DDR5

DDR5 SDRAM (double data rate fifth generation synchronous dynamic random-access memory) is a generation of computer memory designed to replace DDR4. It aims to deliver higher bandwidth, greater capacities, and improved power efficiency for desktops, laptops, and servers.

Compared with DDR4, DDR5 introduces two independent 32-bit memory channels per DIMM, enabling finer interleaving and higher data throughput. It supports higher-density memory chips and, as a result, higher module capacities, with consumer DIMMs commonly reaching up to 128 GB. It also includes on-die error correction to improve reliability and a redesigned bank structure to increase efficiency.

The JEDEC standard defines an initial DDR5 speed of 4800 MT/s, with higher speeds such as 5600–6400 MT/s and beyond available in the market through overclocking. Operating voltage is lowered to about 1.1 V, and many DDR5 modules feature a power management integrated circuit on the DIMM to regulate voltages closer to the memory cores. Latency can be higher at a given frequency than DDR4, but higher frequencies generally offset this in real workloads.

Form factors include desktop UDIMMs and notebook SO-DIMMs, as well as server memory types such as RDIMM and LRDIMM on supported platforms. DDR5 is not backward compatible with DDR4 sockets and requires a motherboard and CPU with a DDR5-compatible memory controller and BIOS.

Since its introduction in the early 2020s, DDR5 has become increasingly common in new systems, offering higher peak bandwidth and larger memory configurations for gaming, content creation, and data-intensive applications. Price premia and supply constraints have influenced adoption, but the technology is expected to continue expanding in subsequent generations.