The term RAM or an abbreviation of Random-access memory is a form of computer data storage that stores data and machine code that is being used. RAM memory allows data items to be read or written at the same amount of time regardless of the physical location of the data in memory. RAM consists of multiplexing and demultiplexing circuits that function to connect the data network to designated storage for reading and writing entries. Usually, more than 1 bit of storage is accessed by the same address, and RAM devices have multiple data networks and are referred to as “8-bit” or “16-bit” devices, and so on.
What is DDR RAM?
The term “DDR” stands for Double Data Rate RAM. This term came into use at the turn of the century when Double Data Rate RAM modules first arrived. Double Data Rate RAM is capable of two data transfers per clock cycle, giving it twice the theoretical peak bandwidth of the previous SDRAM while running at the same clock speed.
What is DDR3?
The term DDR3 is an acronym for Double Data Rate version 3. It is a crucial type of third-gen SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), mainly used as a type of system memory. The DDR3 can easily transfer data and info from one location to the other at a very high speed. It self-refreshes and auto-refreshes its content. The self-refresh mode allows lesser consumption of power as compared to the DDR2.
In the case of DDR3, the clock speed varies from about 800 MHz (Megahertz) to 2133 MHz. Here, 2133 MHz becomes the peak speed in a few cases. The usual clock speeds vary between 1600 Mhz and 1800 MHz, in general.
What is DDR4?
The term DDR4 is an acronym for Double Data Rate version 4. It is the very latest variant of RAM- widely deployed in the next-gens of computing. It has a higher rate of data transfer and a very decreased voltage- thus offering a better optimum efficiency at a higher speed.
The DDR4 only performs self-refresh to refresh its overall content- thus consuming less power. In this case, the minimum clock speed is about 2133 MHz. Also, it does not have any defined maximum clock speed.
DDR3 vs DDR4
| DDR3 | DDR4 |
|---|---|
| DDR3 RAM stands for Double Data Rate version 3. | DDR4 RAM stands for Double Data Rate version 4. |
| DDR3 RAM was introduced in 2007. | DDR4 was reading released in 2014. |
| The cost of DDR3 is lesser than DDR4. | DDR4 cost is higher or more than DDR3. |
| DDR3 consumes less power than DDR2 but more than DDR4. | DDR4 consumes less power than DDR3. |
| The speed of DDR3 is slow in comparison to DDR4. | DDR4 speed is faster than DDR3. |
| DDR3 maximum memory size is 16 GB. | DDR4 has no maximum limit or capability. |
| The clock speed of DDR3 varies from 400 MHz to 1066 MHz. | The clock speed of DDR4 varied from 1066 to 2133 MHz. |
| DDR3 has lower latency than DDR4. | DDR4 has more latency than DDR3. |
| DDR3 has lower latency | DDR4 has more latency than DDR3 |
| Auto-refresh and self-refresh are performed for content. | Only self-refresh is performed for a content. |
| DDR3 RAM includes ECC memory, which compresses extra data byte lanes. | DDR4 RAM offers computing capabilities on different platforms like smartphones, tablets, PC, laptops, etc. |
| DDR3 RAM works on 1.50 V voltage | DDR3 RAM works on 1.20 V voltage. |
| DDR3 RAM has a 240-pin interface. | DDR4 RAM has a 288-pin interface. |
| This type of DDR RAM is backward compatible with the older RAM generations. | This type of DDR RAM is not backward compatible with the older generation’s RAM. |
| Decade-old demand for DDR3 RAM is waning. | The demand for DDR4 RAM is on a constant rise because of its implementation of emerging technologies. |
What you need to know
- Among the most significant improvements made by DDR4 over DDR3 are its available clock speeds, timings, decreased power consumption, reduced latency, etc.
- Users of DDR3 had four different choices in terms of clock speed – 1333Mhz, 1600Mhz, 2133Mhz, and 1866Mhz. 800Mhz, as well as 1066Mhz configurations, are still existent in ddr3 ram, but they are slowing, giving way to faster products. The 28GB DDR4 configuration, along with multiple variants of 32GB sticks clocked to 3000Mhz, are making waves in the ddr4 market space.
- The maximum possible limit of memory stored on one motherboard in DDR3 configuration systems is 128GB. On the other hand, DDR4 can story memory of up to four times over that amount, with the optimum range reaching 512GB.