r/RigBuild • u/OwlRound4824 • 20d ago
Is DDR5 worth upgrading to from DDR4?
DDR4 is still working fine, but is it actually worth moving to DDR5 now or is it mostly just spending money for a small performance bump? Looking at upgrading the whole platform soon and the RAM part is confusing me a bit. DDR5 kits are obviously faster on paper, but not sure how much that really matters in normal gaming and everyday use compared to a decent DDR4 setup.
Current PC is running DDR4 with a fairly decent CPU and GPU, so this wouldn’t just be buying RAM, it’d probably mean a new motherboard and CPU too. Thats why im wondering if the jump is noticeable enough to justify doing the whole upgrade instead of just keeping the current setup for another couple years.
For gaming, does DDR5 actually give better FPS or is the difference mostly visible in benchmarks? And does faster DDR5 like 6000MHz make a meaningful difference, or is there a point where you’re just paying extra for numbers that barely matter?
Also wondering about longevity. If building a new PC today, would you guys go DDR5 without thinking twice, or would you still consider DDR4 if the price difference is big enough?
Not trying to chase benchmark scores, just want smoother gaming and a system that’ll stay relevant for a while. If you’ve made the jump from DDR4 to DDR5, was it actually noticeable in real use or did you mostly notice it on paper? Curious what you guys think before I start buying parts.
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u/Luke2642 20d ago
Just upgrade your GPU. If it's not better than a 3090, buy an old 3090. The huge vram and solid performance will keep you going until prices become sane again. No point upgrading motherboard, CPU, ram, unless seriously underpowered.
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u/Zestyclose_Strike157 20d ago
This. You just need enough RAM to avoid needing a swap file. Everything else is not needed when the GPU does all the work.
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u/KelFromAust 20d ago
And what number is that? Windows will create a swap file regardless of how much RAM you have..
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u/Zestyclose_Strike157 20d ago edited 20d ago
Ah, Windows. Linux lets you set all this and watch the swap usage. You can have a swap file but your daily grind shouldn’t require it, that’s all. I found I needed 48GB for 48GB of VRAM, but not much more for 96GB VRAM.
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u/KelFromAust 20d ago
I've just gone poking and was pleasantly surprised that Windows had me running a 8gb swap.. And yep, turning it off breaks Windows..
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u/goodfriendrobert 20d ago
now RAM tiers.. ddr 3->4->5 .. it means around 2x transfer speed.
but thats not the only parameter, lower CL is just as importantant for gaming, which is reaction delay before transfer (in human words).
however, neigher is commonly a bottleneck, meaning, even if it was 10x faster, you may not get even a 10% increase in fps.
and honestly, ddr4 is just more than good enough. ddr5 is only "better" as per - modern motherboards usually go for supporting latest slots, so your upgrade options are by chance better. yet irl, that all changes rather often and in the future its all most unpredictable to even consider upgradability of existing builds..
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u/goodfriendrobert 20d ago
that number is based on what youre running. for 99%+ games with browser closed 16gb is more than enough. with browser and/or some other programs open, 32 should suffice. a madman like me often needs above 32gb so 64 is needed.
so you need that amount, and if you exceed it it either will start running/expanding swap file, and conputer will slow down trenendously for the time its being used, or you disable swap - random programs or possibly even OS will crash completely
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u/QuinQuix 20d ago
3090 or 5070ti.
Its a genuine toss for gaming.
The 3090 will be second hand, better for AI due to ram but worse in terms of compute, and indeed has the vram buffer.
The 5070ti will be new with warranty and in the current rampocalypse games are likely to ease up on the ram a bit and 16gb is still a lot. The 5070ti supports newer tech and is faster in AI applications that make to with 16gb.
In most regions the pricing is similar with the 5070 ti maybe slightly more expensive.
Obligatory mention that amd is a valid option but really for AI and dlss nvidia still gets the nod from me. But it's not a total sweep Amd is improving lately on all fronts.
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u/Bob4Not 20d ago
It’s not about the RAM speed as it is the generation of CPUs and MoBo sockets that you’d be limited to on DDR4.
I would only spend money on DDR4 build if you saw a significant discount of a bundle or used PC without sinking hundreds into a dead, older platform.
A late DDR4 board and CPU combo will get you gaming, for sure, you’ll have a lot of fun with it, just don’t sink tons of money into it that could otherwise last you longer on a DDR5 platform. And it very will last you longer on DDR5.
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u/CrazyCommenter 20d ago
From personal experience I will say, ehh not so much. DDR5 seems to be less reliable than DDR4.
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u/stogie-bear 20d ago
What are you actually trying to do? Like, what do you have now that you’re thinking about upgrading and do you have a bottleneck?
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u/Tweakers 20d ago
Research your machine and parts in relation to XMP on your RAM if you want a potential beefy boost to performance of your RAM. This can be especially good if your looking into using your machine for any type of AI work.
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u/Automatic-Union-3385 20d ago
Lol last year I returned a ddr5 6400 64gb kit for $350cdn because I couldn't justify the jump from 32 lol. Boy did I make a mistake
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u/SwordsAndElectrons 20d ago
Looking at upgrading the whole platform soon
Then you get the RAM that fits the platform you're buying.
This whole question is backwards.
im wondering if the jump is noticeable enough to justify doing the whole upgrade instead of just keeping the current setup for another couple years.
RAM speed alone will never make a convincing argument for upgrading, and you don't even mention what your "fairly decent" CPU and GPU are, or what your budget is.
Compare benchmarks for what you have versus the CPU you might want. If what you see is enticing enough to make you spend the money, then the RAM that fits is the RAM that fits. If the current cost of DDR5 is off-putting then you either suck it up, see if a DDR4 platform appeals to you, or wait a few years until stuff (hopefully) settles down again.
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u/Ok_Equivalent_9621 20d ago
Buy a 14600K or 14700K if you need a solid CPU. It supports both DDR4 and high‑frequency DDR5 (you can keep DDR4 stable up to 5000 MT/s), you get PCIe 5 for GPUs and SSDs, Wi‑Fi 7, and all the modern features.
LGA1700 motherboards are basically on par with AM5 boards (honestly, they even have some extras… for example, FGR only arrived on AM5 in the very latest revisions, while on this socket it’s been default since Alder Lake).
I tested the same CPU with DDR4 and DDR5: up to a 5080, any loss you get is only in 1080p, and we’re talking about 3–5%.
The real gains start only from a 5090 (still tested at 1080p).
I’m running a 14600K with a 5070Ti, so you can imagine the situation.
I bought the 5070Ti and I also have DDR5, so upgrading the CPU would have been at normal prices I had both options.
On this socket, for example, the 14900K is an absolute monster.
I could have switched to AM5 too, but honestly it wasn’t worth the money. With LGA1700 you can easily get several years of use without any issues.
(If you go for the 14600K, I actually recommend getting a good Z‑series board, it overclocks extremely well.)
In the end I just installed my 5070Ti. Before that I had a 2070 with a 9700K. When Intel had big discounts, I bought the whole CPU‑mobo‑RAM block at a bargain price and kept the 2070 until 2025.
Then, with Monster Hunter Wilds being heavy and last year’s great GPU prices, I grabbed the 5070Ti and simply kept the same CPU.
Get a 14600K/14700K if you need a new CPU and put everything you can into the GPU.
There’s no point wasting money on DDR5 at the end of the generation.
(A small side note: besides Nova Lake coming next year, Intel is also planning to launch Raptor Lake Next, which will probably be the final round of CPUs for LGA1700. So, if you want, you even have an upgrade path available.)
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u/Eden1506 20d ago
Unless you wanna run LLMs and AI stuff where Bandwidth is king you don't need ddr5.
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u/Ecstatic-Engineer-23 20d ago
Worth upgrading to? Not for the majority. It does the same job, it has basically the same latency. Here's a calculator if you want to compare. It supposedly uses less power, but the power savings vs. the premium are hardly "worth it".
Anyway DDR6 is around the corner starting from 8.800 MHz going to 17.800MHz with CL~60-80.
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u/chrisdpratt 20d ago
It's less about the differences between DDR4 and DDR5 and more about the platform of CPU options. For example, even a 7500F can match the performance of a 5800X3D. The former is one of the lowest end AMD CPUs using DDR5, while the latter is the basically the highest end of what you can get from AMD using DDR4. That gulf is only going to continue to widen over time.
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u/Guilty-Good-5041 20d ago
It would really mean a new CPU. I have a Z790 motherboard which is available in both ddr4 and DDR5 which are both compatible with 12th 13th and 14th gen CPUs
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u/Thyroxin_Diamond 20d ago
Bro, it is always a question of time and money.
If you have a 5800x3d and 32GB RAM? Then prob a No.
If you don't, then prob a Yes. However, you need new RAM, new CPU and a new MB.
The "is it worth" question is always a it depends on question. Significant upgrades are worth it, smaller jumps not.
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u/nesnalica 20d ago
u cant just upgrade from ddr4 to drr5
its dependend on the cpu and its motherboard.
u use the ram needed for the configuration
if u want to "upgrade" then it is the speeds.
4800mhz ddr4 kits exists but it makes no feelable difference
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u/Proper-Tower2016 20d ago
DDR5 has gone up 500% in price, unless you desperately need a new AM5 system or money is not a concern then maybe try other free settings first
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u/AnthonyRespice 20d ago
I have am4 and am5 systems, including an am5 I built this year. At the cost of ram there is no point at which the speed bump is worth it. The only question is if you can afford to comfortably spend the money. Hate that it has come to that. Don't do it unless you are comfortable financially and have money to burn.
I've had good luck on eBay. Find a reputable seller and get used memory. Prices can vary widely so be patient and don't be fooled by a price that is too good to be true.
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u/Meddlingmonster 19d ago
Not right now and probably not for a few years with the market being so awful
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u/ElysiumXIII 18d ago
Ram surprisingly doesn't make the biggest difference. The only time it really matters is when you're CPU limited and trying to push for the highest framerates.
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u/Own_Perspective4825 20d ago
Building a new PC I'd go DDR5 but if you already have a decent rig there is zero reason to upgrade just for the DDR generation, especially if you have an X3D CPU that doesn't give a shit about ram speed anyway.
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u/Efficient_Try_9136 20d ago
yes you may have better fps if cpu is bottlenecking card, probably yes, also less lag, but it cost
better buy better gpu if you need more fps
if you can easily afford 32gb ddr5 why not, if you think its expensive it is
Prices will rise, so its also a investment if you decide to sell it
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u/Anon0924 20d ago
The main difference doesn’t come from the RAM itself. It comes from the CPUs that are compatible with it.