DDR5 RAM has been technically available on all major computing platforms since the release of Alder Lake and the Z690 chipset, though most PC gamers and build enthusiasts were put off before buying due to the astronomical price tag. Fortunately, the cost of DDR5 RAM is falling fast, dropping 20% in just four weeks.
As reported by VideoCardz (Opens in a new tab) (with reports from ComputerBase (Opens in a new tab)), DDR5-4800 memory is now available for less than €5 per gigabyte (about €5/€ 4 / AU$7). 50), a huge improvement over the €15 per gigabyte average (around £16 / £13 / AU$22) we were seeing at the end of 2021.
In practical purchasing terms, this means that while a standard kit of 32GB of DDR5-4800 memory was priced at €470 (£500 / £400 / AU$700) at the end of 2021, it will now set you back £154 more. reasonable (€165). / €131 / AU$230).
For the sake of transparency, the study lists 200 different DDR5 kits, although it goes without saying that since the original report was in euros, and prices may not reflect other regions fully accurately, we're seeing a similar drop in prices. DDR5 prices across the market. .
Supply was expected to improve in the second half of 2022, which should have a positive impact on prices, so this news comes a little earlier than expected, but it will be particularly welcome for anyone planning to build their first PC. or update your current one. system in the coming months.
Nvidia plans to announce its next generation of graphics cards in the coming months, including the GeForce RTX 4070 and GeForce RTX 4080, and Intel already has DDR5-compatible motherboards on the market with the launch of its Alder Lake series of processors.
AMD is not far behind with its Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 series, which will require a socket AM5 platform motherboard, although it is feared that AMD has not confirmed support for DDR4 alongside DDR5.
Still, if you were planning a full next-gen upgrade, chances are you can pull it off by the time Lovelace hits the market...if you're quick enough to pick up a new GPU in the inevitable rush.
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However, all of these next-gen builds have a problem: you may need to upgrade most of your existing system to support them. It's a frustrating little circle: If you want to use DDR5 RAM, you'll need a new motherboard, and to use that new motherboard, you'll need to upgrade your processor.
Increasingly affordable DDR5 should definitely take advantage, but it's still not ideal for people who just want to keep their system relatively up to date, especially with rumors that AM5 may not be compatible with the current generation of DDR4 memory for AMD fans.
To rub some more salt in those wounds, here's the current state of DDR4 prices. It was widely believed that as DDR5 began to gain awareness and market share, the previous generation of memory would start to see a significant reduction in price... we just haven't seen anything about it yet.
If you're not in a hurry to be an early adopter of next-gen technology, rest assured that DDR4 will remain relevant and capable for a few years to come; after all, it took DDR4 about three years to outperform its predecessor. and processors don't need to be upgraded as often as you might think.