The 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systèmes is a comprehensive tool for product design, simulation, data management and collaboration. A powerful workstation is crucial to utilise this platform efficiently, especially when it comes to memory. In this context, DDR4 and DDR5 are the two current generations of RAM that should be considered for different requirements and project sizes in 3DEXPERIENCE.
1. Basics of DDR4 and DDR5
DDR4 (Double Data Rate 4):
Speed: Typical frequencies are between 2133 MHz and 3200 MHz.
Bandwidth: Offers a maximum theoretical bandwidth of up to 25.6 GB/s at 3200 MHz.
Latency: Lower latency compared to DDR5, which can be an advantage in some applications.
Availability: Widely available and cheaper than DDR5.
DDR5 (Double Data Rate 5):
Speed: Frequencies range from 4800 MHz to 7200 MHz or higher.
Bandwidth: Offers a maximum theoretical bandwidth of up to 57.6 GB/s at 7200 MHz.
Latency: Higher latency than DDR4, but the higher bandwidth compensates for this in many cases.
Availability: Newer technology, tends to be more expensive, but future workloads will be more optimised for it.
2. Small projects
Project examples: Simple CAD models, basic simulations, data management for small teams.
Our recommendation:
DDR4: 16-32 GB at 2133-3200 MHz. For small projects, DDR4 offers sufficient performance at a lower price. It is important to have enough memory for multi-tasking, but without over-investing in the latest technology.
DDR5: 16-32 GB at 4800-5200 MHz. If the hardware purchase is new and long-term use is planned, DDR5 could be a future-proof choice, although the direct performance benefit for small projects is minimal.
Small projects benefit from sufficient memory rather than maximum speed. Here DDR4 modules offer good value for money.
3. Medium projects
Project examples: More complex CAD models, moderate simulations, more intensive data processing, collaboration in medium-sized teams.
Our recommendation:
DDR4: 32-64 GB at 2666-3200 MHz. DDR4 continues to offer good performance for medium-sized projects, especially when high capacities are required.
DDR5: 32-64 GB at 5200-6000 MHz. DDR5 can offer advantages for medium projects, especially in scenarios with intensive data flow and parallel running processes. The higher bandwidth of DDR5 can bring noticeable improvements in performance for medium-sized projects, especially in applications that require intensive memory access.
4. Complex projects
Project examples: Large-scale simulations, detailed and complex CAD models, extensive data analyses, large teams and collaborative development environments.
Our recommendation:
DDR4: 64-128 GB at 2933-3200 MHz. For very extensive projects, DDR4 can be used at high capacity, but the speed could be limiting.
DDR5: 64-128 GB or more at 5600-7200 MHz. DDR5 offers the necessary bandwidth and future scalability for extremely complex workloads.
Complex projects benefit significantly from the high bandwidth and speed of DDR5. This minimises bottlenecks with large amounts of data and complex calculations.
5. Our conclusion
The choice between DDR4 and DDR5 when using 3DEXPERIENCE depends heavily on the type and size of the project:
Small projects: DDR4 is sufficient and cost-efficient.
Medium-sized projects: DDR5 offers a good compromise between performance and future-proofing here.
Complex projects: DDR5 is clearly preferable to ensure maximum performance for highly intensive tasks.
Note: In addition to the choice of RAM, other hardware components such as CPU and GPU are also decisive for the overall performance in 3DEXPERIENCE, especially for simulations and rendering tasks. A balanced system architecture is therefore essential.
