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DDR5 vs DDR4 in 2026: what it actually costs

Updated Sep 12, 2026. Prices come from our catalogue and may have changed.

In today's catalogue the median DDR5 kit is $475 and the median DDR4 kit is $220, a median gap of $255. On two gaming builds generated against the same $1,000 budget, the DDR4 build came out $167 cheaper than the DDR5 build. So the platform step-up costs less than the sticker gap on memory alone — and the DDR5 build is the newer platform.

DDR5 vs DDR4 in our catalogue today

Scope: 32 GB kits (2×16 GB)

MetricDDR5DDR4
Cheapest part$430 (Lexar Thor Z - 32GB - DDR5 - 6000 MHz)$208 (SP Silicon Power Value Gaming - 32GB - DDR4 - 3200MHz)
Median price$475$220
Parts in catalogue85
Boards in catalogue2420
Speed (MT/s)6,000–6,0003,200–3,600
Capacity per stick (GB)16–1616–16

Same $1,000 budget, one build each side

DDR5 build — $1,027

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
  • Graphics: Sparkle Arc A310
  • Motherboard: GIGABYTE B650 Eagle
  • Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB White - 32GB - DDR5 - 6000MHz

DDR4 build — $860

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
  • Graphics: ASRock Arc B580
  • Motherboard: GIGABYTE B550M K
  • Memory: G.SKILL RipjawsV - 32GB - DDR4 - 3600MT/s

DDR4 costs $167 less than DDR5 on this $1,000 build.

Cheapest DDR5 parts

Cheapest DDR4 parts

Frequently asked questions

Can I use DDR4 memory in a DDR5 motherboard?

No. The two memory types are physically keyed differently, so a DDR4 module will not fit a DDR5 slot and vice versa. Your CPU and motherboard decide which one you buy: the Ryzen 5 8500G and B650 Eagle in our DDR5 build take DDR5 only, while the Ryzen 5 5500 and B550M K in the DDR4 build take DDR4 only.

Why is DDR5 so much more expensive than DDR4 right now?

In this catalogue the DDR5 side is simply the pricier part of the market: 8 DDR5 kits with a $475 median and a $430 cheapest option, against 5 DDR4 kits with a $220 median and a $208 cheapest option. That works out to a $255 median gap between the two sides. The DDR4 kits listed are also a step behind on speed — for example, the G.SKILL RipjawsV kit in our build is rated 3600MT/s.

Which side should I pick on a $1,000 budget?

Look at what each generated build actually did with the money. The DDR4 build totalled $860 and paired the Ryzen 5 5500 with an ASRock Arc B580 graphics card. The DDR5 build totalled $1,027 and paired the Ryzen 5 8500G with a Sparkle Arc A310. If gaming performance today matters most, the DDR4 build's $167 lower total went toward a stronger GPU. If you want the newer platform, the DDR5 build is the one to take.

Is the DDR5 build a better upgrade path?

It sits on a newer CPU and motherboard combo — the Ryzen 5 8500G on a GIGABYTE B650 Eagle — and it uses DDR5 memory, so future memory purchases would be DDR5 rather than DDR4. The DDR4 build's Ryzen 5 5500 on a B550M K keeps you on the DDR4 side. If you plan to carry memory and platform forward across future builds, that difference matters more than the $255 median kit gap.

Do both builds need the same power supply and cooler?

No, the two generated builds differ there too. Both list the ARESGAME AGV Series 500W power supply and a Thermalright cooler, but the DDR4 build uses the Phantom Spirit 120 EVO while the DDR5 build uses the Assassin X120 Refined SE. Storage also differs: a 256GB Patriot P210 in the DDR5 build and a 256GB Patriot P300 in the DDR4 build.

More comparisons

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