If the RAM memory has low capacity or is slow, will delay the functions of the CPU and graphics chip. That's why it's so important.

In recent years, the most used memory, both in PCs and mobile phones, has been DDR4 memory. It will soon begin to be replaced by DDR5 memory, twice as fast, and with new additional features.

Let's see What is DDR5 memory, what new features does it bring?, and how we can incorporate it into our devices.

It is estimated that we will be able to use it in our PCs by the end of the year, or at the beginning of next year, if the semiconductor crisis allows it.

The evolution of RAM and the new DDR5:

SDRAM memory

The memory used in computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc. to process the data needed by apps is known as RAM memory (Random Access Memory), Random Access Memory.

Its main characteristic is that It is a volatile memory, that is to say, only stores data temporarily, while the device is on and the memory has power. When you turn it off, the data is erased and the RAM is emptied.

It is a Random Access Memory because it is possible to access any data contained in memory at the same speed, regardless of where it is physically located on the chip.

There are many different types of RAM: SRAM, NVRAM, MRAM, RDRAM, etc.

In modern computers and mobile phones, the SDRAM memory, or Synchronous Dynamic RAM, dynamic and synchronous access RAM.

Is synchronous because it synchronizes with the motherboard data bus to improve performance. And it is dynamic because the processor can allocate different amounts of memory to apps or processes as needed.

DDR4 SDRAM memory

Modern SDRAM memory is of the type DDR, either Double Data Rate. It is characterized because the memory It can transmit data over two different channels at the same time, in a single clock cycle. This system doubles performance. That is why memory blocks are installed in multiples of two.

It is not something new, since it started to be used almost 20 years ago, that is why the memory DDR-SDRAM has been evolving: DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc. Some brands instead of DDR2, DDR3, etc, call it PC2 either PC3, but they refer to the same thing.

They connect to the computer's motherboard through a DIMM connector, which has an asymmetrical projection, so that we know in which position to insert the RAM on the board.

The RAM speed It is measured in Megatransfers per second (MT/sg), although commercially Megahertz or MHz are usually used.

• DDR: It reached a speed of 266 MT/s and a consumption of 2.5V. 184-pin DIMM connector
• DDR2: 400 MT/s speed, and 1.8V consumption. 240-pin DIMM connector
• DDR3: 1,066 MT/s speed, and 1.5V consumption. 240-pin DIMM connector
• DDR4: 3,200 MT/s speed, and 1.2V consumption. 288-pin DIMM connector

As we see, The higher the DDR, the faster the memory and the lower the consumption, so it heats up less.

Currently the most used, both on mobile phones and PCs, is DDR4 memoryThe above are considered outdated, but are still sold for old computers.

DDR4 speed and latency

Within the same type of memory DDR3, DDR4, etc., there are different speeds and latencies. It is important to know these terms, because they will help us compare with the new DDR5 memory.

We have seen how memory speed is measured in Megatransfers per second (MT/s), but in practice, store catalogs use Megahertz (MHz).

Thus, for example, we can find DDR4 RAM memory modules at 2,400, 2,600, 3,000, 3,200, up to 3,600 Mhz. The faster the better, but logically it is also more expensive. And the motherboard must support those speeds.

Another very important fact about the PC's RAM is latency.

RAM memory modules have numbers associated with them, called timings. For example, 9-8-9-17. This data indicates the performance of these particular chips, measured in nanoseconds.

The most important value is called CAS or CL latency. The CL measures the number of clock cycles the RAM takes in offering data to the memory controller, when required. The lower the CL, the better.

Within DDR4 memory and within the same speed, for example 3,600 Mhz, you will see modules sold with CL 16 or CL 18, for example.

The lower the value, the faster the memory, but also the more expensive.

Please note that you cannot compare between different DDR generations.

For example DDR3 memory has lower CL than DDR4, which is better in theory, but it is much slower in other areas, so it still offers worse performance than DDR4.

DDR5? But doesn't GDDR6 already exist?

The GDDR memories They are memories for graphics cards (hence the letter G), and they have a different architecture and operation than the main RAM memory.

They also have another numbering. In fact, the latest generation graphics cards They carry graphic or video memory GDDR6But as we say, it is a technology with different objectives, and they cannot be equated.

DDR4 memory data for comparison

To summarize, these are Relevant data of DDR4 memory to compare with the new DDR5:

• Speed up to 3,200 Mhz (standard), and a consumption of 1.2V.
• 288-pin DIMM connector
• Commercially, with speeds of up to 3,600 Mhz
• CAS or CL latency 14 or higher

The new DDR5

We already have the necessary basis to be able to understand Fifth Generation DDR memory, or DDR5.

The new standard began to be developed in 2018 by the council JEDEC, but it was not officially presented until July 14, 2020.

DDR5 was developed with the goal of Double the bandwidth of DDR4 memory, with lower consumption. All this while maintaining latency.

An ambitious goal that has become a reality.

This significant increase in speed is necessary because CPUs increasingly have more cores and threads.

We have gone from 4-core processors that have been used for years, to CPUs that already have 8, 12, even 32 cores and 64 threads, and each of them claims its own memory bandwidth.

Density of modules

DDR5 modules maintain the 288 pins (connectors) of the previous generation.

The chips are made with 10 nanometer (nm) lithography, and are made up of 4 memory banks that in turn can be grouped in groups of 8.

Two of the improvements that allow for increased performance are in the data burst and in memory channels.

DDR5 doubles the data burst size from 8 to 16. Also now there is Two independent 40-bit channels per memory DIMM module, while DDR4 only had one channel, 72-bit.

Here we can see DDR5 memory modules layout, courtesy of Electricafundablog:

We can see the two independent channels, to the left and right of the memory controller (the blue RCD chip).

Each channel will have 10 chips or groups of memory banks associated with it.

Other trick To improve performance, it is that DDR5 memory has managed to multiply the number of memory chips per module by 4. That's why they are only going to be sold in modules from 16 GB, leaving behind the popular 8GB modules that are used now.

Remember that this memory uses two channels in one clock cycle and therefore two modules or memory banks must be installed in parallel. So thePC memory from 2022 will reach 32 or 64 GB of RAM, as standard values.

However, they are already in development. 64 and 128 GB modules. So in a few years we will have PCs with up to 512GB of RAM.

It seems crazy, considering that most PCs these days run on 8 or 16GB of RAM.

DDR5 speed

While DDR4 memory reaches speeds of up to 3,200 MT/s, DDR5 memory starts at a speed of 4,800 MT/s, which means that it is 1.87 times faster.

And it can reach up to the 6.400 MT/sg, although it will take a few years to reach this maximum speed. And it is expected that it will even be surpassed.

DDR5 voltage

DDR4 memory operates at 1.2V, but DDR5 does it at 1.1VThat is, it consumes a little less.

It doesn't seem like much of a difference, but it's a big achievement considering it almost doubles the speed.

DDR5 Latency

Although final latencies have not yet been confirmed on commercial DDR5 memories, the standard dictates that the latency will be equal or very similar to that of DDR4 memories.

So we can wait CAS latencies around CL-14 or slightly higher.

New features

DDR5 memory is not only faster with lower consumption. It also debuts new features that were not in DDR4.

One of them is the Decision Feedback Equalization (DFE), which allows the memory I/O speed to be scaled, i.e. it is not fixed, to improve bandwidth and performance.

Another improvement is that memory modules can integrate voltage regulators on the memory board itself, to increase speed and reduce noise. But this increases the price quite a bit, and is probably only used in servers, or in high-end gaming PCs.

Also will have a PMIC (Power Management IC) integrated into the module, rather than on the motherboard, so it will be easier to overclock.

DDR4 vs DDR5 table

To put this data into perspective, we compare the technical characteristics of the two generations.

In this table you have the most relevant information.

We've seen what this new memory looks like from a technical point of view, but for many people all this data means nothing, so let's interpret it.

What advantages will DDR5 memory have… in plain English?

DDR5 memory will bring us larger modules, starting from 16 GB. This means that PCs are going to have more RAM.

In 1 or 2 years the minimum value will be 32 GB, and will quickly go up to 64, 128, and even 512 GB of RAM.

The higher speed of DDR5 is going to make games and applications run faster, especially computers with a processor with many cores.

Finally, It will heat up less and consume less than DDR4, an advantage in the design of future PCs.

LPDDR5 for laptops and tablets

Mobile devices equipped with batteries use a variant of DDR5 memory called LPDDR5.

The prefix LP means Low Power or Low ConsumptionIt is a lighter memory, somewhat slower, but also with lower consumption and heating.

They are different standards that, like the GDDR6 graphics memory that we have discussed, follow another numbering. The memory LPDDR5 and its variant LPDDR5X They have been on sale for almost a year, for example on mobile phones Samsung Galaxy S21.

LPDDR5 reaches speeds of up to 6,400Mbps, and the LPDDR5X variant tops out at 8,533Mbps.

When will they be on sale?

SK Hynix already had experimental DDR5 chips running at 6400 MT/s, the maximum allowed by the standard, in 2019.

He first DDR5 SDRAM chip for sale it was marketed by the company itself SK Hynix, last October. Since then, other brands such as Samsung, PNY and Micron have announced that they will have commercial DDR5 memory modules by the end of the year.

PNY, for example, will put its PNY XLR8 memory modules with a size of 16 GB, at 4,800 Mhz, and a voltage of 1.1 V.

Presumably they will be supported by the next generation of Intel Alder Lake (12th Generation) and AMD Zen3+ and Zen4 processors, which will go on sale early next year.

Fountain:Computerhoy