What is DDR 5 ram?

What DDR5^★ RAM is

DDR5 SDRAM is the fifth generation of Double Data Rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory used as a computer's main working memory. It is the successor to DDR4^★ and was standardised by JEDEC in 2020. RAM holds data and instructions that the processor needs to access quickly, so memory performance can affect responsiveness and workloads that move large amounts of data.

What changed from DDR4

DDR5 was designed to increase memory bandwidth and density while changing aspects of the memory architecture. The published DDR5 specification started at a 4.8 gigatransfer-per-second data rate and was designed to scale higher, with the JEDEC specification targeting at least 6.4 GT/s. DDR5 also introduced architectural changes such as two independent 32-bit subchannels per standard non-ECC module and moved power-management circuitry onto the memory module. On-die ECC is an internal reliability feature and should not be confused with a conventional ECC DIMM used for error-correcting system memory.

Compatibility and buying considerations

DDR5 is not interchangeable with DDR4. A motherboard and processor platform must support DDR5, and the module type must match the system. Desktop UDIMMs, laptop SO-DIMMs and server memory are different physical and electrical products. When buying memory, check the motherboard^★'s supported generation, maximum capacity, supported speeds, number of slots and whether the intended kit uses a profile such as Intel XMP or AMD EXPO. Capacity, latency and stability can matter as much as headline speed for a particular workload.