DDR5 vs DDR4: New build = DDR5, upgrade = stick with DDR4

DDR5 costs roughly double per GB ($4–6 vs $2–3), but the gap is closing. The performance jump matters for CPU-heavy tasks like video encoding or high-framerate gaming, not for everyday browsing or older games. If building new, spend the extra $50–80 on DDR5 for future-proofing; if upgrading an existing 12th-gen Intel or Ryzen 5000 board, DDR4 is still fine.