DDR4 vs. DDR5

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DDR4 vs. DDR5
Introduction to DDR Memory
DDR, or Double Data Rate, refers to a memory bus that can send signals or data on both sides of a clock
cycle. If this clock cycle is externally coordinated it is known as synchronous, as in SDRAM – DRAM, or
Dynamic Random-Access Memory, being a type of volatile memory. Volatile memory loses its data when
power is lost and, further, DRAM requires that its data is consistently refreshed, hence “dynamic.” Static RAM,
or SRAM, is faster but costlier and is instead utilized for things such as microcontroller unit (MCU) cache on
solid state drives (SSDs).
DRAM is most commonly used for the main system memory, or RAM, in a system, with speeds given by the
JEDEC designation. For example, the designation will have DDR4 or DDR5 denoting the generation with the
transfer rate following, such as 2133 or 4800. This transfer rate is given in millions of transfers per second, or
megatransfers per second (MT/s), as opposed to clock rate or bandwidth. The MT/s value will be double the
clock rate with true DDR, for example 3200 referring to 1600 MHz memory. As data is transferred by 8 bytes
the bandwidth will be eight times this amount, as with PC4-25600 from DDR4-3200.
In a typical client system DRAM is the primary system memory that lies between the central processing unit
(CPU) and its superfast cache, facilitating data operations in contrast to data stored in slower non-volatile
media (NVM). This memory is arranged in one or more channels for parallelization and offers a certain
amount of bandwidth, as found on other devices like graphical processing units (GPUs). Also of importance
to performance is the latency of the memory, given by a multitude of values depending on the corresponding
internal operation. Memory is managed by the CPU via an integrated memory controller (IMC) with other
elements handled by the motherboard.
Architectural Differences
Although there are consistent differences between generations of DRAM – for example, a transition to lower
voltages in order to improve efficiency – there are more changes between DDR4 and DDR5 than is typical.
These changes are largely beneficial, as detailed in the next section. Fundamentally there are also changes
required at the motherboard level, although CPUs – such as Intel’s Alder Lake (read our blog) – can use either
DDR4 or DDR5 when paired with the correct hardware.
DDR5 has much higher latency, for example with column access strobe (CAS) latency, which is mitigated
through higher transfer rates but also architectural differences. While both types of memory use a 288-pin
interface the notch position has been changed in order to prevent improper installation. DDR4 and DDR5 have
other distinct differences – as listed in the table below – but DDR5 also institutes some novel features. While
this includes more basic improvements for sideband access, memory training, pin definition, and temperature
monitoring, there are some bigger changes as well.
For example, it has power management (via PMIC) on-module (dual in-line memory module, or DIMM) rather
than through the motherboard which ostensibly lowers motherboard cost and complexity. This pulls from 5V
on client machines and helps improve signal integrity as well. It also has on-die error correction (ODECC)
which protects data on the modules from bit flips, distinct from channel or end-to-end protection. DDR5 also
has the Same Bank Refresh Function (SBRF) which allows independent refreshing per bank group; this
theoretically improves the ability to access memory.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Taking these changes one by one, the ability to use denser memory chips – and, in fact, stack multiple dies on
top of each other, up to 8 per package for server usage – allows DDR5 to easily achieve 128GB (64Gbx16) per
module in the client space. The higher clock and transfer rate means a doubling or more of bandwidth,
particularly useful for content creation. While this comes at the cost of higher latency as mentioned above,
the move to a dual 32-bit internal structure allows for more banks and therefore a doubling of simultaneous
open pages which reduces effective latency. In order to produce the same size payload as DDR4 with this
structure DDR5 necessarily employs a higher burst length (BL), however.

While both DDR4 and DDR5 support additional optional ECC, that is channel ECC, with 8 bits of ECC per bus,
the 2x32-bit structure of DDR5 takes the total width from 72-bit to 80-bit. This is not particularly relevant for
client usage, however. DDR5 is also more efficient through using lower voltage, but more important for client
usage is the improvement of extreme memory profile (XMP) profiling. Aside from allowing more total profiles,
XMP 3.0 allows for manual editing of these profiles and additionally a dynamic memory boost function which
operates like turbo mode on CPUs. These profiles are typically taken via serial presence detect (SPD).
Summary
DDR5’s improvements are exciting for both client and server environments. The traditional improvements
found with lower voltage and higher bandwidth are here, although with the typical increase in latency, but
other architectural changes promise a bit more. The ability to use denser chips has increased capacity four-
fold. The move to a 2x32-bit versus 1x64-bit structure allows for better memory access availability. Locating
the PMIC on-module allows the memory to scale better with improved voltage regulation. ODECC further
helps improve data integrity. XMP improvements also encourage extra flexibility, including potential power
savings with dynamic profiles.

The first client platform to utilize DDR5, Alder Lake on the Z690 chipset, has already shown the impact of
these improvements. The bandwidth in particular is a boon for content creation and other data-intensive
tasks, but other improvements are already showing potential gains for other areas such as gaming. New
generations of DRAM tend to start off slow and expensive and that is still the case here, particularly due to
current supply issues. However, the potential is there and can already be realized by early adopters, although
there will likely have to be changes within the industry to fully make use of DDR5’s advantages. This paradigm
shift of architecture opens the door to more efficient machines that are able to finally feed the multi-core
future.
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About Us

| Products | Solutions | Support | Contact Us

LITE-ON Storage is now Solid State Storage Technology Corporation

Introduction to DDR Memory

solid state drives (SSDs).

elements handled by the motherboard.

DDR4 or DDR5 when paired with the correct hardware.

monitoring, there are some bigger changes as well.

theoretically improves the ability to access memory.

Advantages & Disadvantages

structure DDR5 necessarily employs a higher burst length (BL), however.

savings with dynamic profiles.

Our SSD Solutions

CA6 Series | PCIe® CL4 Series | PCIe®

Slim form Slim form

Request Full Specs Sheets

© 2022 Solid State Storage Technology Corporation. All rights reserved.

Learn more at www.ssstc.com

Report abuse Created with

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