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 newer version offers five. Three are set by the memory manufacturer, and two others allow you to change and change your own settings. Intel hosts spreadsheets with common manufacturer settings if you are curious about what these profiles look like.
You may have noticed that despite overall higher clock speeds, the latency of DDR5 memory is a bit slower than that of DDR4. But that doesn’t 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, due to its faster clock speeds, the new standard offers better overall performance.” In other words, it takes more cycles to complete a task, but those cycles are much faster than before.
The real nerdy stuff
There are a few other changes to the standard for DDR5 that don’t really impact the type of stick you install in your particular PC.
DDR5 memory should consume less power overall than DDR4, but not in a way that will let you get away with a smaller power supply. Instead, it gives manufacturers and overclockers more voltage headroom to achieve even higher speeds. Each DDR5 memory stick now also has its own power management chip, rather than the motherboard managing power distribution. Again, this probably isn’t something that will matter to most people, but it should result in a more consistent experience when using XMP profiles.
You also benefit from increased bandwidth thanks to a major change in the basic architecture of a DIMM. Where each DDR4 module relied on a single 64-bit channel, DDR5 has two 32-bit channels. Combined with 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 locations for random access memory (RAM) computer chips are seen on a support board for a server system at Bull SA’s headquarters in Angers, France, Monday, June 23, 2014. Thierry Breton, general manager of the manufacturer software company Atos, is He has drawn up a purchase offer of 620 million euros ($846 million) to acquire Bull, the IT company he tried to revive twenty years ago. Photographer: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhoto: Balint Porneczi/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Some manufacturers also mention Error Correction Code, or ECC, now present on DDR5 memory. This is a bit different from ECC on DDR4, which was an additional module found on chips intended for server or commercial use. Instead of helping several different memory chips communicate reliably, it corrects errors on each bank before sending them to the motherboard. Commercial Memory Manufacturer ATP has a detailed explainer on the reasoning behind this technology that goes beyond the scope of what’s needed for your gaming PC, if you’re interested.
Too much to remember?
If you’re building a new PC, it’s extremely likely that your motherboard supports DDR5, so that’s what you should buy. The only reason you would need DDR4 memory for a new release is if you are specifically using older parts to cut costs. It’s more likely that you’re looking for DDR4 because you’re upgrading an existing system.
At the start of the launch, you might have paid almost twice as much for DDR5 as for DDR4, but prices have stabilized with more widespread adoption, and they will seem recognizable to anyone who purchased memory before the launch. update.
