Updated at: 18-04-2022 - By: Leo Hall

Graphics or GDDR memory? Graphics double data rate memory is referred to as DDR in the technical jargon. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) use GDDR RAM, which is installed in PCI slots.

Designed for high-performance graphics cards, video gaming consoles, and computing. Similar to the numbering scheme used for DDR, the GDDR series has gone through several iterations before arriving at GDDR6, which is the latest in the series. Just like DDR SDRAM, the only thing GDDR and DDR SDRAM have in common is the usage of double data transfer rates.

Gamers and all their friends would be well versed in this matter, this being their forte. We wouldn’t be surprised if this is your first encounter with GDDR. It’s not widely known outside of the gaming community.

Most people don’t even consider about upgrading the graphics card that comes pre-installed on their computer. What’s the point? To summarize, GDDR is more expensive, has faster clock speeds, and can manage more bandwidth and power than DDR.

Differences between GDDR and DDR

  • GDDR is built for much higher bandwidth, thanks to a wider memory bus.
  • Due to a larger memory bus, GDDR is capable of providing significantly more bandwidth.
  • On the same clock cycle, GDDR can request and receive data, whereas DDR can’t.
  • Allows greater performance modules with simpler cooling systems because GDDR consumes less power and produces less heat emissions.
  • DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3 all employ a 64-bit bus, however GDDR3 often uses a 256- to 512-bit bus spread across 4 to 8 channels (or 128-bit in dual channel).

Different versions of GDDR

  • GDDR2
  • GDDR3
  • GDDR4
  • GDDR5

GDDR talking points

  • Because of GDDR’s high bandwidth (performance), a larger memory bus is required.
  • DDR, on the other hand, does not have the ability to request and receive data at the same time.
  • Reduced heat production is achieved with the use of GDDR.
  • It’s made to use less electricity.

GDDR memory vs DDR SDRAM

8GB of DDR4 RAM from Crucial

Since the beginning of this piece, we’ve made it clear that GDDR and DDR are two different types of memory. What if, though, we hammered it home? More information about GDDR is required besides the obvious G-Unit (yeah, the pun is absolutely intended).

Graphics processing unit demands are no match for GDDR, which was designed specifically to manage them (that G again). DDR is designed to handle a variety of tasks generated by the Central Processing Unit (CPU) (CPU). It all comes down to this.

In order to manage data packets from various programs, anti-virus scans, and messengers in small bits with very low latency, DDR SDRAM was developed. However, GDDR is capable of transmitting and receiving enormous amounts of data in the same clock cycle.

DDR uses CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computers), whereas the GDDR version uses RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computers). Because each are designed to perform only one thing, drawing any kind of meaningful comparison between them would be pointless. If you judge a fish only on the basis of his or her ability to climb a tree, the fish will spend the rest of his or her life believing that it is stupid.

Price

Video Card with DisplayPort, DVI-I, HDMI, and GDDR5 Memory for EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti

Compared to DDR cards, GDDR cards are considerably more expensive. An avid player will congratulate themselves on a job well done. Normal users, on the other hand, do not require this level of power. As a result, gaming laptops aren’t something you should spend your money on unless visuals are really important to you.

You’ll have to shell out $580 for a highly rated EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SC GAMING, ACX 2.0 (Single Fan), 6GB GDDR5. That’s exactly what a mid-range laptop costs. Though there are cheaper options available, don’t tell that to a committed gamer. Dell Precision M7510 7510 I7 6820HQ with 2GB GDDR5 RAM sells for $1,650 on Amazon and is one example of a laptop with substantial GDDR memory priced at or above $1,500.

How Much VRAM Do You Need?

That begs the obvious question: how much VRAM do you actually require?

In 2022, the primary deciding factor will be the resolution at which you plan to play your games. Even if there are other memory-intensive graphics parameters like texture quality and view distance, resolution is the most important one at this time.

As a general rule, we’d say that 4 GB of VRAM is plenty for 1080p gaming nowadays, 6-8 GB is suitable for 1440p, and at least 8 GB (preferably more) is required if you expect to play the latest AAA games in 4K at high settings.

There are many variables that will affect the actual performance of a graphics card in 2022, but the above should give you a sense of how much VRAM you should be looking for in a new card.

Are There Other Types of VRAM?

When it comes to current graphics cards, GDDR is the most common type of memory, but is it the only one?

HBM, or High Bandwidth Memory, is another type of memory that is now being used in some models. However, due to high production costs and the fact that modern games can’t actually benefit much from the huge bandwidth that HBM offers relative to GDDR6, HBM (or HBM2) is now mostly reserved for professional GPUs.

As far as major gaming graphics cards are concerned, there are no viable alternatives to GDDR at this time.

Which Version Of GDDR Should You Get?

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 use GDDR6X, which provides greater bandwidth and is slightly more power-efficient, while the majority of new graphics cards in 2022 use GDDR6.

You’ll only find it in graphics cards from a few years ago and a few entry-level solutions that aren’t capable of supporting modern gaming. GDDR5 was the dominating form of video memory in the market until recently.

If you’re looking to save money, you’re unlikely to acquire a graphics card with GDDR5, unless it comes with a lot of extra features.

Furthermore, the type of VRAM a GPU uses has less of an impact on performance than you might think, so before you buy an older GDDR5-equipped card, check out some benchmarks to see how it stacks up against the latest graphics cards and whether or not the money you’d be spending on it would be well spent.

FAQS:

What is GDDR memory for?

GDR (Graphics Double Data Rate), Memory for graphics cards that is DDR (double data rate) is called GDDR (GPUs). GDDR, which first appeared on the market in 2000, is the most widely used graphics RAM today.

Is GDDR RAM good?

The clock speed, performance, bus speed, and throughput of each higher DDR class beats its predecessor. As of this writing, DDR and DDR2 SDRAM are practically obsolete (most modern motherboards only support DDR4, though you can still find plenty of DDR3-compatible models).

Conclusion

There you have it, a fast and easy definition of GDDR!

We recommend reading this post instead if you aren’t planning on making a purchase and are simply interested in learning more about how to choose the best graphics card.