DDR type for me?

[oliver555]

Hi Folks,

I am not a gamer, but do like my computer zippy with multi tasks / multiple browsers open at the same time. I got myself 16GB of 1600 DDR3 RAM (2x8GB), but, I never considered DDR4 assuming it was for gamers and the like. I also assumed it was expensive, but I've seen it's actually cheaper. So, is DDR4 better or worse for someone like me? I saw that is has higher latency but it has better bandwidth. So, I'm not sure if bang for buckwise which I would be better off with?

Thanks All!

 

[glamdringfh]

Hi oliver,

Your motherboard (and CPU) determines what type of RAM you can use.

Unless you have a brand new Z170 motherboard you probably won't be able to run DDR4. I recommend looking at your motherboard manual or searching for it online to determine what RAM you can successfully use in your system.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Not a big difference Oliver , take a look.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8959/ddr4-haswell-e-scaling-review-2133-to-3200-with-gskill-corsair-adata-and-crucial/8
Comparing DDR3 to DDR4

Z97 = DDR3
Z170=DDR4

 

[Tradesman1]

It comes down to the platform you plan to run, which you haven't identified, though sounds like you have bought a DDR3 based mobo and CPU

 

[utroz]

X99 uses DDR4 as well as Amd's Merlin Falcon (FP4 embedded carrizo) cpus and apus..

 

[InvalidError]

Right now, the only CPUs that can use DDR4 are Intel's LGA2011v3 and Skylake models. Everything else only works with DDR3.

 

[oliver555]

Thanks All,

You're quite right, my mobo wouldn't be able to take DDR4. I am still wondering hypothetically, if I'd notice benefits with my usage. If there's at the very least no loss in performance, it looks like it would be better value for money because for the same price or less than DDR3 dual channel, I could have four channel with the DDR4. Thanks for all the responses.