DDR4 vs. DDR5 RAM; Is the upgrade worth it?
DDR5 is the latest standard presented for RAM memory, which is considered better than DDR4 standard in almost all aspects. But does this improvement mean you should throw away your DDR4 RAM and buy a powerful DDR5 RAM instead? In this article, we will look at the differences between these two standards from different angles to see if DDR5 RAMs are worth buying for general users.
What is RAM?
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. In very simple words, RAM is a high-speed and temporary memory for the processor that provides all kinds of data to the processor at a high speed. Therefore, RAM is an intermediate part between the processor and the hard drive so that the processor can quickly access the data it needs without using the hard drive or SSD memory, which are much slower. Understanding how RAM works is essential to understanding the differences between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.
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The difference between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM strong>
One of the most important differences between these two standards is related to their speed. DDR4 RAM works at a maximum speed of 3200 MHz, and on the other hand, the maximum speed of DDR5 RAM has not yet been determined. Some companies are trying to increase the speed of these RAMs to a very high figure of 7 GHz in the future, but at the moment you probably cannot find a DDR5 RAM with a speed higher than 6400 MHz.
Other differences between these two standards We must mention their capacity. The DDR5 standard can provide up to 4 times the capacity for each module. Therefore, compared to DDR4 RAM, which can have a maximum capacity of 64 GB in each module, this new standard is able to provide a much higher capacity. Of course, we should mention that DDR5 RAMs with very high capacities are usually used in servers and other advanced enterprise computers.
One of the features that the DDR5 standard offers somewhat worse performance is the delay issue. Specifically, this is the delay between the request from RAM to provide data and the start of the process. Although in theory and at least on paper, DDR5 RAMs do better in this regard, but for some applications you may experience relatively higher latency, so you should keep this in mind. DDR5 RAMs consume less energy than their previous generation, which is not particularly important for desktop computer users. But for laptop users, every watt less consumption is very important.
Points to consider before buying DDR5 RAM strong>
If for any reason you want to switch to using DDR5 RAMs, it is better to consider the following points.
Compatibility
The most important thing before buying DDR4 RAM You should consider the compatibility of the desired RAM with your system. DDR5 RAMs are not compatible with DDR4 motherboards, so before doing anything, you should see if your system motherboard can use such RAMs or not.
But the situation is not that simple. Because if you change the system motherboard to buy DDR5 RAM, you will most likely have to change the processor too so that it can use the DDR5 standard. This means that practically by changing the RAM, motherboard and processor, you will inevitably have to pay a lot of money for a new case.
Expected improvements
Case Another thing to consider is whether or not the performance improvement associated with using DDR5 RAM is worth it to you. Although DDR5 RAMs are generally faster than their predecessors, this improvement in performance may not be significant for many users. So you should see if buying DDR5 RAM can significantly improve your user experience depending on how you use your computer.
Availability
They do not reach DDR4 RAMs. In the Iranian market, due to sanctions and challenges related to currency price fluctuations, you may have to pay a much higher price than the global price to buy DDR4 RAM.
The advantages of RAM DDR5
But if you are ready to use DDR5 RAM, what advantages does this standard bring to you in the real world, regardless of tests and theoretical discussions? In continuation to this Let's talk.
Gaming
DDR5 RAM allows the processor to access data related to games more quickly, and as a result, gaming performance improves. . On the other hand, if the processor spends less time to receive data, the graphics card can do its work faster. As a result, we end up with a better frame rate.
Of course, this largely depends on the type of game, and even then, the improvement may be a few percent. Therefore, a DDR5 RAM is not going to do miracles, and in this context, the processor and graphics card still play a much more important role.
Video editing
Video editing programs usually put a lot of pressure on the system hardware, and having a fast RAM with a high capacity can improve performance. help. Therefore, if you have encountered a lack of RAM capacity and low speed during video editing and output, then using more RAM capacity based on the DDR5 standard can significantly increase your working speed.
Data processing
Performing some advanced tasks, such as machine learning and accurate simulation of scientific subjects, often require a lot of memory and high speed. If you develop artificial intelligence models and for these models all the power of the processor and graphics card is very important, then by increasing the capacity and speed of RAM you can get a very noticeable improvement.
Discussion of costs
In terms of buying DDR5 RAM, you will face different costs according to the speed and capacity you want to use. Currently, it is difficult to compare DDR4 and DDR5 RAMs based on numbers only, because over time, with the increase in the supply of these types of RAMs, their prices will also become much lower. Therefore, in the near future, DDR5 RAMs will become the default choice of many users.
Currently in the world market, the average price of DDR4 RAM with a speed of 3200 MHz based on each gigabyte of capacity is about half of that of DDR5 RAM. It is low grade. Of course, this is a relative estimate, and in this context, things like the capacity of the module and the manufacturer's brand also play an important role. But in any case, there is still a significant price difference between DDR4 and DDR5 RAMs.
So many of Users are left with the question, is this significant price difference worth getting better performance right now? The answer to this question for general users is no. In general, if you're fine with your current system, simply upgrading to DDR5 RAM won't do wonders for you. But on the other hand, if you want to buy a new laptop or assemble a new case, in addition to using a new processor and graphics card, DDR5 RAM can naturally improve the user experience.
On the other hand, if, among other things, If you are a professional user and earn a lot from your computer, with DDR5 RAM, things like developing artificial intelligence models and editing videos are done faster. But in the end, as we said, DDR5 RAMs are still not necessary for ordinary users, but professional users can benefit from the advantages of this type of RAM.
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Source: HowToGeek