DDR4 vs DDR5
Data rates, which motherboards each fits, and current prices for DDR4 and DDR5 desktop memory in the US.
Prices are for in-stock desktop DIMM kits without ECC. Updated
What DDR is
DDR stands for double data rate: the memory makes two transfers on each clock cycle, one on the rising edge of the clock signal and one on the falling edge. Data rates are given in megatransfers per second (MT/s). A DDR5-6000 kit makes 6,000 million transfers per second on a 3,000 MHz clock, and retailers often list it as 6000 MHz.
DDR4 and DDR5 are generations of the JEDEC standard for this memory, published in 2012 and 2020. DDR5 runs at 1.1 V rather than 1.2 V, splits each module into two independent 32-bit subchannels, and regulates its voltage on the module rather than on the motherboard. Each motherboard supports one generation.
| DDR4 | vs | DDR5 |
|---|---|---|
 208 in stock · from $23.99 |  369 in stock · from $129.99 | |
| 3,200 MT/s | Median data rate | 6,000 MT/s |
| $191.99 | Lowest 2x16GB kit | $399.99 |
| DDR4-3200 CL16 | Most common kit | DDR5-6000 CL30 |
| 10.0 ns | CAS latency of the most common kit | 10.0 ns |
| AMD AM4, and Intel 12th to 14th generation boards built for DDR4 | Motherboards | AMD AM5, Intel Core Ultra 200S, and Intel 12th to 14th generation boards built for DDR5 |
| 288-pin DDR4 slots only | Slot | 288-pin DDR5 slots only |
Prices by capacity
Two-module kits. The solid bar is the lowest price and the lighter bar runs to the median.
| DDR4 | Kit | DDR5 |
|---|---|---|
| $100 Median $141.50 | 2x8GB | $207.99 Median $299.49 |
| $191.99 Median $262.49 | 2x16GB | $399.99 Median $579.95 |
| $434.99 Median $728.09 | 2x32GB | $929.99 Median $1,199 |
Cheapest 2x16GB kits
Data rates
Kits in stock in each 400 MT/s band of rated data rate.
| DDR4 · 208 kits | MT/s | DDR5 · 369 kits |
|---|---|---|
| 8,400–8,799 | | |
| 8,000–8,399 | | |
| 7,600–7,999 | | |
| 7,200–7,599 | | |
| 6,800–7,199 | | |
| 6,400–6,799 | | |
| 6,000–6,399 | | |
| 5,600–5,999 | | |
| 5,200–5,599 | | |
| 4,800–5,199 | | |
| | 4,400–4,799 | |
| | 4,000–4,399 | |
| | 3,600–3,999 | |
| | 3,200–3,599 | |
| | 2,800–3,199 | |
| | 2,400–2,799 | |
| | 2,000–2,399 |
Questions
Does DDR5 fit in a DDR4 slot?
No. Both are 288-pin desktop modules, but the notch in the contacts is in a different position, so each fits only its own slot.
How do DDR4 and DDR5 prices compare?
The lowest-priced 2x16GB DDR5 kit is $399.99, against $191.99 for DDR4. The medians are $579.95 and $262.49.
How does DDR5 CAS latency compare with DDR4?
CAS latency is counted in clock cycles, and DDR5 runs more cycles per second, so the CL number alone does not compare them. The most common DDR4 kit in stock is DDR4-3200 CL16, a CAS latency of 10.0 ns. The most common DDR5 kit is DDR5-6000 CL30, a CAS latency of 10.0 ns.