DDR5 vs DDR4: The price gap is now too small to justify sticking with DDR4

DDR5 kits are only $20–$30 more than comparable DDR4 kits in early 2025, down from double the price two years ago. For new builds with current-gen CPUs, go DDR5 — the bandwidth uplift is real and you’re not saving enough to lock into yesterday’s RAM. The only exception is upgrading an existing DDR4 system or a super-budget build where every dollar counts.