System memory, the fast temporary storage a computer uses while running programs, follows a series of standards that each raise speed and efficiency. The next generation has been under development through 2026, promising higher bandwidth so processors can move data in and out more quickly.
Faster memory helps most in tasks that shuffle large amounts of data, such as AI work, video editing and demanding games. As with past transitions, the new standard will appear first in servers and high end machines before reaching mainstream computers, because it requires matching support in both the processor and the motherboard.