What is the Difference Between DDR3 and DDR4?

The main differences between DDR3 and DDR4 RAM include speed, power consumption, and voltage levels. Here is a comparison of the two:

1. Speed: DDR4 is generally faster than DDR3. DDR3 specifications range between 800 to 2,133 MTps (millions of transfers per second), while DDR4 speeds start at 1,866 MTps and can go up to 4,000 MTps or more.
2. Power Consumption: DDR4 modules are more energy-efficient, operating at 1.2V compared to DDR3's 1.5V or 1.35V. This reduction in power consumption results in lower power and cooling requirements.
3. Voltage: DDR4 tends to run at 1.2 volts by default, whereas DDR3 runs at 1.5V. This 20% improvement in efficiency between generations translates to lower power consumption and heat generation.
4. Pin Count and Compatibility: DDR3 RAM uses a 240-pin connector, while DDR4 uses a 288-pin connector. DDR4 is not backward-compatible with DDR3, meaning a DDR4 DIMM will not fit on a DDR3 DIMM slot.
5. Bandwidth: DDR4 provides more bandwidth than DDR3. For example, DDR4-2133 offers 21.3GB/s of bandwidth compared to 12.8GB/s for DDR3-2133.

Real-world performance differences between DDR3 and DDR4 are not always noticeable in everyday applications and games, with the difference between DDR3-2133 and DDR4-2133 being negligible in some cases. However, DDR4 generally offers better performance, especially in more demanding applications and environments.

Comparative Table: DDR3 vs DDR4

DDR3 and DDR4 are both types of computer memory (RAM), but they have some key differences. Here is a table comparing the main differences between DDR3 and DDR4:

DDR3 RAM has a 240-pin interface, and its clock speed ranges from 800 MHz to 2133 MHz. It was introduced in 2007 and is backward compatible with older RAM generations. DDR3 RAM works on 1.50 V voltage. It has lower latency compared to DDR4.

DDR4 RAM has a 288-pin interface and is not backward compatible with older RAM generations. It requires a lower voltage (1.20 V) and has a higher operating speed compared to DDR3. DDR4 RAM has more latency than DDR3. Its transfer rates range from 1866 MT/s to 3200 MT/s.