DDR5 vs DDR4: what's the difference, and which should you buy?
DDR5 and DDR4 sound alike but are different standards that do not fit the same slots. Your motherboard decides before the price does.
The key differences
Speed: DDR4 usually runs around 3200 MT/s; DDR5 starts at 4800–6000 MT/s and goes higher.
Voltage: DDR4 runs at 1.2 V, DDR5 at 1.1 V, and DDR5 moves power management (the PMIC) onto the module.
Design: each DDR5 module works like two independent channels and has on-die error correction (on-die ECC).
Compatibility: the notch is in a different place, so DDR5 will not go into a DDR4 slot, and vice versa.
Which one fits your PC?
AMD Ryzen 7000 and 9000 (AM5) use DDR5 only. Ryzen 5000 and older (AM4) use DDR4 only.
Intel 12th to 14th gen support either DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the motherboard, so check its model or manual. Intel Core Ultra (200S) uses DDR5.
What we'd do
For a new build, pick DDR5. Current CPUs and motherboards are built around it and it will last.
If you already have a DDR4 PC and just need more capacity, buy DDR4. There's no need to replace the motherboard and CPU for RAM.
Today's prices side by side
Today the Samsung DDR4 16GB costs ₩181,000 and the Samsung DDR5 16GB costs ₩349,690.
| Product | Today | 30-day low | 30-day high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung DDR4 16GB | ₩181,000 | ₩181,000 | ₩181,000 |
| Samsung DDR5 16GB | ₩349,690 | ₩349,690 | ₩349,690 |