DDR5 RAM: What is it and how does this new technology work?
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After a good few years the DDR5 RAM memory will finally start showing up on casual PCs at the end of 2021, and like all new technology, the public can be a little confused about the changes and if especially, they can buy a new module and go sticking it in the motherboard. To solve this and other doubts, we prepared a special article about DDR5 memory.
First of all, we need to point out that this post is not intended to explain how RAM memory works, but to understand what DDR5 RAM memory is and what this new type of hardware is capable of. In addition, we have an interview with Carlos Augusto Buarque, Marketing Director at Intel Brazil, and Yuri Santos, Technology Manager at Kingston Brasil to better understand these innovations.
Coming with Intel
DDR5 type memory is unprecedented. This technology will first be compatible only with processors 12th Generation Intel Core Alder Lake, but it is also expected that in mid-2022 AMD will launch its new generation of Ryzen processors to accompany the boat.
That said, we've removed the first hurdle from our text: compatibility. DDR5 RAM will only work with new processors and new motherboards. So no, it's no use trying to put a DDR5 stick on a mainboard for a 11th Generation Intel or Ryzen 5000 that won't work. However, we'll talk more about compatibility later in this text. The initial idea is just to contextualize where we are in the current timeline of events.
What is DDR5 memory?
DDR5 in short is a new RAM standard for the industry. But don't be scared, it doesn't mean your memory DDR4 it's obsolete. We expect to have a gradual incorporation of this new feature over the years.
We are excited to bring the DDR5 line and, even more, the new modules are part of the Kingston FURY line, which was designed for gamers and technology lovers.
Paulo Vizaco, Executive Director at Kingston Brazil and Etail Director in Latin America
What changes?
the combs of DDR5 RAM memory arrive at retail in November, along with the processors Alder lake, but in fact, what ends up changing with the arrival of this new technology?
Fitting
Physically, the first big change between DDR4 and DDR5 modules is the pins or connection facts. If you've ever used a memory, you know that in the socket with the motherboard there are a series of pins glued together with a tooth without anything, a hole. This hole has moved and the pins now have different functions.
Thus, a DDR4 module does not fit into a DDR5 slot and a DDR5 module does not fit into a DDR4 slot. If you force it, it will break. In fact, even if it fitted, the system would not turn on, because the instruction order of the two technologies are different, and the processor of that machine does not have the necessary resources to communicate with that memory.
They will have different motherboards, some with DDR5 others with DDR4, but they are new motherboards […] The DDR5 in this case is not compatible with DDR4. You can't take DDR5 memory and plug it into a DDR4 socket, because it won't. Sometimes we think we can, but it's not.
Carlos Augusto Buarque, Marketing Director at Intel Brazil
Manufacturers are working on boards that support DDR4 and versions that support DDR5 for Intel's 12th Gen Alder Lake processors and future – and as yet unannounced – AMD processors. Thus, the same motherboard can have two versions: one with compatibility for one type of memory and another with support for another type of memory. However, we will not see a single card compatible with both technologies for the reasons that we explained in the previous paragraph.
Communication channels
Speaking of communication with the processor… maybe you've read around here that putting just one stick of memory in the PC — like just 1 module of 16GB — isn't that advantageous. The ideal would be to put two 8GB sticks to form 16GB. But why do we recommend it?
This process is known as Dual Channel (“two channels”, in free translation). In this way, the processor would have two memory sticks to communicate and exchange data, facilitating and speeding up this communication. So, in terms of performance, Dual Channel is better than Single Channel — just one module — and we can also do it with four sticks, giving it the name of Quad Channel.
With DDR5 RAM memory sticks things change for the better. Now, a single DDR5 module will have two communication channels. So Dual Channel should start to be in the past, but that's in theory, as we still need to do our practical tests to confirm. However, the update is very welcome.
As of now, each memory has two 32-bit subchannels, so this increases my efficiency. My load doesn't need to be 64-bit anymore. In practice it goes 64-bits, but it can read 32 and write 32-bits. Overall efficiency, error correction, signal integrity, will allow for faster memories.
Iuri Santos, Technology Manager at Kingston Brazil
Capacity
The DDR5 RAM memory also improves on the storage aspect. On average, we will still have the traditional modules of 8GB and 16GB individual, although I believe that soon 8GB sticks will start to get harder and harder to find at retail.
O crème de la creme, however, how much this new memory can hold. In just one stick there will be compatibility with an incredible 128GB of DDR5 RAM memory. This means that if your future motherboard has 4 slots, there is the possibility of expanding this type of storage to up to 512GB on just one home PC.
However, don't expect to see 128GB sticks so easily found out there. If 32GB DDR4 is already costing more than a thousand reais, a new technology like this will be pretty salty. Also, for editing and games up to 32GB is enough.
Frequencies and performance
In DDR4 modules, we were used to seeing sticks with performance up to 3200MHz. In fact, what happens is that DDR means Double Date Rate, that is, a 3200Mhz comb has only 1600Mhz which are multiplied by 2, double.
In DDR5 RAM we will start there in the sky. These memories will come with 4800MHz at the beginning, and can reach up to incredible 6400MHz. Of course, it won't be cheap to buy modules with such high frequencies, but the promise of a performance jump of up to 50% is very exciting for PC gamers, especially those who depend on integrated graphics and need more speed.
The enthusiast goes there and has the high-end Z690 platform and K processor [unlocked for overclocking]. He wants to get the most out of the memory he's using, he goes there and overclocks the memory or lowers the voltage even more […] Starting with DDR5 I have the possibility to save this profile of mine in a custom XMP 3.0 profile on the my memory.
Iuri Santos, Technology Manager at Kingston Brazil
DDR5 RAM memories will also be compatible with XMP3.0, which makes it easier to perform overclocks. By the way, the new modules will be able to memorize customizable profiles thanks to changes in their structure – we explain in the topic below.
Energy consumption
Finally, we stop at energy consumption, and to be honest there are two sides to this topic. The first concerns voltage. The memory RAM DDR5 goes to 1.1v compared to 1.2v for DDR4 memories. An almost imperceptible difference to be honest, but it represents a great advance, because the path that the energy needed to travel will be more stable.
DDR5 arrives with a little less than 10% [power consumption]. It's too little? Not. It got to a point where that means a lot. We are at a limit where the signal to reach the chips needs to be very pure; all tracks, all construction of memory modules has to be efficient.
Iuri Santos, Technology Manager at Kingston Brazil
Furthermore, the most significant change here is in the addition of a new structure to the memories. To regulate the voltage of memories, motherboard manufacturers have created something called…voltage controllers. as there are many mainboards around, and each one has a certain number of memory slots, developers were forced to put a voltage controller for each slot, because the user could use just one slot or use all of them.
Now, these voltage controllers belong to the body of the DDR5 RAM memory. In terms of performance this will not make a difference, but in terms of value it will, as we are adding one more structure to the comb. On the other hand, there is the removal of a component from the motherboard, which gives these manufacturers a break.
The power management has its own circuit in the module. We took it from the motherboard, and it will no longer be [this component] to determine the 1.1 volt, all that energy until it reaches the module track. The module itself will receive power and distribute it to the chips […] You use a lower voltage and there are no reading errors, writing errors; you have no losses because you have a shorter trilja.
Iuri Santos, Technology Manager at Kingston Brazil
Can I buy now?
At the moment this article is being developed, there is little availability in Brazilian retail. Brands like Kingston have already announced kits up to 32GB at 4800 and 5200 Mhz, but we haven't found them for purchase yet. However, we found a kit 32GB (2x16) da Geil Polaris on 4800 MHz by R$3.299 at TerabyteShop, and another kit 32GB (2x16) da Team Group without heat sink a 4800 MHz by R$3.198 in Pichau.
See also:
So, did you like our article about these new memories? Also check out our full coverage on the arrival of processors Alder lake 12th Generation Intel.
Sources: JEDEC, MSI, PCWorld e Trusted Reviews.
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