In fact, socket AM5 only brings DDR5 support. Unlike rival Intel, who opted to support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with their Alder Lake (12th Gen Core) CPUs, AMD is only supporting DDR5 on the AM5 platform. This is a true platform limitation, and there is no going back.
No. There are no DDR4 motherboard variants. AMD's AM5 motherboards only offer support for DDR5.
With the release of AMD's Ryzen 7000-series CPUs comes a new socket type, AM5, and new motherboards. The platform change also means a new type of system memory is needed, DDR5. This RAM type is faster than DDR4 and supports higher capacities.
It is reported by Chinese sources close to MSI manufacturing process, that the company has decided to phase out some DDR4 motherboard series. The board makers have every reason to focus on DDR5 technology as current Intel and AMD fans shift their interest to modern memory standards.
Both X670 and B650 motherboards support DDR5 RAM only. This means none of them supports DDR4 RAM, and this is primarily because AMD5 supports only DDR5 RAM.
Just to clarify DDR5 is not backwards compatible with DDR4, it's a completely different DIMM slot. There will be DDR4 and DDR5 Alder Lake motherboards, but you have to pick which memory type you want to use, this is very important information for those upgrading.
Compared to DDR4, DDR5 RAM kits have a higher base speed, support higher-capacity DIMM modules (also called RAM sticks), and consume less power for the same performance specs as the previous generation. However, DDR4 still holds some key advantages, like overall lower latency and better stability.
As of February 2023, DDR6 is confirmed to be in development, with Samsung announcing at its Tech Day that DDR6 is expected to arrive as modules for commercial use in 2025.
Generally, you could last around 8 to 12 years before needing an upgrade but that is only if you want to play the latest games without consuming too much memory.
So ten years. By the time DDR4 is phased out it should be around the same 9-10 year mark since it was brought in around 2014.
In fact, socket AM5 only brings DDR5 support. Unlike rival Intel, who opted to support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with their Alder Lake (12th Gen Core) CPUs, AMD is only supporting DDR5 on the AM5 platform. This is a true platform limitation, and there is no going back.
During the launch event, AMD committed to supporting the AM5 socket until 2025, giving it a shelf-life of at least three years.
Performance
The AM5 socket uses DDR5 memory which has higher bandwidth and lower latency than DDR4 used by the AM4 socket, meaning overall better performance from the AM5 socket compared to AM4.
AMD AM5 socket confirmed to be LGA and is backward compatible with AM4 coolers.
The 13th Generation Intel® Desktop Processors support DDR5 (Up to 4800/5600 MTs) & DDR4 (Up to 3200 MT/s) speeds. While the 12th Generation Intel® Desktop Processors support DDR5 (Up to 4800 MT/s) & DDR4 (Up to 3200 MT/s) speeds.
The maximum total RAM supported by the platform is 128GB of DDR5, presumably under a 4+ DIMM configuration.
32GB of RAM is considered high and is generally overkill for most users. For most everyday use and basic tasks such as web browsing, email, and basic office work, 8GB of RAM is more than enough. Even for gaming or video editing, 16GB is typically sufficient.
DDR5 memory will eventually become the standard for PCs, but for now its predecessor DDR4 still remains relevant and worthy of consideration when building or upgrading a computer for gaming or work.
The speed and capacity of your PC's system memory or RAM can significantly affect your computer's startup speed. Nevertheless, adding more RAM will only be helpful up to a certain point. Adding too much RAM will eventually jeopardize the computer's performance, even when you have enough of it.
Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 16GB (2 x 8GB) 4400MHz Performance Memory Kit - PVS416G440C9K.
It offers some very good memory kits, usually at attractive prices. The XPG Lancer DDR5-6000 RGB kit is a perfect example. At 6000MHz, it's a fast kit, and at the time of writing, it's typically cheaper than competing 6000MHz kits and hardly any more than a good 5200MHz kit.
You can never have enough memory bandwidth, and DDR5 helps feed that insatiable need for speed. While DDR4 DIMMs top out at 3.2 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) at a clock rate of 1.6 gigahertz (GHz), initial DDR5 DIMMs deliver a 50% bandwidth increase to 4.8 GT/s.
Is 64/128 GB of RAM Overkill? For the majority of users, it is. If you plan on building a PC purely for gaming and some general, basic, everyday activity, 64 GB of RAM is just too much. The amount of RAM you need will ultimately depend on your workload.
The performance uplift is there, but it doesn't warrant an upgrade. Yes, DDR5 helps improve your frame rates, but you also need to keep your expectations in check. So unless you're a hardcore gamer that doesn't like knowing you're leaving performance on the table, you shouldn't pick up DDR5.
If you're building a new system in 2023, DDR5 may be worth considering for future-proofing and better performance. However, if you're on a budget or have a system that already uses DDR4, sticking with DDR4 is a viable option as well. Consider your specific needs and budget before making a decision.