What is DDR in layman's terms?

[Cruxell]

Please give a comprehensive explanation.

 

[SinxarKnights]

DDR = Double Data Rate.

Meaning for every clock tick in the computer, it can send two bits of data instead of just one.

 

[Cruxell]

DDR = Double Data Rate.

Meaning for every clock tick in the computer, it can send two bits of data instead of just one.

Yeah, but could you explain the difference between different DDR's (e.g. DDR3 and DDR4)? What are the pros and cons of having the former and the latter of the two aforementioned DDR's? Which all PC parts have DDR?

 

[tsnor]

Detailed explanation hit wikipedia.

Simple explanation (no flames for 95% right information that blurs the last 5%) :

DDR is a kind of Memory. The terms DDR3, DDR4 etc. only every refer to memory. Memory is fast short term storage for data that comes from your disk or from the internet. When you power off data is memory is lost.

The number on DDR, e.g. the 3 in DDR3, refer to the generation of memory. All ddr 3 memory works roughly the same, DDR4 is an incompatible break from DDR3. All DDR4 memory works the same.

The Motherboard or lately the CPU have "memory controllers" that must understand what kind of DDR memory is being used. Some configs support DDR3, some support DDR4, some support both.

DDR4 is faster than DDR3. You want DDR4 if you are buying new and your CPU/MB supports it. DDR3 support on new MB/CPUs is so you can use your old DDR3 memory when upgrading.

PCs with DDR4 are not that much faster than PCs with DDR3. An old i5 with DDR3 is still within 10-20% of a new i5 with DDR4. The performance changes are incremental, not game changing. If you had a CPU/MB with support for both DDR3 and DDR4, and you currently had DDR3 you would not upgrade to DDR4. Compare that to new generations of video card where it's very reasonable to keep CPU/MB/Memory, upgrade video and see a huge difference.

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