Side-by-Side Comparison
RAM
DDR4 vs. DDR5
Comparing 2 standards across 5 specifications. 5 key differences identified.
Comparing:
DDR4
DDR5
DDR4's spec was finalized in September 2012, though it didn't reach the commercial market until 2014. It moved to a 288-pin DIMM and 260-pin SO-DIMM, dropped voltage to 1.2V, and started at a minimum of 2133 MT/s -- roughly double DDR3's starting point.
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
|
September 2012 (spec); 2014 (commercial market) | July 2020 |
|
DIMM Pins
|
288 | 288 (same count as DDR4 -- incompatible via on-module PMIC and different signaling) |
|
SO-DIMM Pins
|
260 | 262 |
|
Nominal Operating Voltage
|
1.2 V | 1.1 V |
|
Data Rate Range
|
1600–3200 (JEDEC); commercially up to ~4800 overclocked MT/s | 4000–6400 (PC5-32000 to PC5-51200) MT/s |