DDR4 vs DDR5 for servers
DDR4 server memory runs up to 3200 MT/s and is used by Xeon Scalable 1st–3rd gen and EPYC through Milan. DDR5 starts at 4800 MT/s, reaches 5600 MT/s and higher, and is required by Xeon Sapphire Rapids and later and by EPYC Genoa. The two are not interchangeable.
DDR5 raises bandwidth through higher base speeds and by splitting each module into two independent 32-bit subchannels, which improves access efficiency. It also moves power regulation onto the DIMM and adds on-die ECC inside the chips, separate from the system-level ECC servers still use. DDR4 tops out around 3200 MT/s in servers; DDR5 begins at 4800 MT/s.
The generation is dictated by the CPU platform, not by choice. Intel Cascade Lake supports DDR4-2933, Ice Lake supports DDR4-3200, and Sapphire Rapids moved to DDR5-4800. On AMD, EPYC Rome and Milan use DDR4, while Genoa and Bergamo use DDR5-4800. You cannot fit a DDR5 module in a DDR4 slot or the reverse.
When buying from China, decide the platform first, because it locks your memory generation and pricing. DDR4 systems remain cheaper per gigabyte and are fine for many workloads. Choose DDR5 platforms when you need the extra bandwidth for high core counts, in-memory analytics, or future expansion headroom.
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