow you to get away with less power. Instead, it gives manufacturers and overclockers more leeway to push for even higher speeds. Each stick of DDR5 memory now also has its own power management chip, instead of the motherboard managing the power distribution. Again, probably not something that will matter to most people, but should make for a more consistent experience when using XMP profiles.

You also get increased bandwidth thanks to a major change in the underlying DIMM memory architecture. Where each DDR4 module relies on one 64-bit channel, DDR5 has two 32-bit channels. Combined with the increased speed and efficiency, Memory maker Crucial says “users can get up to 2x the system bandwidth compared to DDR4 for next-generation, multi-core processors.”

Installation slots for random access memory (RAM) computer chips are seen on a server system support board at Bull SA’s headquarters in Angers, France, Monday, June 23, 2014. Thierry Breton, chief executive of software maker Atos, has designed a 620 million euro ($846 million) bid to acquire Bull, the computer company he tried to revive two decades ago. Photographer: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhoto: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Some manufacturers also mention the error correction code, or ECC, already present in DDR5 memory. This is slightly different from DDR4’s ECC, which was an optional module present on chips intended for server or commercial use. Instead of helping a bunch of different memory chips communicate reliably, it corrects errors in individual banks before sending it to the motherboard. Commercial memory manufacturer ATP has an in-depth explainer on the reasoning behind this technology that goes beyond what you need for your gaming PC, if that’s of interest.

Too much to remember?

If you are building a new computerit’s extremely likely that your motherboard supports DDR5, so that’s what you should buy. The only reason you’d need DDR4 memory for a new build is if you’re specifically using old parts to keep costs down. You’re more likely looking for DDR4 because you’re upgrading an existing system.

In the early days of the market, you may have paid almost twice as much for DDR5 as compared to DDR4, but prices have leveled off with wider adoption and will look recognizable to anyone who bought memory before the update.