Next-Generation DDR5 RAM Will Double Speeds of DDR4 RAM as MacBook Pro Remains on LPDDR3

[MacRumors]

JEDEC, the organization that develops global standards for computer memory, has announced it will be previewing its next-generation DDR5 standard for RAM in June 2017. The standard is expected to be finalized by 2018, at which point chipmakers like Intel will be able to add support for the technology.

As noted by Ars Technica, DDR5 RAM will double the speed of current DDR4 RAM while offering greater power efficiency.

DDR5 memory will offer improved performance with greater power efficiency as compared to previous generation DRAM technologies. As planned, DDR5 will provide double the bandwidth and density over DDR4, along with delivering improved channel efficiency. These enhancements, combined with a more user-friendly interface for server and client platforms, will enable high performance and improved power management in a wide variety of applications.

It might be quite a while until DDR5 RAM goes mainstream, however, as the first computers with DDR4 RAM did not arrive until two years after that standard was finalized. Apple itself has yet to even adopt DDR4 RAM, with nearly every current Mac equipped with older LPDDR3 RAM, which maxes out at 16GB.

o MacBook: 8GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM
o MacBook Air: 8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM
o MacBook Pro: 8/16GB of 1866/2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM
o iMac: 8/16/32GB of 1867MHz LPDDR3 RAM
o Mac mini: 4/8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM
o Mac Pro: 12/16GB of 1866MHz DDR3 ECC RAM

Apple said the 2016 MacBook Pro does not support DDR4 RAM because of battery life considerations. DDR4 memory's low-power variant LPDDR4 is not supported by Intel's Skylake processors powering the latest MacBook Pro models, and using regular DDR4 RAM would have reduced space for batteries.

Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller responding to MacDaddy developer Ben Slaney in November:

The MacBook Pro uses 16GB of very fast LPDDR memory, up to 2133MHz. To support 32GB of memory would require using DDR memory that is not low power and also require a different design of the logic board which might reduce space for batteries. Both factors would reduce battery life.

The often reliable Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities said Apple will release a 15-inch MacBook with 32GB of desktop-class RAM later this year, but it is unclear which Intel processor the notebook would use.

Intel's next-generation Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake processors do not support LPDDR4 RAM beyond ultra-low-power chips, while Cannonlake processors expected by early 2018 are not designed for the MacBook Pro.

Article Link: Next-Generation DDR5 RAM Will Double Speeds of DDR4 RAM as MacBook Pro Remains on LPDDR3

 

[Appleaker]

So Macs will get it in 2020?

 

[BrockC]

Apple isn't equipping their current lineup with the latest tech? Thats weird

 

[Fancuku]

So Macs will get it in 2020?

I think you meant to say 2120

 

[TheTruth101]

Apple.... is not the same company. They are just into making money and no creating productive products. They are just creating fancy useless stuff.

They have no need to come up with a Mac Pro or a new iMac... for what? we are already making billions, if we need some push we could release an iMac or something but no reason to play our best cards if we are winning any way.

 

[joueboy]

Good news for Mac users, Apple will update the lineup to DDR4 once the DDR5 is available in the market for 2 years. No matter how you look at it for Apple an upgrade still an upgrade.

 

[JMacHack]

Apple isn't equipping their current lineup with the latest tech? Thats weird

Intel processors don't support LPDDR4 yet, Kaby Lake only supports it on ultra-low power, and Cannonlake has no plans for it, Apple's hands are tied in this part.

Desktops are another matter entirely.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Windows will enjoy DDR5 by the time Macs get DDR4.

 

[Porco]

Having lots of good, fast memory is very important.
Otherwise it's difficult to remember that feeling of Apple releasing new desktop macs.

 

[Ds6778]

Typical. Milk consumers for old technology.

 

[furtive]

Intel said DDR5 won't ship until 2020. It's easy to take the piss out of Apple and their falling behind on cutting edge tech but this is the same story for PCs as well.

 

[JMacHack]

Intel said DDR5 won't ship until 2020. It's easy to take the piss out of Apple and their falling behind on cutting edge tech but this is the same story for PCs as well.

It's almost as if people read the title, and jump to conclusions.

 

[Crosscreek]

You need a Mac development team for new components so it's not happening,

 

[hawkeye_a]

So Macs will get it in 2020?

Will there still be any Macs in 2020?

 

[44267547]

Apple isn't equipping their current lineup with the latest tech? Thats weird

Compared to what? Non existent Intel Processors? Cleary Cannonlake isn't even in the works. There is nothing weird over that.

 

[LordVic]

Intel said DDR5 won't ship until 2020. It's easy to take the piss out of Apple and their falling behind on cutting edge tech but this is the same story for PCs as well.

except almost everyone else is already on DDR4

And for power draw, DDR4 = LPDDR3. LPDDR4 will be even better overall, but keeping DDR3 for LPPDDR3 is absolutely a money saving item and has nothing to do with power draw / performance.

 

[weup togo]

Compared to what? Non existent Intel Processors? Cleary Cannonlake isn't even in the works. There is nothing weird over that.

Let's compare it to the iPhone 7, which ships with LPDDR4. Apple does have a solution: dump Intel.

 

[MysteryMii215]

Intel processors don't support LPDDR4 yet, Kaby Lake only supports it on ultra-low power, and Cannonlake has no plans for it, Apple's hands are tied in this part.

TL;DR: Blame Intel.

 

[citysnaps]

Intel processors don't support LPDDR4 yet, Kaby Lake only supports it on ultra-low power, and Cannonlake has no plans for it, Apple's hands are tied in this part.

And the sad will ignore that and adorn the MR forum with tiny moans.

Lacking courage, it's apparently much easier to moan-n-whine than to move on to devices that will bring happiness to their lives.

 

[lauramayer]

...and I bought this year a new MacBook Pro

 

[sunapple]

Pff, it's unbelievable how many times a day I have to wait and wait until that stupid DDR3 RAM loads my information. Switching to a Razer gaming laptop. Totally worth dropping 5 hours of battery life for. Who cares for thin laptops anyway? Can't wait for those Facebook pages to load even faster.

 

[spencers]

except almost everyone else is already on DDR4

And for power draw, DDR4 = LPDDR3. LPDDR4 will be even better overall, but keeping DDR3 for LPPDDR3 is absolutely a money saving item and has nothing to do with power draw / performance.

DDR4 and LPDDR3 have the same power usage when active, but LPDDR3 really shines when in standby mode. Have a read at the top comment for details.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/5dimal/lpddr3_vs_ddr4_power_usage/

 

[vmachiel]

I get that products need to become thinner and lighter over time. But Pro lines shouldn't sacrifice this much in terms of features and performance for the sake of design.

 

[konqerror]

This article is very wrong. LPDDR3 is very different from DDR3 from a physical, electrical and logical standpoint. (Just like GDDR is not comparable to DDR)

Technical details, see the chart at the bottom: https://blogs.synopsys.com/committedtomemory/2014/01/10/when-is-lpddr3-not-lpddr3-when-its-ddr3l/

 

[keysofanxiety]

...and I bought this year a new MacBook Pro

It won't be any less capable than it already is. Nobody can ever be ahead of the curve when it comes to tech. You've still bought a great machine and it'll still be great when a new one is announced.