DDR vs DDR2

DDR2 memory is obviously a faster type of memory and runs at higher frequencies like 533mhz, 667mhz, 800mhz, etc.. What helps with speeding up DDR400 is the faster Hypertransport seen with the faster front side bus there. The newer model boards running DDR2 are sure to see better performance as far as memory speed goes.
 
PC eye said:
DDR2 memory is obviously a faster type of memory and runs at higher frequencies like 533mhz, 667mhz, 800mhz, etc.. What helps with speeding up DDR400 is the faster Hypertransport seen with the faster front side bus there. The newer model boards running DDR2 are sure to see better performance as far as memory speed goes.
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Is it a huge difference you think? Going from the DDR400 with Hypertransport to the DDR800?
 
I've only seen the two compared in benchmarks and MHz for MHz, DDR2 is not in any way faster than DDR. I overclocked my DDR and CPU just to see what would happen, and I found that I came very close to the same speeds as DDR2 with the same clock. I have heard many other people say the same thing.
 
[-0MEGA-];403329 said:
:confused:

There is no such thing as Hyper-Transport memory. What you showed me was a list of compatible CPU's for a motherboard.
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Apparently you don't read too well. [Originally posted by PCeye] "speeding up DDR400 is the faster Hypertransport seen with the faster front side bus there."
 
PC eye said:
Apparently you don't read too well. [Originally posted by PCeye] "speeding up DDR400 is the faster Hypertransport seen with the faster front side bus there."
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I wasnt originally quoting you, I was quoting chris [DDR400 with Hypertransport].
 
SirKenin said:
I've only seen the two compared in benchmarks and MHz for MHz, DDR2 is not in any way faster than DDR. I overclocked my DDR and CPU just to see what would happen, and I found that I came very close to the same speeds as DDR2 with the same clock. I have heard many other people say the same thing.
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So then what is the benefit of DDR? This is kind of a let down! I was pretty sure that my DDR2 PC6400 would dominate the PC3200.

Are there any advantages at all?
 
SirKenin said:
I've only seen the two compared in benchmarks and MHz for MHz, DDR2 is not in any way faster than DDR. I overclocked my DDR and CPU just to see what would happen, and I found that I came very close to the same speeds as DDR2 with the same clock. I have heard many other people say the same thing.
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Are you saying you overclocked DDR400 to say, DDR2-800 speeds? I doubt it.

The reason that DDR2 isnt as great as it sounds, is because it has much higher latancies, which "counteract" with the fast speed, so the performance gain isnt as much.
 
I don't know :( I still, to this day, can not figure out why they even bothered. How much do you want to bet that it is just a scheme to get us to spend more money, just like everything else.

Here is what Anand has to say:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2088&p=20

It was hard to resist being glib and titling this article, "Much Ado about Very Little". That feeling of disappointment comes from seeing so much new technology introduced all at once, and then finding out the real performance benefit is extremely small - if it exists at all. If Intel wants us to turn our computer world upside down, there should be a real tangible benefit to the bucks we are expected to spend. Unfortunately, that performance advantage is pretty hard to find - at least for now. There are certainly a few gems in the total package, but if you're looking for a big performance advantage it just isn't there.
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Really the only advantage that I can see is that you can now clock the RAM much higher, with a latency trade off. That might pay off in the long run. It's hard to say.
 
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[-0MEGA-];403673 said:
Are you saying you overclocked DDR400 to say, DDR2-800 speeds? I doubt it.

The reason that DDR2 isnt as great as it sounds, is because it has much higher latancies, which "counteract" with the fast speed, so the performance gain isnt as much.
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Do low latency DDR2 chips exist? So I don't understand the point of DDR2 at all if it's not any faster then regular DDR.
 
ChrisUlrich said:
Do low latency DDR2 chips exist?
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It depends on the speed. Obviously DDR2-800 isnt going to have a CL of 2 or 3, but you may be able to find some DDR2-533 or 667 with CL's of 3.

I had DDR2-800 in my previous Intel rig, and I got it lowered to DDR2-700, with a CL of 3.
 
[-0MEGA-];403902 said:
Sometimes its not as described.

For example, the memory I bought was DDR2-800 CL4 (so they said). But in reality, it only runs at CL4 when its running at DDR2-667, when it's running at DDR2-800, it's at CL5. I find it pretty hard to believe they could get it at CL3 @ DDR2-800. Unless of course the voltage is insanly high.
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That memory with a CL3 has not been around awhile it came out about 1 or 2 months ago so i dont think it is wrong and i think it can run @ DDR2-800 with a CL3 and if you look on the reviews on newegg one of them says that the voltage is a little higher then the other rams.
 
the biggest difference is the frequency / latency difference. DDR2 has much higher potential than DDR memory in terms of frequency but DDR memory has the advantage of a lower latency which is beneficial in gaming. generally it doesnt matter that much just because its faster than the hard drive and because the cpu speed matters more anyways.
the memory latency might matter 1-10 fps depending on the game and other factors... whereas cpu speed matters a lot in all applications
 
Regardless Hyper threading applies to cpus while Hyper Transport is something now seen for the front side bus. When you are still running DDR400 that can be the big difference with the faster transfer rate on the bus. Obviously the DDR2 brings in a faster platform with the new type of memory.
 
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