Differences between ddr4, ddr4l, ddr4u and lpddr4

With the passage of technology, different types of RAM have emerged that improved the previous generation, DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and the recent DDR4. After the passage of the old SDRAM memories that accompanied us throughout the 90s, during the year 2000 the era of DDR memories began, which continues to accompany us until these times.

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Differences between different types of DDR4 memory

Today we are going to focus on the most recent DDR4 memories, and we are going to try to explain the differences that exist between their different types. Let's start.

DDR4

This is the fourth generation of DDR RAM that was released in mid-2014 along with compatible motherboards and chipsets. During the first quarter of 2015, its mobile variants also arrived.

DDR4 was a breakthrough in data transfer speeds over DDR3 and with lower power consumption. Among some of the improvements introduced we could talk about higher bandwidth, the reduction of the manufacturing process to 20nm and the possibility of creating 16 and 32GB modules.

Currently you can get units of this memory with a speed of 1600MHz to 4266MHz, the higher the higher the performance. DDR4 memories usually work with voltages between 1.2 and 1.35 v and have a peculiarity, almost all commercial models use a heatsink to keep them cool since their temperatures usually rise at full load.

The advantages over DDR3 are obvious, but also somewhat more expensive.

DDR4L

This type of memory is similar in terms of features to a 'normal' DDR4, only specifically designed for servers and laptops. The key to DDR4L memories is that it requires less energy consumption to work, with voltages of 1.2 volts that allow a 10% saving in electricity consumption. There are different models with speeds between 2133MHZ - 2400MHz and it is possible to use it together with a 'normal' DDR4 memory.

We recommend reading how to install RAM So-DIMM DDR4.

DDR4U

This memory is also designed for servers with frequencies between 2133 / 2400MHz, with modules from 2GB to 16GB. This memory is similar to the two that we have previously commented, only prioritizing energy efficiency. It is also the rarest type of memory to find nowadays and almost all bet on DDR4L as low consumption memory.

LPDDR4

LPDDR4 type memories were first used in 2015 and are specially designed for mobile devices. As you can imagine, this type of memory consumes very little energy to preserve as much as possible the autonomy of mobile devices and tablets, although sacrificing much of the speed that a 'normal' DDR4 memory has.

LPDDR4 memories operate at frequencies of 1600MHz and minimum voltages of 1.1 volts. Over time, manufacturers released LPDDR4E, a new advanced model that improved frequencies to 2133MHz.

GDDR4

GDDR4 memory has not been used for a long, long time. Quite a few years ago they were used specifically for graphics cards. These memories worked with 1.5 volts and promised to improve speed and power consumption but their period was very short and ended up being quickly replaced by the GDDR5 memories and the new GDDR5X.

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One of the few graphics cards that got to use the GDDR4 memories was the Radeon X1950 XTX or the Radeon 3870, some of the top of the range graphics cards back in 2006-2007. Who doesn't remember these graphics cards?