DDR4 vs DDR5: Compatibility, Latency and Upgrade Decisions
Choose the memory generation your exact motherboard supports. If your DDR4 PC already has enough memory and meets your performance target, DDR5 alone is not a reason to replace the platform. For a new build, compare the total CPU, motherboard and memory cost—not a universal FPS promise. The confusing part is that a faster-looking number can describe a different thing. DDR5-6000 CL30 and DDR4-3200 CL16 both have a calculated CAS component of 10 ns. They do not therefore have identical complete memory latency, bandwidth or gaming performance. Here is how to make a choice without turning a timing formula into a benchmark. ...