I'm planning my first gaming PC and I'm struggling to justify the extra cost of DDR5. My monitor is 1080p at 120Hz, and I mainly want to play games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring at settings that make full use of it. My son also plays Fortnite, and I'd like the system to handle future games such as the next Elder Scrolls and GTA 6 if they eventually release. Is DDR4 still the more cost-effective choice, or is DDR5 worth paying extra for? I've been looking at parts around $1,500 and would prefer not to go much higher.
2 Answers
DDR4 systems are definitely not obsolete. For example, a Ryzen 7 5700X paired with an RTX 3080 is still capable of smooth 1440p gaming, so 1080p at 120Hz should be well within reach. DDR5 gives you a newer upgrade platform, but if the extra cost means choosing a weaker graphics card, DDR4 is probably the better bargain for your needs.
The right choice depends heavily on the total budget, but DDR4 can still be a very good value. A capable DDR4 system with a strong graphics card can handle 1080p gaming at high refresh rates without a problem. At around $1,500, putting more money toward the GPU will usually matter more for your current monitor than paying extra for DDR5. Also, try not to build strictly around the monitor—monitors are easy to upgrade later.
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