DDR5 Memory Spec: DDR5-6400 And Beyond

[reactor_sa]

Source

Originally planned for release in 2018, today’s release of the DDR5 specification puts things a bit behind JEDEC’s original schedule, but it doesn’t diminish the importance of the new memory specification. Like every iteration of DDR before it, the primary focus for DDR5 is once again on improving memory density as well as speeds. JEDEC is looking to double both, with maximum memory speeds set to reach at least 6.4Gbps while the capacity for a single, packed-to-the-rafters LRDIMM will eventually be able to reach 2TB. All the while, there are several smaller changes to either support these goals or to simplify certain aspects of the ecosystem, such as on-DIMM voltage regulators as well as on-die ECC.

 

[reactor_sa]

I guess the new standard will be uber expensive for awhile until it becomes the mainstream replacement for DDR4.

 

[JollyJamma]

I guess the new standard will be uber expensive for awhile until it becomes the mainstream replacement for DDR4.

Tons of people are speculating that it'll be a feature of AM5 and the next Intel chipset.

All of the vloggers like Gamers Nexus and Jay have hushed the idea that it'll be on chipsets any time soon. It'll be tested for ages until it makes it to the mainstream public.

As Steve said, Good DDR4 is going to be faster than new DDR5 anyway.

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Can't wait for ITX motherboards with 1 DIMM slot. There will also be more laptops with dual channel.

 

[reactor_sa]

Can't wait for ITX motherboards with 1 DIMM slot. There will also be more laptops with dual channel.

Maybe it will prevent them from soldering dimms on some smaller Ultrabooks, probably not though, but at least those models will have dual channel instead of single.

 

[M@tree2]

Maybe it will prevent them from soldering dimms on some smaller Ultrabooks, probably not though, but at least those models will have dual channel instead of single.

Dual channel, yeah it's great, but when we have quad channel laptops, then I'll be excited...

 

[M@tree2]

Tons of people are speculating that it'll be a feature of AM5 and the next Intel chipset.

All of the vloggers like Gamers Nexus and Jay have hushed the idea that it'll be on chipsets any time soon. It'll be tested for ages until it makes it to the mainstream public.

As Steve said, Good DDR4 is going to be faster than new DDR5 anyway.

What do we classify as good DDR4?
3600MHz, 4000MHz + ?
Because at 3200MHz you can't saturate memory channels.

So I assume you are referring to 3600MHz + ?

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Hopefully it makes it onto Zen 4 and Alder lake motherboards in 2022.

But DDR5 will probably start out at 4800Mhz first, just like DDR4 started at 2400Mhz when it was first adopted for desktops with the faster speeds later on.

 

[JollyJamma]

What do we classify as good DDR4?
3600MHz, 4000MHz + ?
Because at 3200MHz you can't saturate memory channels.

So I assume you are referring to 3600MHz + ?

Fast speeds, low latency.

3200CL14, 3600CL16

Samsung A Die sucks compared to B Die. A Die came out before B die.

As a process matures, you get better products.

 

[M@tree2]

Fast speeds, low latency.

3200CL14, 3600CL16

Samsung A Die sucks compared to B Die. A Die came out before B die.

As a process matures, you get better products.

Agreed, but above 3600 CL is no longer relevant, as the frequency offsets the CL.
Haven't heard of Samsung A die tbh.
Micron E is looking really good though.

Also, 3200 for throughput doesn't actually cut it, if you are looking for total throughput.
So I agree 3200CL14 is great (8.75ns) return, but 3600CL16 is (8.89ns) and you saturate the total throughput of the channel, which is ultimately what you are aiming to achieve with faster memory.

 

[M@tree2]

Hopefully it makes it onto Zen 4 and Alder lake motherboards in 2022.

But DDR5 will probably start out at 4800Mhz first, just like DDR4 started at 2400Mhz when it was first adopted for desktops with the faster speeds later on.

Intel rumored to have it from next year, along with PCIe 4.0, but think late next year.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Intel rumored to have it from next year, along with PCIe 4.0, but think late next year.

I doubt it. They still need to bring out Rocket Lake S on LGA1200 with PCIe 4.0 support and I doubt we will see that this year given the fact that Comet Lake just launched and they can't even keep the 10900k in stock.

Late 2021 at best but with COVID it's more like 2022 for LGA1700 and Alder Lake with DDR5.

 

[M@tree2]

I doubt it. They still need to bring out Rocket Lake S on LGA1200 with PCIe 4.0 support and I doubt we will see that this year given the fact that Comet Lake just launched and they can't even keep the 10900k in stock.

Late 2021 at best but with COVID it's more like 2022 for LGA1700 and Alder Lake with DDR5.

Comet lake was DOA though, they literally took the architecture of the 10900X, put it on a smaller die and expected it to stay cool, IMO cooling the 10900K is going to be an issue.
Rocket lake was rumored to be late 2020.
But I don't know anymore.

 

[reactor_sa]

Source

As for when we'll actually use DDR5 memory, it won't be this year, and maybe not next year either. AMD has already confirmed its Zen 3-based Epyc "Milan" server CPUs will use DDR4 memory, and we can assume the same is true of its desktop variants.

A few months ago, Gamers Nexus (via TomsHardware), spied an AMD roadmap it received from insider, which pointed to a platform in 2022 as being the first to support DDR5 (and USB4).

In any event, the ball is already rolling, and has been even before the DDR5 specification was finalized. Micron, for example, was sampling DDR5 server memory back in January. Nevertheless, if you build a PC within the next year, it will likely still use DDR4 memory.

Guess we won't see it on desktop until 2022

 

[JollyJamma]

What do we classify as good DDR4?

We won't be using it any time soon.