- Notes, cautions, and warnings
- Working on your computer
- Technology and components
- Disassembly and reassembly
- Troubleshooting
- Getting help
DDR4 (double data rate fourth generation) memory is a higher-speed successor to the DDR2 and DDR3 technologies and allows up to 512 GB in capacity, compared to the DDR3's maximum of 128 GB per DIMM. DDR4 synchronous dynamic random-access memory is keyed differently from both SDRAM and DDR to prevent the user from installing the wrong type of memory into the system.
DDR4 needs 20 percent less or just 1.2 volts, compared to DDR3 which requires 1.5 volts of electrical power to operate. DDR4 also supports a new, deep power-down mode that allows the host device to go into standby without needing to refresh its memory. Deep power-down mode is expected to reduce standby power consumption by 40 to 50 percent.
There are subtle differences between DDR3 and DDR4 memory modules, as listed below.
Memory errors on the system display the new ON-FLASH-FLASH or ON-FLASH-ON failure code. If all memory fails, the LCD does not turn on. Troubleshoot for possible memory failure by trying known good memory modules in the memory connectors on the bottom of the system or under the keyboard, as in some portable systems.