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With most CPUs moving to exclusively support DDR5, should you also buy a DDR5-based platform or stick to DDR4?
The last two CPU generations from AMD have exclusively supported DDR5 memory, leaving DDR4 in the dust. This meant that older Ryzen CPU owners couldn’t update to the latest AMD processor without paying for DDR5 RAM kits, which are quite expensive. However, they could upgrade to an Intel platform since the 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, which would allow them to use their existing DDR4 RAM kits without any issues.
However, even Intel left DDR4 with the launch of their latest 15th Gen Core Ultra series processors. The future is clearly DDR5, but is it worth upgrading to the DDR5 platform, or should you get an Intel 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen CPU for DDR4 support? The short answer is yes, DDR5 is worth it and is also the better choice, but there’s a lot more to it. In this article, we will explore the two RAM technology and their respective platform in detail, so read on to learn more.
DDR4 vs DDR5-Based CPU Platform: Which One Should You Choose?
Before we can answer this, we must examine a few factors, such as performance benefits, motherboard compatibility, and pricing. Let’s look into these factors in detail below:
DDR4 vs DDR5: Which Delivers the Best Performance and Efficiency?
DDR5 memory brings double the frequency or even triple with some high-end kits compared to DDR4, which leads to higher performance and lower latencies. On average, DDR5 memory delivers about 10-30% better performance than its predecessor. DDR5 kits achieved this level of performance while decreasing the voltage needed to power them, so the power consumption has also decreased. Therefore, DDR5 memory is the better choice, but there’s more to this than just raw performance and efficiency.
CPU and Motherboard Support
Here’s the CPU and motherboard compatibility list for both memory standards:
| CPU Generation | Compatible Motherboard Chipsets | Compatible RAM |
| Ryzen 3000 series | AMD A320, B350, X370, B450, X470, A520, B550, X570 | DDR4 Only |
| Ryzen 5000 series | AMD A320, B350, X370, B450, X470, A520, B550, X570 | DDR4 Only |
| Ryzen 7000 series | AMD A620, B650, B650E, X670, X670E, B840, B850, B850E, X870, X870E | DDR5 Only |
| Ryzen 9000 series | AMD A620, B650, B650E, X670, X670E, B840, B850, B850E, X870, X870E | DDR5 Only |
| Intel 12th Gen series | Intel H610, B660, H670, Z690, B760, H770, Z790 | DDR4 and DDR5 |
| Intel 13th Gen series | Intel H610, B660, H670, Z690, B760, H770, Z790 | DDR4 and DDR5 |
| Intel 14th Gen series | Intel H610, B660, H670, Z690, B760, H770, Z790 | DDR4 and DDR5 |
| Intel 15th Gen series | Intel H810, B860, Q870, Z890 | DDR5 only |
For AMD, only the older Ryzen 5000 and 3000 series support DDR4, while their newer Ryzen 7000 and 9000 CPUs support DDR5. Therefore, you cannot upgrade from the older Ryzen processor to the newer one without changing your RAM.
On the other hand, only the latest Intel 15th Gen series CPUs require DDR5. The Blue team’s last three generations, from 12th to 14th Gen, support both DDR4 and DDR5. Therefore, you can upgrade to those generations without having to replace your existing DDR4 RAM. Even AMD Ryzen 5000 and 3000 series owners can upgrade to Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs while keeping their same DDR4 memory.
Intel has kept DDR4 support longer. However, Intel’s latest 15th Gen series processor ditches DDR4 support for good.
Pricing Comparison
A decent DDR4 8GB starts at around $18 – $20, while a similarly equipped 8GB DDR5 kit would start at $32 – $34, making the latter about 70 – 80% more expensive. On top of that, you will also have to consider the motherboard costs. Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPU-compatible DDR5 motherboards cost more than the DDR4 ones. Even if you go with the latest AMD and Intel motherboards that exclusively support DDR5, they are also quite costly, so keep that in mind.
Should You Buy a DDR4 or DDR5-Based CPU Platform?
Whether you should opt for a DDR4 or a DDR5-based CPU platform will depend on your situation. If you are upgrading from a DDR4-based system, then it makes sense to choose a DDR4-based platform. However, if you are building a brand new PC, it is better to pay more upfront and get the latest DDR memory platform because that is the future. No new generation of processors or motherboards will support DDR4 any longer.
Therefore, we suggest DDR5 for new system builders, while we can only recommend DDR4 for existing customers.
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