DDR4 memory: Twice the speed, less power

The JEDEC Solid State Technology Association has published the specifications for the next generation of synchronous DDR memory, which promises to double the speed of DDR3 while requiring less power to operate. "The publication of the JEDEC DDR4 standard represents the culmination of years of dedicated effort by memory device …

[Anonymous Coward]

Sort of...

While DDR4 DRAM has the potential to be twice as fast as DDR3, it isn't currently and isn't likely to be for years to come. In addition DDR4 uses point-to-point topology which is not desirable for most people because if makes adding DRAM impossible and an upgrade a very costly experience as all of the DRAM must be replaced. DDR4 is also going to be considerably more expensive than DDR3.

At the moment DDR4's primary market is servers as it doesn't offer any performance advantage for typical desktop use where DDR3 is far from being a system bottleneck. Potential doesn't = reality at this point in the DRAM game.

[Nigel 11]

Re: Sort of...

DDR3 was initially more expensive than DDR2, because DDR2 was the mainstream volume product and DDR3 the exotic new one. Today, DDR3 is the mainstream product and if you want to upgrade a system using DDR2, that upgrade will cost you more than the same amount of DDR3.

It'll be the same for DDR4 if it catches on. And if Intel backs it for the core-i4 or whatever they call it, then it most certainly will catch on!

As for upgrading a DDR4 system, I doubt that you are right. Chances are it'll be completely flexible and a system will work with 1-N sticks of DDR3, quite possibly even if they are all different sizes. There's already more flexibility than most people realize with DDR3 - matched pairs are best for performance but not mandatory (and give me 8Gb mismatched over 2Gb matched any day! )

[Boris S.]

Re: Sort of...

Nope. Your assumptions are incorrect. See the link below. Most of the DDR4 attributes have been or are being applied to DDR3 such as low voltage and faster frequencies. There is no need for DDR4 nor advantage for desktop use. Desktop mobo makers won't be rushing to DDR4 any time soon not will Intel for desktop use. Servers however can benefit from DDR4 and that's where it should be used.

Just increasing the bandwidth does not increase system performance if the current bandwidth isn't a system bottleneck, which DDR3 is not. These technical specs are designed to give manufacturers years to plan a logical migration when it's appropriate and there is an actual need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR4_SDRAM

[Suricou Raven]

Re: Sort of...

Making upgrades impossible, then? Well, now we know what future Apple computers will be using.

[Anonymous Coward]

Lots of testing has been done

Lots of testing with real applications, not synthetic benches has been conducted on PC's with various DDR3 RAM quanities and frequencies and there is no detectible bottleneck when the RAM is run at or above 1333 MHz. on both AMD and Intel desktops, other than with APUs where graphic speed can be modestly increased with the faster RAM. Since 1866 MHz. DDR3 RAM is priced ridiculously low and faster speeds are becoming readily available I don't envision DDR4 being needed for a long time.