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DDR4 vs DDR5: Which Budget RAM Should You Buy?

9/20/2025 · Memory · 7 min

DDR4 vs DDR5: Which Budget RAM Should You Buy?

TL;DR

  • DDR4 is the best value on a budget. It offers mature compatibility, lower cost per gig, and good real-world performance for most users.
  • DDR5 provides higher peak bandwidth and future-proofing but costs more and often has higher latency at launch. Budget DDR5 kits may not beat DDR4 in gaming or everyday apps yet.
  • Best budget picks by use case:
  • Gaming on older or midrange builds: DDR4 16GB 3200–3600 MT/s.
  • New builds with 12th gen+ Intel or Ryzen 7000+: DDR5 16GB 4800–5200 MT/s if pricing is close.
  • Content creation / heavy multitasking: 32GB DDR4 3200–3600 for price-conscious buyers; consider 32GB DDR5 if budget allows and the platform supports it.

Speed vs Latency

  • DDR5 raises raw frequency headroom compared to DDR4. Typical DDR5 kits start at 4800 MT/s and go much higher.
  • Higher MT/s increases bandwidth but often comes with higher CAS latency numbers. Real-world latency is a function of both frequency and CL; compute approximate true latency as (CL / (MT/s/2000)) in nanoseconds for rough comparisons.
  • At similar price points, a well-matched DDR4 3600 CL16 kit can match or beat early DDR5 4800 CL40 in many workloads due to lower effective latency.

Capacity & Price

  • DDR4 currently has the advantage in price per gigabyte. 16GB and 32GB kits are cheaper and more plentiful.
  • If your workload benefits from more RAM (video editing, large datasets, heavy multitasking), prioritize 32GB regardless of generation.

Compatibility & Platform Support

  • DDR5 requires a DDR5-capable motherboard and CPU. Desktop DDR5 support began with Intel 12th gen and AMD 7000 series.
  • DDR4 remains compatible with a very wide range of platforms, including many budget motherboards and older CPUs.
  • Before buying DDR5, verify your chosen motherboard is listed as supporting the specific speed and XMP/EXPO profiles you want.

Overclocking & XMP/EXPO Profiles

  • Both DDR4 and DDR5 offer XMP/EXPO presets for one-click speed boosts. DDR5 also includes on-die ECC and PMIC features on many modules.
  • Budget DDR5 kits may lock into conservative profiles; enthusiasts often manually tune timings and voltages for better results.

Real-World Performance

  • Gaming: Most titles are more sensitive to latency than bandwidth. Fast DDR4 often matches mid-range DDR5 for FPS.
  • Productivity: Applications that stream large data sets or use integrated GPU bandwidth can benefit from DDR5's increased throughput.
  • Future-proofing: DDR5 adoption will widen, but immediate gains are workload dependent. If you plan to upgrade platform frequently, DDR5 may make more sense.

Which Should You Buy?

  • Choose DDR4 if:
  • You are on a tight budget and want the best price per GB.
  • Your motherboard or CPU does not support DDR5.
  • You want 32GB or more at a lower cost.
  • Choose DDR5 if:
  • You are building on a DDR5-only platform and pricing is reasonable.
  • You prioritize peak bandwidth for specific workloads or want a more future-proof system.

Buying Checklist

  • Platform compatibility: Confirm CPU and motherboard support.
  • Capacity: 16GB is minimum for gaming; 32GB recommended for content work.
  • Speed target: DDR4 3200–3600; DDR5 4800–5600 for budget-conscious picks.
  • Timings: Lower timings help; compare effective latency, not just CL.
  • XMP/EXPO support: Look for reliable one-click profiles and documented motherboard compatibility.

Bottom Line

For most budget buyers in 2025, DDR4 remains the best value and often the smartest choice unless you are committed to a new DDR5 platform and can accept higher cost for improved bandwidth. If you can find reasonably priced DDR5 kits near DDR4 pricing and your platform supports it, DDR5 is a solid pick for future-proofing and bandwidth-demanding tasks.

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