DT in Spanish could receive a commission if you buy a product from the siteLaunched in 2007, DDR3 memory enjoyed a long run of success inside desktop and laptop computers.Then, in 2014, DDR4 saw the light and became the standard that we find most frequently in PCs and tablets.Now, what are the main differences between DDR3 and DDR4?Here we explain it to you.With major changes in its physical design, specifications, and features, motherboards with DDR4 slots cannot use DDR3 RAM, and DDR4 cannot be placed in a DDR3 slot.Neither is compatible with newer DDR5 memory.DDR4 tends to run at 1.2V by default, while DDR3 runs at 1.5V. While that may not sound like much, it's about a 20 percent improvement in efficiency between these two generations.For most home users, the voltage difference ultimately results in lower power consumption and heat generation, which is especially important in laptops where it can affect battery life.DDR4 is not only more power efficient, it is also much faster.DDR3 specifications range from 800 to 2,133 MT/s (millions of transfers per second).By comparison, DDR4 RAM ranges from 2,133 to 3,200 MT/s, not to mention the faster kits available through XMP and overclocking.When shopping for RAM, you can identify the speed by its name, for example, Crucial Ballistix 16GB DDR4-3200.This indicates that it is 3,200 MT/s DDR4 RAM.To avoid confusion, it is worth clarifying the difference between MT/s and MHz. Some companies will advertise their RAM features in MT/s and others in MHz.MT/s (millions of transfers per second) measures the speed of the bus and channel in terms of effective cycles per second.MHz (megahertz per second) measures the transmission speed of a device in one million cycles per second.Generally, DDR RAM is measured in MT/s while SRAM (Static RAM) is measured in MHz as it cannot produce more than one operation per second.DDR3 RAM operating at 1,066.6 MHz will be listed as DDR3 2,133.Like DDR, or Double Data Rate, RAM has two processes running simultaneously;that of 1,066.6 MHz doubles to equal 2,133 MT/s.Essentially, MHz and MT/s are the same thing, but it's important to know how a manufacturer represents their measurements.DDR4 works much faster than even the best DDR3, but there are some crossover points.In terms of transfer rate, DDR4 is capable of one million transfers per second.However, MT/s is not the only specification to consider when buying RAM.Timings, like Access Latency (CL), also play a very important role in overall memory performance.CL determines the number of clock cycles it takes for RAM to deliver the data requested by the processor.To put it in context, fast clock speeds don't necessarily mean faster RAM.High latency can slightly reduce results, so it's worth comparing all the specs to find the right type of RAM for your requirements.Taking Corsair's Vengeance DDR3 kit and comparing it to the Vengeance LPX DDR4, there is a clear difference in performance and speed.While read and write speeds are slightly lower on DDR4 kits compared to DDR3 at 2,133MHz, it's important to remember that this is the entry-level speed for DDR4.Regarding latency, DDR3-1600 has higher latency than any DDR4 kit.At 2,133MHz, the DDR4 kit is slightly higher than DDR3-2133, but as the memory clock speed increases, the overall latency decreases, even if the timings are slacker.Ultimately, DDR4 RAM is faster than DDR3.It also offers more performance at a lower cost per dollar compared to any DDR3 RAM except its entry-level 1,600MHz.High-frequency DDR4 RAM like the Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB is capable of speeds of up to 4,000 MHz. Gamers who want to push their machines for the best performance can overclock their RAM for demanding systems.However, manufacturers like HyperX have pushed the limits even further with their HyperX Predator DDR4 RAM family, which is available between 2,666 and 5,333 MHz. In fact, in April, they achieved the 7,200 MHz overclocking world record with their HyperX Predator memory. DDR4.One of the main differences between DDR3 and DDR4 RAM is the layout of the physical pins.DDR3 RAM uses a 240-pin connector, while DDR4 uses a 288-pin connector.A motherboard with DDR4 support will not work with DDR3 RAM and vice versa.The connector pins are different so you can't accidentally install the wrong type of RAM, since the physical size is the same for both.The different voltage demands also mean that a system designed with DDR4 in mind would not provide the correct voltage for DDR3 by default and may not even be designed with that voltage capability in mind.When DDR4 hit the market, the price gap was significant.However, with more motherboards and processors supported, DDR4 RAM has come down in price.But compared to DDR3, DDR4 RAM is usually more expensive.It's not much of a difference, especially if you're buying a couple of modules.However, if you need a lot of RAM, the costs can add up pretty quickly.DDR5 RAM was released in 2020, but has yet to make a significant impact on the market.With the release of Intel's Alder Lake processors, it would be safe to say that DDR5 will be more widely available in late 2021 and 2022.DDR5 specs start at 4,800MHz and cap at 6,400MHz, with the potential for faster clock speeds in the future.The choice between DDR3 vs. DDR4 RAM comes down to your computer's hardware.If you're using an older motherboard and processor, DDR3 is most likely your choice.However, if you already have a compatible motherboard and processor or are thinking of investing in one, DDR4 RAM is an option that's already future-proof.It's a bit more expensive, and in very rare cases at low clock speeds, it may not be as fast as DDR3 RAM, but it will be compatible with recent hardware.Enhance your lifestyle Product review, technology news, tools to navigate the digital world.