DDR4 was the hot RAM not too long ago — heck, even last year. If you were building a gaming rig, editing 4K videos, or just wanted your PC to feel fast, DDR4 was the go-to. Every gamer had it. Every productivity nerd trusted it.
But now? It’s officially the end of the road.
What’s Actually Happening?
The big boys — Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix — are pulling the plug on DDR4 production. Samsung already backed out. Micron just gave customers their “it’s not you, it’s us” breakup notice. SK Hynix? They’re wrapping things up by Q2 of 2026.
Basically, the DDR4 party is over. The lights are on, the music’s off, and everyone’s heading home.
But here’s the wild part — demand is still crazy high. In May alone, DDR4 prices jumped 50%. That’s not a typo. Fifty percent. Micron even warned DDR4 might end up being more expensive than DDR5 soon.
That’s like trying to buy a Nokia 3310 for more than an iPhone 15. Make it make sense.
 | CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) | $159.99 on Amazon | |
 | G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) | $234.99 on Amazon | |
 | TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan DDR5 64GB (2x32GB) | $152.99 on Amazon |
Why Is DDR4 Getting the Axe?
Two big reasons.
1. Chinese manufacturers messed up the market.
Companies like CXMT were dropping DDR4 prices so low, the Korean giants couldn’t make decent profit. We’re talking half the price of their DDR4 counterparts. So naturally, the big three said: “Cool, we’re done.”
2. Everyone’s moving on.
Even Chinese companies are shifting to DDR5 and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) now because that’s where the real money is.
Plus, let’s be honest devices today need more RAM. Apple finally ditched that embarrassing 8GB base config (took them long enough), and phones now come with 12 to 16GB like it’s nothing. The industry’s moving forward. DDR4 just can’t keep up.
DDR5 Is Here to Stay, And It’s Worth It
So, what’s the deal with DDR5? Is it really that much better?
Yeah, it actually is. Here’s the quick rundown:
| Speed (MT/s) | 1600–3200 | 4800–8400 |
| Power Usage | 1.2V | 1.1V |
| Error Correction | Optional | Built-in (on-die) |
| Availability | Shrinking | Now mainstream |
| Price (2025 trend) | Going up | Coming down |
Basically, DDR5 doubles your memory bandwidth, uses less power, and has better built-in error correction. And with platforms like Intel 12th gen and AMD AM5 fully supporting it, the transition is super smooth. You don’t need to wait.
But What About Gamers Using DDR4?
If you’re gaming on DDR4 you’re still fine for now. Performance-wise, the jump to DDR5 is modest in games, unless you’re running a beast of a GPU and pushing 1440p or 4K.
But if you’re thinking about a new PC build? Go DDR5.
You’ll thank yourself later when DDR4 prices get all weird and niche.
What’s Next? (Hint: HBM Is Gonna Be Huge)
While DDR5 is the future for desktops and laptops, the real power move is happening with HBM, High Bandwidth Memory.
We’re talking over 1TB/s of bandwidth with HBM3E.
That’s the stuff you find in AI hardware, server-grade GPUs, and high-end accelerators. It’s not for casual users (yet), but it’s setting the bar for memory performance.
Final Thoughts: Should You Panic?
Nope. Don’t panic-buy DDR4.
There’ll still be some production for industrial gear and maybe some smaller players will fill the gap, but quality might be sketchy.
If you’re already on DDR4 and your system’s solid, ride it out a bit.
But if you’re building anything new, whether for gaming, work, or just because you’re bored, go DDR5. The price gap is narrowing fast, support is great, and you won’t get stuck with old tech.
DDR4 had a killer run 11 years of dominance.
But every era ends, and this one’s clocking out.
DDR5’s not just the future, it’s the now.
What about you? Still team DDR4 or already flying the DDR5 flag? Drop your setup in the comments, let’s talk memory!
