Reduced power consumption. Each next iteration of DDR RAM operates at a lower supply voltage than the last one. So, DDR3 and DDR3L work at 1.5 and 1.35 volts, DDR4 and DDR5 - at 1.2 and 1.1, respectively, and laptop LPDDR5 - generally at 1.05. This brings a decrease in energy consumption, but not always a decrease in heating, because the frequency has increased significantly. In addition, if DDR4 with a frequency of up to 3200 MHz operates at standard 1.2 V, then DDR4-4400 MHz requires 1.45 V. The situation is similar with DDR5: 4800 MHz at 1.1 V and 6200 MHz at 1.35 V.

Managing controller. The main design innovation of DDR5 modules was a chip for synchronizing the operation of two virtual halves of one physical module. He is also responsible for memory power management, whereas before this was done by the processor and motherboard. Optionally, a separate RGB backlight controller can be used, which, however, was also found in DDR4. DDR5 now has two thermal sensors, one for each of the halves. In the case of DDR4 thermal sensors, there are often none.

Theoretically, DDR5 is one and a half times faster than DDR4.

Memory banks. Banks are called virtual memory cells, the number of which in DDR5 has increased to 32 pieces, compared to only 16 in DDR4. This has already made it possible to increase the volume of one memory module up to 64 gigabytes, and in the near future - up to 128 GB. But for this, it is necessary to increase the density of a single chip, which will become possible only after reducing the size of transistors. Now DDR5 chips are produced by Samsung, Micron and Hynix using a 15-nanometer process technology. By comparison, DDR4 is made from 20nm silicon wafers.

memory ranks. Virtual memory channels inside one module are called ranks: DDR4 has one or two of them. The second option is faster at equal frequency, but accelerates worse. The bus width of a single DDR4 module, regardless of the number of ranks, is strictly 64-bit. DDR5 de jure does not have a division into ranks - it is always two virtual memory modules on one physical one. Even in the operating system, one DDR5 module appears as dual-channel memory, and two modules as quad-channel. But the bus of one module remained unchanged 64-bit.

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Patriot Memory Viper Steel DDR4 2x8Gb PVS416G360C8K 

Viper Steel is the flagship series of DDR4 RAM from the American company Patriot Memory. Series models start at 3000 MHz and end at 4400 MHz. Moreover, this is the easiest automatic XMP overclocking, and there is also the potential for additional manual overclocking. Thick-walled metal radiators of moderate height lack LED backlighting, which, however, often only harms overclocking. The most universal, perhaps, is the frequency of 3600 MHz (timings vary from CL18 to CL14). This frequency will run on almost any modern Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor. Paired sets of 3600 MHz are sold with a volume of 2x8, 2x16 and even 2x32 GB - as they say, to each according to his needs.

frequency profiles. Another chip called SPD is designed to store frequency profiles. For budget memory, the profile is standardized by the JEDEC organization: for example, 3200 MHz with CL22-22-22-52 timings and a voltage of 1.2 V. In the case of overclocker or, as it is now more commonly called, gaming memory, the frequency formula is selected directly by the module manufacturer. Often there are two ready-made profiles: the first with a high frequency of 3600 MHz @ CL20, the second with low timings of 3200 MHz @ CL16.

Automatic acceleration. For an integrated video card, frequency is more important, and for CPU cores, on the contrary, timings (delays). The ideal option would be a balance between frequency and timings, but you will have to select it manually, for example, 3466 MHz @ CL18. In the case of DDR5, the SPD chip can already store as many as five profiles: JEDEC, two auto-overclocking Intel XMP or AMD EXPO, and two more empty cells where you can save the results of manual overclocking.

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Patriot Memory Viper Venom DDR5 2x8Gb PVV516G520C36K 

Viper Venom DDR5 is the latest series of Patriot Memory, already in the advanced DDR5 standard. It starts at 5200 and ends at 6200 MHz so far. But presumably, faster modifications will come out later, as has happened many times before. It is the frequency of 5200 MHz that is the minimum recommended for the new 13-generation Core and Ryzen 7000-series processors. And compared to the base JEDEC profile 4800 MHz, the XMP profile 5200 also has lower timings: CL36 versus CL40. The supply voltage is only slightly higher - 1.2 vs. 1.1 V. Manual overclocking is included. In addition to the classic non-luminous Venom DDR5, there is also a colorful Venom RGB for PC builds with a transparent side window.

frequency potential. Starting from a modest frequency of 2133 MHz, DDR4 memory later received the official JEDEC profile of 3200 MHz, and modules from 3600 to 4400 MHz are considered overclockers. Occasionally, even DDR4-5000 MHz is found, but it only runs on flagship motherboards. In turn, the only official JEDEC DDR5 profile so far is 4800 MHz. And overclocker modules start from 5200 up to 6200 MHz. But it is already clear that this is not the limit: the mark of 7000 MHz will definitely be taken and, most likely, 8000 MHz.

The PMIC power controller sits right on the DDR5 bracket.

asynchronous mode. It should be borne in mind that DDR4 up to 3600 MHz operates in 1: 1 synchronous mode (aka Gear 1). With a further increase in frequency, the memory controller built into the processor switches to asynchronous 1:2 mode (Gear 2). The speed of reading and writing memory grows in proportion to the frequency, but at the same time, latency (latencies) increases sharply. Therefore, DDR5-4800 memory is not twice as fast as DDR4-3200, but only about a third. To increase the gap, you need not so much to increase the frequency, but to reduce the timings.

Conclusions. In short, DDR5 is undeniably faster, especially for flagship processors. But DDR4 is still more cost-effective: both the memory itself and the motherboards. If you already have a computer with DDR4, it is quite possible to sit on it for another couple of years by simply adding the same DDR4 to free DIMM slots. In the case of assembling a new PC from scratch, DDR5 still seems to be more promising. If the current generation of processors supports both types of memory, then in a year or two DDR5 will become uncontested. So if you pay a little extra for DDR5 now, you won't have to buy new memory later.

Patriot Memory