DDR4 or DDR5: how to tell which RAM you have
DDR4 and DDR5 desktop sticks are the same length and both have 288 pins, so they’re easy to mix up — but they aren’t interchangeable, and they’re worth very different amounts. Four quick checks tell them apart.
Read the label
The surest check. The label code starts PC4 on DDR4 and PC5 on DDR5 (PC3 on DDR3), as in “PC4-3200AA” or “PC5-5600B”. Retail kits usually print DDR4 or DDR5 in the name, and the rated voltage is a hint too: 1.2 V is standard for DDR4, 1.1 V for DDR5.
Look at the notch
Both have a single notch in the gold edge, but in a different place, so a stick only fits its own slot. Held side by side, the DDR4 notch sits further off-centre than the DDR5 one. Never force a stick into a slot to find out.
Look for the power chip
DDR5 modules carry their own power management chip, a small component near the middle of the stick. DDR4 modules take their power from the motherboard and have none. On sticks with heat spreaders it’s hidden, so use the label.
Check the platform
- AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000 and 9000) — DDR5 only.
- AMD AM4 (Ryzen 1000 to 5000) — DDR4.
- Intel 12th to 14th Gen — either, depending on the motherboard.
- Intel Core Ultra 200S — DDR5.
Laptop sticks differ by pin count as well: 260 pins on a DDR4 SODIMM, 262 on a DDR5 SODIMM, 204 on DDR3. More on laptop memory on our laptop RAM page.
Why it matters when you sell
The generation is the biggest single factor in what memory is worth — see how much your RAM is worth. Pick the right one in the form: sell DDR5, sell DDR4 or sell DDR3.