DDR5 vs. DDR4 Gaming Performance



It's time we take a fresh look at DDR4 vs. DDR5 memory, using the "new" Intel Core i9-14900K. The closing time we as compared DDR4 and DDR5 memory changed into nearly two years in the past the use of the i9-12900K in 41 video games. At the time, we were using DDR5-6000 and DDR4-3600 for trying out but nowadays we're upgrading that to DDR5-7200 and DDR4-4000 memory.

Interestingly, in a role reversal, DDR4 memory now fees quite a bit more than DDR5 (!). The G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB DDR4-4000 CL16 package is priced at $one hundred seventy, even as the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 32GB DDR5-7200 CL34 kit is available for $a hundred thirty.

So this evaluation focuses much less on whether or not you must pair an LGA 1700 processor with DDR4 or DDR5 memory – much less about shopping for advice and extra about interest – how does DDR4 compare to the newer DDR5 fashionable in modern video games?

For new machine developers, the buying recommendation is quite truthful: just move for DDR5, because it's usually faster and does not value drastically extra. For example, a 32GB DDR5-5600 kit is to be had for $70 nowadays, whilst DDR4-3600 kits start at around $fifty five. Additionally, each DDR4 and DDR5 motherboards regularly fee a similar amount, with DDR5 models now being more with ease to be had.

Let's now delve into the overall performance differences between premium DDR4 and DDR5 memory kits the use of the Core i9-14900K. With 21 video games to review, allow's dive in.

Benchmarks

First up, we've got Assassin's Creed Mirage, where DDR5 gives as much as a 13% extra performance, discovered within the 1% lows at 1080p, with a 7% increase to the common frame rate. For reference, we also have some 1440p and 4K records. However, as we end up greater GPU-confined, CPU reminiscence performance performs a much less critical function.

If this have been a game in which round two hundred fps became required, DDR5 could provide the quality risk of hitting that target, in spite of a decrease-cease GPU, because the graphical pleasant settings can be adjusted.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty isn't especially memory-sensitive. A major gain with DDR5 emerges at higher body prices. At 1080p, the DDR5-7200 configuration changed into nine% quicker.

Horizon Zero Dawn plays similarly with both DDR4-4000 or DDR5-7200 memory, successfully utilizing the Core i9-14900K.

Far Cry 6 shows little reliance on memory performance, yielding similar results for the 14900K using either DDR4 or DDR5 memory.

F1 23 is not especially reminiscence-sensitive, and hence, we look at little to no difference between DDR4 and DDR5 in this example.

In Assetto Corsa Competizione, average fps performance saw a minor growth with DDR5, transferring from simply over a hundred and sixty fps with DDR4 to just over 170 fps using DDR5. While not a substantive difference, DDR5 allows the best degree of overall performance on this title.

Watch Dogs: Legion, a CPU-stressful identify, benefits from the extended bandwidth of DDR5, improving overall performance through up to 14% at 1080p, with considerable profits also noted at 1440p.

In A Plague Tale: Requiem, DDR5 changed into on common 7% quicker, with more giant margins within the 1% lows. Here, DDR5 become up to 15% quicker, in particular at 1080p.

The Star Wars Jedi: Survivor effects show an extreme distinction inside the 1% lows. At 1080p, DDR5 became eleven% quicker on average, but the 35% margin in 1% low performance is extra reported. The margins at 1440p also are great, even though performance will become more GPU-bound at 4K.

DDR5 significantly complements overall performance in Baldur's Gate 3, providing a 20 fps growth at each 1080p and 1440p. This equates to a first rate 14% improvement, consistent in each common and 1% low metrics.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III seems to perform well the use of DDR4 memory, without a significant distinction noted among the two memory requirements.

In Resident Evil 4, we're looking at a extraordinary nine% overall performance increase at 1080p and 1440p. Beyond that, the outcomes turn out to be predictably GPU-limited at 4K.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider, although ageing, remains a CPU-traumatic game. Consequently, we are witnessing a tremendous overall performance discrepancy between DDR4 and DDR5 reminiscence, with DDR5 being as much as 26% faster at 1080p.

The Callisto Protocol, now not being in particular CPU or reminiscence-extensive, lets in DDR4-4000 memory to deliver performance akin to DDR5 at very excessive body quotes.

The effects for Total War: Warhammer III are unexpected, as here DDR4 outperforms DDR5, offering up to ten% extra overall performance at 1080p. We have formerly encountered eventualities wherein DDR4 plays better than DDR5, although that is commonly in much older video games.

In Hogwarts Legacy, wherein every body is vital, specially with ray tracing enabled, the nine% overall performance enhance supplied by way of DDR5 is considerable, increasing body rates from 70 fps to 76 fps. This margin is also evident at 1440p.

Given Starfield's CPU barriers, one would possibly assume a extra full-size overall performance uplift from DDR5 reminiscence. However, at 1080p, we are most effective seeing a 7% boom in the common body charge.

Next, we assessment The Last of Us Part I. Surprisingly, DDR5 did not have as an awful lot advantage over DDR4 as expected on this title. However, the gains at 1080p are noteworthy, with 1% lows boosted by 17%, even though the common frame price handiest sees a nine% boom.

In Halo Infinite, the selection of memory, whether or not DDR4-4000 or DDR5-7200, did not effect the frame quotes when paired with the 14900K, with equal effects at 1080p.

While over 200 fps won't be important for playing Hitman 3, DDR5-7200 is the favored preference for maximizing frame rates, offering a 12% performance development at 1080p.

Spider-Man Remastered is known for taking advantage of DDR5 memory. Here, we observe as much as a 20% overall performance boom, with the game being closely CPU-certain, even at 4K, wherein, curiously, the largest margin in 1% lows is detected.

Performance Summary

We've now taken a look at the 21 games examined, and as predicted, DDR5 usually offers better gaming performance. To quantify this gain, let's examine the 1080p margins for the average frame rate and 1% lows…

Upon evaluating the common frame price, we located that DDR5 memory became, on common, 7% faster. This is not a big margin, although we did come across numerous instances of double-digit enhancements.

There have been, of route, a few video games where DDR4 and DDR5 added the equal or very similar overall performance, which lowers the general common. In Warhammer, DDR5 was even five% slower. However, lots of the bigger margins were visible in the 1% lows, which we'll discover next.

Comparing 1% low performance, DDR5 changed into on average 10% quicker, with numerous examples exceeding 15%. Notably huge margins have been discovered in Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Overall, performance became honestly higher with the quicker reminiscence.

For context, a few years ago, using different reminiscence modules, DDR5 became simply three% faster on common for 1% low performance. However, that contrast included nearly twice as many video games, lots of which had margins of 5% or much less.

What We Learned

DDR5 normally gives higher overall performance in modern titles, specially in handing over stronger 1% lows, in all likelihood ensuing in smoother body time performance.

However, in case you have already got incredible DDR4 memory, particularly 32GB of it, investing in a DDR4 LGA 1700 motherboard remains a possible alternative. Performance will nonetheless be excellent, and realistically, in present day games which includes Starfield, Baldur's Gate three, or The Last of Us Part 1, it's going to be GPU boundaries as a way to be considerable.

That stated, if you're an esports gamer or experience aggressive shooters with aggressive first-class settings, CPU boundaries might play a aspect. As continually, it relies upon on variables like your quality settings, hardware, and the video games you play.

Generally speaking, for the ones building a brand new PC or upgrading their platform, DDR5 is the most suitable desire as it typically provides the first-rate performance. Nowadays, it would not come at a huge charge top class, making it a realistic choice.

We additionally assume future games to call for extra CPU and memory bandwidth, similar to what we see in newer titles like Star Wars Jedi Survivor and Spider-Man Remastered, as compared to older games like Far Cry 6. While it's now not usually the case that a new triple-A name will run especially quicker on DDR5 as compared to DDR4, we are nonetheless some way from that turning into a universal fashion.

Shopping Shortcuts:

• G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4-4000 CL16 on Amazon
• G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series DDR5-7200 CL34 on Amazon
• Intel Core i9-14900K on Amazon
• Intel Core i7-14700K on Amazon
• Intel Core i5-14600K on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen nine 7900X on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen nine 7950X3D on Amazon

.SubDriveRevBot margin: 30px 0 0px; border-radius: 3px; line-height: 1.Five; font-length: zero.9em; colour: ssharppfff; historical past-color: ssharpp1d4d84; cursor: pointer; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: include; history-position: right; .SubDriveRevBot:hover history-color: ssharpp245996; transition: 0.4s linear; .SubDriveRevBot a shade: ssharppfff; show: block; width: 100%; top: a hundred%; .SubDriveRevBot a:hover coloration: ssharppfff; .SubDriveRevBot .Titlerr historical past: rgba(30, 41, fifty one, 0.Sixty three); padding: 10px 20px 7px; shade: ssharppfff; letter-spacing: -0.1px; show: block; border-radius: 3px; font-size: zero.9em; .SubDriveRevBot .Remark font-weight: 500; coloration: ssharppf29f26; font-family: Roboto; .SubDriveRevBot .Remarknew font-weight: 500; coloration: ssharppfea; font-circle of relatives: Roboto; .SubDriveRevBot .Bulll margin-backside: 5px !Essential; padding: 15px 5px If you enjoy our content material, please remember subscribing.

• Ad-free TechSpot enjoy at the same time as helping our work
• Our promise: All reader contributions will go toward investment greater content material
• That method: More tech capabilities, more benchmarks and analysis