DDR5 is worth the extra cost—barely.

Yes, DDR5 still costs more per GB than DDR4, but the gap has shrunk to the point where I’d only recommend DDR4 if you’re on a tight budget or upgrading an old system.

Right now (early 2025), DDR4 runs roughly $2–3 per GB for a 32GB kit, while a comparable DDR5 kit will set you back $4–6 per GB. So you’re looking at around double the cost for the same capacity. But that gap is closing—six months ago it was closer to triple.

The real question is whether the performance jump matters for you. DDR5 offers higher speeds and better bandwidth, which helps in CPU-heavy tasks like video encoding, large compiles, or gaming at high framerates. For everyday browsing or older games, you’ll never notice the difference. And DDR5 also gives you a more future-proof platform—next-gen CPUs and motherboards already assume you’re on DDR5.

If you’re building a new PC from scratch, spend the extra $50–80 on DDR5. If you’re squeezing life out of a 12th-gen Intel or Ryzen 5000 board, DDR4 is still a perfectly valid choice.

Don’t overthink it: new build = DDR5, upgrade = stick with DDR4.