DDR5 RAM; the Next Generation of RAM; Let’s Take A Look of Its Progress

A typical modern computer still carries a DDR4 RAM while others still have the last gen's DDR3. But in the fast-paced motion of our technology advancements, everything seems short-lived where things can change in a short amount of time or even in a blink of an eye.

According to JEDEC, an organization setting the terms of computer memory standards, the next generation DDR5 will offer twice the speeds of current-gen DDR4 RAM. The organization will hold a demo of the new cards this coming June 2017, with finalizations set in place by 2018. DDR5 RAM will be more power efficient, yet the organization wasn't able to provide exact metrics illustrating how much.

JEDEC planned to provide double the bandwidth and density over DDR4 along with delivering improved channel efficiency. Enhancements will be combined with a more user-friendly interface for server and client platforms that enables high performance and improved power management in a wide variety of applications.

It might take long before DDR5 hits commercially, this delay might stem from the memory controllers in processors and SoCs that needs to be upgraded to natively support DDR5 technology. This redesigning process typically takes two to three years from conception to finalization.

According to Ars Technica, DDR4 was finalized in 2012 but wasn't until 2015 when the technology was able to reach the mainstream threshold. Consumer processors made by Intel and other companies supported the commercialization of DDR4; a similar trajectory is needed for DDR5 to traverse the same fate. If DDR5 will be the same with DDR4's development timeline, commercial DDR5 RAM will be expected to arrive in 2021.

As of now, there are no other metrics that can paint a vivid picture of what DDR5 RAM can bring; except for the fact that it doubles the speeds of the current-gen RAM technology. RAM technology is a crucial element of empowering computer which will take few more years, enough innovation in technology might push us to start exploring the idea of RAM-free setups.