You might have come across the term LPDDR4x or LPDDR5 RAM while browsing the specification of a Smartphone or a Laptop.
So what exactly is LPDDR Memories and how do they differ from traditional DDR memories?
Let’s find out.
There have been numerous groundbreaking innovations in the field of computer memories. We now have cutting edge technologies such as HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory), GDDR, and LPDDR.
While DDR Memory is an excellent choice for High-Performance devices like PCs, Workstations, and High-end Laptops, it isn’t ultra-efficient for mobile devices such as Smartphones, Tablets, and Ultrabooks.
That’s where LPDDR Memory comes into the picture. LPDDR stands for Low Power Double Data Rate and it is specifically designed for mobile devices.
It compromises a little on the operation speed in order to save some power. LPDDR4x is currently the most widely used LPDDR Memory while LPDDR5 is only supported on high-end smartphones SOCs like Exynos 990 and Snapdragon 865/865+.
In the Laptop segment, AMD and Intel are expected to support LPDDR5 Memory sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.
Let’s take a deep dive and learn the differences between the two.
Contents
Types of DDR memories
Types of DDR memories
There are three types of DDR memories available to consumers. They are:
- Standard DDR
- Mobile DDR (LPDDR)
- Graphics DDR (GDDR)
As the name might already suggest, Standard DDR is a type of memory used in all desktop PCs, Laptops, and servers. This is the standard memory that is used in RAM sticks of most of the larger electronic devices.
Mobile DDR or LPDDR is a class of DDR memory found in smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks, embedded electronics, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Since the devices in which LPDDR memory is found in devices that run on battery, the LPDDR memory must be optimized for offering good performance at low power.
Interestingly, Laptops support both DDR and LPDDR as modern Intel & AMD CPUs have memory controllers for both DDR4 and the LPDDR4x on their chips.
While Laptop OEMs generally use DDR4 in High-Performance Laptops, LPDDR4x is a preferred choice for low-power ultrabooks.
In this article, we are going to keep our discussion limited to DDR and LPDDR memories. GDDR is something we should talk about in a different article.
But for those who are curious, just think of it as a memory that has high bandwidth and is optimized for the use of Graphics Cards. It is used for graphics-related applications like content creation and gaming. It is extensively used in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).
Generations of DDR Memories
Generations of DDR Memories
The Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory was the original standard of all the RAM sticks that we use today. It was released in 1998. Subsequent releases of this RAM were named Double Data Rate or DDR owing to their doubled data transfer rate.
DDR Memory transfers data on both the rising and falling edge of the clock signal and this is why it is given the name DDR (Double Data Rate)
DDR2 was released in 2003, and the DDR3 was released in 2007. The current standard was released in 2014 and is still powers most of the computers that we use today. DDR5 was released recently this year (2020).
DDR5 adoption will likely accelerate somewhere around Q1 2022.
Here is a table showing the data transfer rates and voltage levels of various generations of DDR memories. As you can see, the voltage levels have steadily reduced and the data transfer rates have increased.
Year of release | Data transfer rate (MT/s) | Voltage level (V) | |
DDR1 | 1998 | 266-400 | 2.5/2.6V |
DDR2 | 2003 | 533-800 | 1.8V |
DDR3 | 2007 | 1066-1600 | 1.35/1.5V |
DDR4 | 2014 | 2133-3200 | 1.2V |
DDR5 | 2020 | 3200-6400 | 1.1V |
Note: It is possible to overclock DDR4 Memory way beyond 3200 MT/s.
Another table that shows the list of various generations of LPDDR memories is provided here. The generations of LPDDR memory have followed a similar pattern (like DDR memories) when it comes to improvements in the data transfer rates and voltage levels.
Year of release | Data transfer rate (MT/s) | Voltage level (V) | |
LPDDDR | 2008 | 333-400 | 1.2V |
LPDDR2 | 2010 | 800-1066 | 1.2V |
LPDDR3 | 2012 | 1600-1866 | 1.2V |
LPDDR4 | 2014 | 3200 | 1.1V |
LPDDR4X | 2017 | 3200-4267 | 0.6V |
LPDDR5 | 2020 | 6400 | 0.5V |
LPDDR5X | 2023 (expected) | – | – |
Difference between DDR and LPDDR memories
Difference between DDR and LPDDR memories
In this section, we are going to talk about the differences between DDR and LPDDR memories.
Here are some of the parameters that differentiate both the memories:
- Performance
- Efficiency
- Price
- Upgradability
If you compare two similar laptops, one using a DDR memory and the other using an LPDDR memory, you won’t be able to notice the difference instantly. The difference comes in performance and battery life.
A laptop that uses a DDR memory is expected to run faster than it’s LPDDR counterpart in the benchmarks. But the LPDDR based laptop will be slightly more power-efficient.
The battery of a laptop with LPDDR memory would last longer than the one with DDR memory.
Image Credits: Samsung
The price of regular DDR memories is also lower compared to LPDDR memories. The smaller size and higher efficiency increased the price of LPDDR memories.
Unlike the DDR laptops, the LPDDR4x laptops are not upgradable. The memory is directly soldered on the motherboard. This might be a deal-breaker for a lot of people who want a system with upgradeable memory.
The good thing about the DDR memories is that most of the DDR based laptops come with multiple memory slots and removable RAM. You can replace the older RAM stick with a newer one by yourself.
DDR4 vs. LPDDR4x and LPDDR4
DDR4 vs. LPDDR4x and LPDDR4
Both the memories are omnipresent today on almost all the devices around us. The LPDDR4 RAM can hit clock speeds up to 3200 MHz just like the DDR4 RAM. The LPDDR4X RAM, however, offers improvements over the LPDDR4 RAM.
The LPDDR4X RAM can hit clock speeds up to 4267 MHz which is impressive considering that it’s operating voltage is a lot lower compared to its predecessor.
DDR4 RAM works on 1.2V level whereas LPDDR4 RAM works on 1.1V. The LPDDR4X RAM can work on voltage level as low as 0.6V. This is a significant improvement.
DDR5 and LPDDR5
DDR5 and LPDDR5
As the computer peripherals like processors and GPUs keep getting a performance boost every year, there would come a time where they hit the bandwidth limits of current-gen DDR memory. Seven years is a long period. It’s time to say our goodbyes to the DDR4 memory sticks because, in the upcoming year or so, the fifth generation of DDR memories will take over.
DDR5 was recently announced. We can expect DDR5 memories to make their way to consumer devices soon enough. It’s just a matter of a year or two before we start seeing more and more devices with DDR5 RAM.
I have to buy a laptop at a certain price I found two laptop one has 16 GB onboard LPDDR4x RAM and another has 8GB DDR4 RAM which one is better in performance please tell?
Can you tell the name of those Laptop models?
How does DDR4 provides good performance while running on a lower frequency that LPDDRX4?
AFAIK, the LPDDR variants have much worse timings so they’re not that goods for tasks that require low latency.
it doesn’t , lpddr4x ram are good , rather then lpddr4 ones , if you are talking ddr vs lpddr4 only and not lpddr4x , then ddr is good , otherwise go for lpddr4x / lpddr5x
Older computers had memory soldiered on board and was used mainly for system cashe some were a plug in module like the system RAM although with newer technology it is going back to this to reduce the size of the devices, higher speeds, reliability and designed for that device. The down side for consumer is get the most you can when you purchase a product. IPADS do this and their products are harder to work on and obtain parts and services for older products. This also means that you can’t repurpose the laptop/ tablet/ desktop with Android/ Linux or other free and lower power hungry platforms or upgrade parts to keep using the product longer. Computer chips are not inter changeable and programed for that 1 device.