GDDR5 vs DDR3 on consoles

Kamdar · Aug 8, 2015

Hi guys,

I'm a bit of a noob but i'm trying to figure out how exactly GDDR5 is better than DDR3. I know that it is better, and that GDDR5 is mainly used in GPUs, but the PS4 is using it for system memory. If it is truly better, then why don't people use GDDR5 for system ram on custom PC builds? All i've seen is DDR3 for system memory. Yet people claim that the PS4 gddr5 provides a significant advantage over the ddr3 on the xbox one.

Wisecracker · Aug 8, 2015

GDDR5 has twice the bandwidth of DDR3.

They are basically the same thing, but GDDR5 costs more.

Quixit · Aug 8, 2015

GDDR5 runs at higher frequencies and therefore more memory bandwidth. Otherwise they're basically the same. They don't use it for system memory because CPU's don't need the extra bandwidth, only GPUs currently have that kind of need. Also GDDR5 runs hotter and is more expensive.

The key here is that both use shared memory for CPU and GPU. The Xbox One is limited in memory bandwidth compared to the PS4 which can limit the GPU. The Xbox One has a small amount of on-chip cache memory to try to compensate for the lack of memory bandwidth. This helps, but the PS4 still performs better in this regard. The PS4 also has 50% more stream processors in its GPU configuration. The Xbox One is clocked slightly higher, but this doesn't compensate.

Now that's all for the important differences, the more important thing here is that both systems are very very similar. Both chips are built by AMD, which identical CPU hardware and the GPUs are effectively the same design, PS4 just has more stream processors. They both have the same amount of RAM as well. Hardware wise they're both worthless compared to a modern gaming PC.

Anyway, since most games are written cross-platform they're designed to work on both so the only advantage you get on the PS4 version is a slightly more consistent frame rate or maybe slightly higher resolution. I'd just go with the one with the better exclusives. I only bought a PS4 because most of the big Japanese games that generally don't get to PC are coming to PS4, probably because Xbox doesn't sell well in Japan.

Kamdar · Aug 8, 2015

Quixit :

GDDR5 runs at higher frequencies and therefore more memory bandwidth. Otherwise they're basically the same. They don't use it for system memory because CPU's don't need the extra bandwidth, only GPUs currently have that kind of need. Also GDDR5 runs hotter and is more expensive.

The key here is that both use shared memory for CPU and GPU. The Xbox One is limited in memory bandwidth compared to the PS4 which can limit the GPU. The Xbox One has a small amount of on-chip cache memory to try to compensate for the lack of memory bandwidth. This helps, but the PS4 still performs better in this regard. The PS4 also has 50% more stream processors in its GPU configuration. The Xbox One is clocked slightly higher, but this doesn't compensate.

Now that's all for the important differences, the more important thing here is that both systems are very very similar. Both chips are built by AMD, which identical CPU hardware and the GPUs are effectively the same design, PS4 just has more stream processors. They both have the same amount of RAM as well. Hardware wise they're both worthless compared to a modern gaming PC.

Anyway, since most games are written cross-platform they're designed to work on both so the only advantage you get on the PS4 version is a slightly more consistent frame rate or maybe slightly higher resolution. I'd just go with the one with the better exclusives. I only bought a PS4 because most of the big Japanese games that generally don't get to PC are coming to PS4, probably because Xbox doesn't sell well in Japan.

Great non-biased, intelligent reply. Thanks

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GDDR5 vs DDR3 on consoles

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