For most PC gamers, our machines is a constantly evolving beast, devouring games and media applications as it grows in power, and size in order to meet the continuously growing computing and gaming needs. This constantly growing demand pushes the limits of current generation of hardware. DDR3 memory bottlenecks your performance in data intensive applications like real time analytics, high end gaming, server critical applications, etc.
Thanks to Kingston who showcased their new DDR4 memory technology, we breakdown the differences between DDR3 and DDR4. The prototype was showcased during CES 2014, with plans for commercial launch soon.
[divider]Technical Difference:
- Bigger capacity: DDR4 RAM chips will be available in the density of 4GB to 16GB while DDR3 chips ranged from 512MB to 8GB
- Higher base frequency with the range from 1600Mhz to 3200Mhz
- Lower power consumption due to internal design and also a lower voltage requirement. (standard with 1.2V, can go lower to 1.1V and even 1.05V)
Physical differences:
- Different location of the key notch (Which makes them incompatible with the DDR3 motherboards)
- Thicker than DDR3
- The PCB has slightly curved edges
All these changes will thereotically lead to a much higher performance especially for HD gaming. With higher frequency this will also allow faster processing speeds and other devices running at the same clock to boost their performance. The lower power consumption is also good in the long run, and gives your computer a lower carbon footprint. The overall effect will be a better Hardware configuration to showcase with matching performance for smoother use of applications.
Note: For now, DDR4 supports only Intel’s X99 chipset (found on Intel, Gigabyte & ASUS motherboards) and Intel Haswel-E processor.
Here are the number, DDR3 against DDR4.
| Description | DDR3 | DDR4 | Advantage |
| Chip Densities | 512Mb-8Gb | 4GB-16GB | Larger DIMM Capacities |
| Data Rates | 800Mb/s – 2133Mb/s | 1600Mb/s – 3200Mb/s | Migration to Higher-Speed I/O |
| Voltage | 1.5V | 1.2V | Reduced Memory Power Demand |
| Low Voltage Standard | Yes (DDR3L at 1.35V) | Anticipated at 1.05V | Memory Power Reductions |
| Internal Banks | 8 | 16 | More Banks |
| Bank Groups (BG) | 0 | 4 | Faster Burst Accesses |
| VREF inputs | 2 – DQs and CMD/ADDR | 1 – CMD/ADDR | VREFDQ Now Internal |
| DQ Bus | SSTL15 | POD12 | Less I/O Noise and Power |
| RTT Values (in Ω) | 120, 60, 40, 30, 20 | 240, 120, 80, 60, 48, 40, 34 | Support for Higher Data Rates |
| RTT Not Allowed | READ Bursts | Disables during Read Bursts | Ease-of-Use |
| ODT Modes | Nominal, Dynamic | Nominal, Dynamic, Park | Add’l Control Mode; OTF Value Change |
| ODT Control | ODT Signaling Required | ODT Signaling NOT Required | Ease of ODT Control; Allows Non-ODT Routing, PtP Apps |
| Multi-Purpose Register | Four Registers – 1 Defined, 3 RFU | Four Registers – 3 Defined, 1 RFU | Provides Additional Specialty Readout |
| DIMM Pins | 240 (R, LR, U); 204 (SODIMM) | 288 (R, LR, U); 260 (SODIMM) |
In short, DDR4 memory offers increased frequencies, has a lower voltage, runs more efficiently, and has an improved chip density with the added benefit of using less power, running faster and cooler. There is no doubt that this is the future, the only roadblock like all new technologies is the asking price.
Upgrading to DDR4 worth the price?
The cost of switching will be not only the memory but also a motherboard (based on Intel’s new X99 chipset) that supports DDR4 and and CPU (some of the latest ones are compatible though). Even the cheapest X99 motherboard – Asus X99-PRO 64GB DDR4 Intel Motherboard will cost above INR 25,000. Common DDR3 motherboards fall in all sorts of price ranges from INR 2,000 onwards. Similarly a 16GB memory module for DDR4 RAM will cost around INR 25,000. For a DDR3 module of same 16GB size will cost half the price, i.e. around INR 13,000. As it comes turns, DDR4 memory is quite an expensive affair in comparison to DDR3, so DDR4 will be a luxury and not a necessity for quite some time, but as prices decrease eventually it could be worthwhile to upgrade from DDR3. The performance increase is not lucrative enough especially for gaming where In terms of actual gameplay performance the difference is negligible.
You can check out our review of the Adata DDR4 RAM here.
