The First DDR5-4800 32GB RAM Kit Hits the Market for $310

News
By Zhiye Liu
published

Grab some RAM for next-gen platforms that aren't out yet.

TeamGroup DDR5-4800 32GB Memory Kit
TeamGroup DDR5-4800 32GB Memory Kit (Image credit: Newegg)

TeamGroup's DDR5-4800 32GB (2x16GB) memory kit (via momomo_us) has gone up for purchase on Amazon and Newegg for $310.99. Currently, there's no processor or motherboard that supports DDR5 memory, but Intel's 12th Generation Alder Lake chips should change that very soon.

The memory modules arrive with a naked black PCB, lacking a fancy heat spreader or flashy RGB lighting. Remember this is the brand's value memory, the flamboyant T-Force series aimed at gamers and ethusiasts will arrive later on.

The memory kit (TED532G4800C40DC01) comes in a dual-channel presentation, so you get two 16GB DDR5 memory modules. They operate at DDR5-4800 with 40-40-40-77 timings. The memory module only requires 1.1V to hit the aforementioned data rate, though. There's nothing spectacular about the specifications since this is the initial rollout.

Adhering to JEDEC's specifications for DDR5, TeamGroup's DDR5-4800 memory modules pack a built-in power management IC (PMIC) and voltage regulator module (VRM). While DDR5 flaunts really high data rates, the first modules sport very loose timings. It remains to be seen whether DDR5 memory can hang with the best RAM on the market, but then would expect the first kits to be far from the best. 

The TeamGroup DDR5-4800 32GB memory kit doesn't come cheap, but this was to be expected since it's bleeding-edge hardware, after all. Furthermore, the global semiconductor shortage has impacted memory pricing. Pricing-wise, TeamGroup's memory kit is in the same category as some of the high-end DDR4-4000 32GB (2x16GB) C16 memory kits on the market. But if you want to start parting out your next-gen build right this minute, it's currently your only option.

Zhiye Liu
Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DRagor
    CL 40? lol
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    DRagor said:
    CL 40? lol
    Official DDR4 timings were horrible when compared to readily available DDR3 when DDR4 initially hit the mainstream too. The first ~18 months going into a new memory standard are usually a write-off as far as net performance gains within a remotely reasonable budget are concerned. You usually need to wait until somewhere around the second anniversary mark of new memory hitting mainstream platforms before performance per dollar reaches parity with decent old stuff.
    Reply
  • BillyBuerger
    The memory modules arrive with a naked black PCB, lacking a fancy heat spreader or flashy RGB lighting.
    I wish more memory came like this.
    Reply
  • Drazen
    4800 CL40 gives 16.6 ns latency. Mine 3600 CL18 are 10ns or 3466 CL16 which are 9.2ns.

    Not sure is this increase latency cause of ECC. But for almost double price does it makes sense?
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Drazen said:
    Not sure is this increase latency cause of ECC. But for almost double price does it makes sense?
    DDR2,3,4 were around twice the price of DDR(n-1) around the time they first hit market with higher first-word latency too, nothing unusual there.
    Reply
  • BTM18
    "Not sure is this increase latency cause of ECC. But for almost double price does it makes sense?"

    Have you looked at prices for 4800mhz ddr 4 ram ? Oh wait. apples and oranges
    Reply
  • cryoburner
    BTM18 said:
    Have you looked at prices for 4800mhz ddr 4 ram ? Oh wait. apples and oranges
    This RAM is not likely to perform anywhere close to a DDR4-4800 kit in terms of memory performance, or even on the level of a relatively inexpensive DDR4-3600 kit for that matter, due to its slow latency. The clock rates might be 33% higher than DDR4-3600, but the absolute timings work out to be around 50-67% slower than what is typical for DDR4.

    Maybe there will be some room for overclocking and/or tightening the timings, and the increased bandwidth may provide some benefit for certain tasks despite the higher latency, but in general I would expect this kit to be outperformed by many relatively inexpensive DDR4 kits. A kit with these specs is to DDR5 a bit like what early DDR4-2133 kits were to DDR4. This is pretty much as low as the specs go for DDR5, so someone building a performance system may want something faster.
    Reply