DDR5 vs DDR4
DDR5 vs DDR4
Consider the value-to-performance ratio and decide whether to upgrade to DDR5 or stick with DDR4. What choice do you think is best?
Since prices are nearly identical and DDR5 offers superior performance over DDR4, choose the DDR5 configuration.
Both require an updated BIOS to work with the latest CPU models. It’s unclear if either supports flashback updates, and I’m not sure about the BIOS flashback feature. The Gigabyte board offers additional SATA and USB ports, plus PCI-E X16 slots for the chipset—two X16 ports are electrically X4, while the ASUS model has one physically X4. A downside could be the removal of analog 5.1 audio, leaving only optical, stereo, and mic outputs, which most users no longer rely on. For a 13600K, I’m uncertain about the importance of DDR5; it might be worth spending $20–30 more for a better SSD.
Changing the DDR4 to 4000MHz Patriot Viper 16GB would improve performance for gaming.
I don’t really focus on sata because the only devices needing sata will be a dvd-rw drive. On the back of the gigabyte I see 5 usb type a ports and 1 usb type c, while the Asus lists 6 type a and 2 type c. I don’t notice the four more you mentioned on the gigabyte, maybe I’m overlooking something. I don’t really care about pci-e either, since the only component inside will be my GPU. They both have the same number of m.2 slots. For audio, it doesn’t matter much because sound will come from the USB front header port to the headset. https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/products/com...99,3QXJ7P/ nothing truly surpasses the Kingston options in that price range according to the picker, I’ll look for another comparison elsewhere. The only reason to use DDR4 might be to upgrade memory and close the price gap like ebony falcon suggested? Unless you could share a picture of what’s on the gigabyte board that gives it an edge over the Asus. Thanks again.
Asus Prime Z690-A includes 8 components: four 5gbps ports at 3x10g (one type-c), one 20g port (type-c), and ten GB of Gigabyte Gaming-X DDR4 (480mbps USB 2, plus three 5g in light blue, two 10g in red/orange, and one more type-c). Regarding the SSDs, opinions vary, but they work adequately for gameplay. I wouldn't recommend QLC for critical tasks. The Crucial P3 Plus employs QLC memory (176 layers, ~440 TBW), offering speed boosts when using pseudo-SLC mode—making a nearly empty drive feel fast. As it fills, the remaining space shifts between QLC and SLC, affecting write performance. The Solidigm P41 Plus uses QLC but with a 144-layer design for better endurance (800 TBW) and a smarter controller with eight channels, enhancing speed claims. Kingston NV2 versions come in at least three models; originally TLC for faster speeds and higher endurance, now switched to QLC. They offer 640TBW, with SLC caches up to 1TB convertible. The specs suggest Solidigm remains the top pick, though quality varies. It seems you chose SSDs focusing on PCI-E 4.0 M.2—read speeds hover around 3.5–3.8 GB/s, which barely reaches PCI-E 3.0 limits. The Crucial claims 5 GB/s reads but is unlikely to be noticeable. Based on price, here are top picks: WD SN850x (PCI-E 4.0, 7.3 GB/s read, 6.3 GB/s write), WD SN770 (PCI-E 4.0, 5.1 GB/s read, 4.85GB/s write), WD SN570 2TB (PCI-E 3.5, 3.5 GB/s read), and WD SN770 at 200$ (meets your budget). The Samsung 970 Evo Plus offers decent endurance and speed recovery but has a smaller pseudo-SLC cache. At 220$ you get the WD SN770 with strong endurance; at 200$ the WD SN570 is solid for general use. If you prioritize cost, consider adding extra storage or upgrading later.
Thanks in advance, but I didn’t realize the top four USB options were this interesting. For storage, I wasn’t familiar with TLC, QLC, and SLC formats—need to learn a bit more about them. This is my first time hearing about those specs; they weren’t mentioned on the manual or seemed unimportant. I prefer not mechanical drives because of the noise. Really grateful for your insight. I thought all NVMe M.2 drives were similar… Honestly, I didn’t know the limits of PCIe 3.0. Just assumed newer models were superior. Why are Gen 4 drives not reaching Gen 3 capabilities? Doesn’t seem like a good use of money? Or is it meant to attract people like me?
You’d pick the sn750 for its value and performance, especially since the sn850x is also TLC. The $135 savings seems reasonable, and the $10 shipping cost makes it even more appealing compared to the sn850x which includes free shipping. For a better driving experience, you’re looking at around $212 versus $225—about $13 extra for a nicer ride.
You haven’t found SN750 in your ordered list. I see you ranked them by performance and value. It seems the cheapest model, the SN570, still holds more appeal than any QLC-based drive thanks to its better endurance. All the SSDs you mentioned use TLC technology. Since you’re unsure about the retailer, I don’t need shipping details or delivery options. You might be purchasing multiple parts from one source and benefiting from combined shipping, or you could qualify for free shipping if your total exceeds a certain amount. Amazon could offer free shipping directly or through third-party sellers. PC Part Picker usually shows the lowest price but often overlooks shipping costs. If the item comes from Amazon, check the alternate seller section for better prices with free delivery.
the 750 costs $212 plus shipping, the 770 is $215 with free shipping from Newegg, and the 850x is $225 with free shipping too. I’m wondering if you actually built that system yourself—what model would you pick? I’m leaning toward the 850x because I believe it offers the best value, but I’m not sure if the difference will be obvious.