AMD, where's DDR5?

[Haswellx86]

DDR5 is around for a while now and AMD still got no support for it on the desktop (but on laptops with 6000 series). Despite adding multiple SKUs in the lineup like the 5800x3D, was it so hard for them to add a few processors with support of DDR5? I know that DDR5 is coming for 7000 series, but they are still months away, and how we all know that Ryzen benefits with faster RAM, why hasn't AMD implemented yet? Do they like need to change the whole microarchitecture or something?

[Skiiwee29]

It's an architectural change that's required to implement on the integrated memory controllers. They can't just up and change mid cycle. 

[Haswellx86]

But I mean yeah, it does need some work, but only SOME. And we should be hungry for those CPUs with DDR5.

[Allyxxx]

3 minutes ago, RTXboy123 said:

Do they like need to change the whole microarchitecture or something?

This is my guess and I am okay with things still being DDR4 considering how much DDR5 would cost for the next couple of years. It certainly makes things easier for me to upgrade.

[Middcore]

Even if the processors supported it, there would then have to be AM4 DDR5 motherboards. Think how small the potential market for those would be: you're looking for people who have such a boner for DDR5 that they're willing to buy a new board just to get it and can't wait until when AM5 comes out, but are OK with still being stuck on a dead platform when AM5 does release in just a few months. That's probably like... 8 people. It's just not worth it, especially when the board manufacturers are going to have to tool up for their AM5 boards as well.

 

Furthermore, DDR5 right now doesn't come close to bringing enough performance gains to justify it's extra cost, the only people going DDR5 with Alder Lake right now are those who want it for "future proofing" or those who have no choice because the board they want for some other feature only comes in a DDR5 version.  

[Helpful Tech Witch]

DDR5 needs new motherboard slots
It needs new tracelayouts on the board.

It needs changes on the silicon die itself, in the memory controler.

You also need to just... have the time to implement it. 


since ddr5 is still super expencive, so theres not much of a point yet, so waiting 6 months wont hurt.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

1 minute ago, RTXboy123 said:

But I mean yeah, it does need some work, but only SOME. And we should be hungry for those CPUs with DDR5.

no, its needs a lot of work. You need to completly redesign the memory controler, then every cpu that was made before the change wouldnt support it. People would buy it. 

[Somerandomtechyboi]

Also ddr5 is useless atm, ballistix oced to even a measly 4000 cl16 will crush ddr5, esp if you go further and oc to 4600-5000 cl18, im not even mentioning ludicrous b die kits that can do these speeds at cl16 1.7v+

[Blademaster91]

11 minutes ago, RTXboy123 said:

But I mean yeah, it does need some work, but only SOME. And we should be hungry for those CPUs with DDR5.

It needs a ton of work and it will be a while before DDR5 really gets ahead of DDR4 in speeds you would notice in average use or gaming, you would only really want DDR5 if you need faster ram for a specific application. I'm fine with DDR4 as its cheaper and boards using it are much more affordable as well.

[Levent]

12 minutes ago, Somerandomtechyboi said:

Also ddr5 is useless atm, ballistix oced to even a measly 4000 cl16 will crush ddr5, esp if you go further and oc to 4600-5000 cl18, im not even mentioning ludicrous b die kits that can do these speeds at cl16 1.7v+

Yeah righttttt. Like every chip can run DDR4 4000C16 let alone 4500-5000C18.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

3 minutes ago, Levent said:

Yeah righttttt. Like every chip can run DDR4 4000C16 let alone 4500-5000C18.

Ballistix does 4000 cl16 at ~1.5v as a more average oc, and this is only the average 3000/3200 bin

 

4600+ maybe on a good board, but at these speeds volt is 1.6-1.7v and you need active cooling, 1.6v guaranteed safe due to some kits being specced for 1.6v but 1.7v is abit risky, over 1.7v is just stupid, actually hynix djr is also capable of these speeds but at much crappier timings, theres 5000mhz cl19 neo forza kit with djr instead of micron e/b or samsung b die though thats high binned djr

 

Theres a reason i mentioned ballistix specifically, but forgot to specify decent bin of b die and not the trash b die you get with your average corsair kit so oops

[YoungBlade]

The entire architecture of Zen 3 is built around DDR4. The IO die is a separate die, yes, but the way the Infinity Fabric works between dies is tied to the memory, so you'd need to completely redesign the architecture of the Core Complex and its interconnects to make it work with DDR5. This would bifurcate the current chiplet production for a very short lived product that would require new motherboards and chipsets on top of that.

 

The reason laptop parts can have DDR5 support is that they don't use chiplets. They are monolithic, so they are built from the ground up with each generation just like Intel chips. They were already redesigned in the move to 6nm anyway, so AMD had an opportunity to change the memory controller.

[freeagent]

AMD already said their new AM5 CPU’s will be memory overclocking champs.. chances they are waiting for AM4 stock to dwindle while DDR5 stock builds.