Side-by-Side Comparison
RAM
DDR3 vs. DDR5
Comparing 2 standards across 5 specifications. 5 key differences identified.
Comparing:
DDR3
DDR5
DDR3, standardized in 2007, kept DDR2's 240-pin DIMM count but switched from a rounded to a square notch in a different position, making the two physically incompatible despite the matching pin count. It dropped voltage to 1.5V (1.35V for the low-power DDR3L variant) and raised data rates up to DDR3-2133.
DDR5, released by JEDEC in July 2020, splits each memory module into two independent 32-bit subchannels instead of DDR4's single 64-bit channel, and moves voltage regulation onto the module itself via an on-board PMIC rather than relying on the motherboard. Standard data rates start at 4000 MT/s, well above DDR4's ceiling.
Specification Comparison Table
5 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
JEDEC Standard
|
2007 | July 2020 |
|
DIMM Pins
|
240 (same count as DDR2; different notch shape and position -- not compatible) | 288 (same count as DDR4 -- incompatible via on-module PMIC and different signaling) |
|
SO-DIMM Pins
|
204 | 262 |
|
Nominal Operating Voltage
|
1.5 (1.35V for DDR3L low-voltage variant) V | 1.1 V |
|
Data Rate Range
|
800–2133 (DDR3-800 to DDR3-2133) MT/s | 4000–6400 (PC5-32000 to PC5-51200) MT/s |