Thoughts on DDR3?

R

rbxslvr

New Member
I'm planning on getting a new motherboard and more ram... I currently use DDR... First off, can I use my 1 gig stick of DDR, along with a stick of DDR2 or 3? Or do they all have to be the same?

I think I'm just gonna stick to DDR2 because it has 2 gig single sticks, while I have not seen any of those for 3. (I don't need all 8 gigs, but it's good to know that I can).

Just basically, voice your opinions on the technology. (I don't plan on upgrading until the end of the year.)

I know I'll get 64 bit edition. I wonder when they will have single sticks of 4 gig :eek::cool:
 
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No, DDR3 is not better, YET. It's latencies are too high for it to be faster.

Error-correcting memory

Because soft errors are extremely common in the DRAM of computers used in satellites and space probes, such memory is structured as ECC memory (also called "EDAC protected memory"). Typically every bit of memory is refreshed at least 15 times per second. During this memory refresh, the memory controller reads each word of memory and writes the word back. Such memory controllers traditionally use a Hamming code, although some use triple modular redundancy. Even though a single cosmic ray can upset many physically neighboring bits in a DRAM, such memory systems are designed so that neighboring bits belong to different words, so such single event upsets (SEUs) cause only a single error in any particular word, and so can be corrected by a single-bit error correcting code. As long as no more than a single bit in any particular word is hit by an error between refreshes, such a memory system presents the illusion of an error-free memory.

G. Skill is decent -:(-, I don't use it, I have friends that do and they like it, it is just typical. I like Corsair XMS2, which is a good deal with rebate.
 
INTELCRAZY said:
No, DDR3 is not better, YET. It's latencies are too high for it to be faster.

Error-correcting memory

Because soft errors are extremely common in the DRAM of computers used in satellites and space probes, such memory is structured as ECC memory (also called "EDAC protected memory"). Typically every bit of memory is refreshed at least 15 times per second. During this memory refresh, the memory controller reads each word of memory and writes the word back. Such memory controllers traditionally use a Hamming code, although some use triple modular redundancy. Even though a single cosmic ray can upset many physically neighboring bits in a DRAM, such memory systems are designed so that neighboring bits belong to different words, so such single event upsets (SEUs) cause only a single error in any particular word, and so can be corrected by a single-bit error correcting code. As long as no more than a single bit in any particular word is hit by an error between refreshes, such a memory system presents the illusion of an error-free memory.

G. Skill is decent -:(-, I don't use it, I have friends that do and they like it, it is just typical. I like Corsair XMS2, which is a good deal with rebate.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I really like my Corsair Ram. Although I'm tempted to try G.Skill on future build.
 
INTELCRAZY said:
No, DDR3 is not better, YET. It's latencies are too high for it to be faster.

Error-correcting memory

Because soft errors are extremely common in the DRAM of computers used in satellites and space probes, such memory is structured as ECC memory (also called "EDAC protected memory"). Typically every bit of memory is refreshed at least 15 times per second. During this memory refresh, the memory controller reads each word of memory and writes the word back. Such memory controllers traditionally use a Hamming code, although some use triple modular redundancy. Even though a single cosmic ray can upset many physically neighboring bits in a DRAM, such memory systems are designed so that neighboring bits belong to different words, so such single event upsets (SEUs) cause only a single error in any particular word, and so can be corrected by a single-bit error correcting code. As long as no more than a single bit in any particular word is hit by an error between refreshes, such a memory system presents the illusion of an error-free memory.

G. Skill is decent -:(-, I don't use it, I have friends that do and they like it, it is just typical. I like Corsair XMS2, which is a good deal with rebate.
Click to expand...
I probably won't upgrade until the day after thanksgiving day sales :D I hate the mail in rebates... but some of the instant rebates are pretty good. I'd better get in line outside Comp USA after I eat my thanksgiving dinner.
 
So... if I get 2 of the exact same sticks of RAM, against a dual-channel set... is the dual channel set better? Oh... and... if it is, why is it better?
 
well... now I'm stumped... my motherboard (to be) specs say

"DDR3 1333/1066/800
The chipset officially supports the memory frequency up to DDR3 1066MHz. Tuned by ASUS Super Memspeed Technology, this motherboard natively supports up to DDR3 1333MHz"

Does that mean I can use DDR2, or is it only backwards compatible with other DDR3's (of lower frequencies)?


Motherboard

Also, I know DDR and DDR2 are not compatible because they have different pins... but are the DDR2 and 3 compatible... so I could have 1 stick of DDR2 and 1 of DDR3
 
DDR3 will become better with time, this is exactly what happened when DDR2 first came out.

@rbxslvr, the P5K3 supports DDR3 RAM up to 1333Mhz, and DDR2 1066. DDR3 and DDR2 use different slots, so you cant use DDR2 RAM in a DDR3 slot. So what the P5K3 has is two DDR2 slots, and two DDR3 slots, but you cant use both at the same time.
 
[-0MEGA-];711460 said:
DDR3 will become better with time, this is exactly what happened when DDR2 first came out.

@rbxslvr, the P5K3 supports DDR3 RAM up to 1333Mhz, and DDR2 1066. DDR3 and DDR2 use different slots, so you cant use DDR2 RAM in a DDR3 slot. So what the P5K3 has is two DDR2 slots, and two DDR3 slots, but you cant use both at the same time.
Click to expand...
so to get the 8 gb max, I'd have to get 2 x 4 gig cards?:confused:


So, if they use different slots, where does the "240-pin" come in. I know DDR is 184-pin.

They don't even sell single 4 gig cards for desktops:eek: (I want to get the max for each slot so that I'm not screwed out of RAM when it comes time to get more...)
 
rbxslvr said:
so to get the 8 gb max, I'd have to get 2 x 4 gig cards?:confused:


So, if they use different slots, where does the "240-pin" come in. I know DDR is 184-pin.

They don't even sell single 4 gig cards for desktops:eek: (I want to get the max for each slot so that I'm not screwed out of RAM when it comes time to get more...)
Click to expand...
I dont think the motherboard supports 4GB modules, but i'm not positive. If they do, then thats the only way you can get 8GB.

Both DDR2 and DDR3 are 240-pin, but the notches are in different spots so you cant mix them up. If you want more RAM, then either get the P5K which supports only DDR2, or get a DDR3 only motherboard.
 
[-0MEGA-];711484 said:
I dont think the motherboard supports 4GB modules, but i'm not positive. If they do, then thats the only way you can get 8GB.

Both DDR2 and DDR3 are 240-pin, but the notches are in different spots so you cant mix them up. If you want more RAM, then either get the P5K which supports only DDR2, or get a DDR3 only motherboard.
Click to expand...
well then it might not support DDR2... It looks like the notches (well... where the notches fit on the slot) are in the same place for all 4 slots. Plus the diagram shows "Dual Channel DDR3 slots" for all of them....


Video at 3:15 it comes up and say s 4 DDR3 slots

EDIT: Video time is backwards... so it is 3:15 from the end of the video
 
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The P5K3 supports both DDR2 and DDR3, you cant tell from the pictures but they do. Check out Asus' website if you want more info on them.
 
[-0MEGA-];711512 said:
The P5K3 supports both DDR2 and DDR3, you cant tell from the pictures but they do. Check out Asus' website if you want more info on them.
Click to expand...
http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=534&l4=0&model=1645&modelmenu=2

Not trying to discredit what you are saying... but that does not show DDR2 under the specs... I just want to be sure because it seems like there isn't even support for DDR2, considering what you said (that they are not interchangeable slots).

4 x DIMM, max. 8GB, DDR3 1333*/1066 / 800 MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered memory
Dual channel memory architecture
* The chipset officially supports the memory frequency up to DDR3 1066MHz. Tuned by ASUS Super Memspeed Technology, this motherboard natively supports up to DDR3 1333MHz
Please refer to www.asus.com or user manual for Memory QVL
Click to expand...
 
rbxslvr said:
http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=534&l4=0&model=1645&modelmenu=2

Not trying to discredit what you are saying... but that does not show DDR2 under the specs... I just want to be sure because it seems like there isn't even support for DDR2, considering what you said (that they are not interchangeable slots).
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, I was thinking of the P5KC motherboard, not the P5K3. This may be a good choice for you if you want to use both: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131188
 
[-0MEGA-];711954 said:
I'm sorry, I was thinking of the P5KC motherboard, not the P5K3. This may be a good choice for you if you want to use both: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131188
Click to expand...

No harm done... as long as I know why I wasn't seeing what you were


So, I still like the P5K3 though... It's a higher end motherboard... so I wouldn't have to upgrade for x amount of years, and can still have top of the line hardware work with it.

in your opinion, how long until DDR3 prices go down and stability goes up (as well as single card 2 gig moduals offered)
 
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I haven't been here for almost a year. (I'm about sixteen days short of a full year)

I was wondering what your thoughts on DDR3 are now? I was thinking about doing an almost full upgrade. (Case, Cooling, Power Supply, Proc, Memory, Motherboard, Optical Drives. I plan on keeping my graphics card, and my hard drives)

At this point has DDR3 become "stable"... And, is it worth the extra $$$$ for it? Does it really make a difference?
 
INTELCRAZY said:
No, DDR3 is not better, YET. It's latencies are too high for it to be faster.

Error-correcting memory

Because soft errors are extremely common in the DRAM of computers used in satellites and space probes, such memory is structured as ECC memory (also called "EDAC protected memory"). Typically every bit of memory is refreshed at least 15 times per second. During this memory refresh, the memory controller reads each word of memory and writes the word back. Such memory controllers traditionally use a Hamming code, although some use triple modular redundancy. Even though a single cosmic ray can upset many physically neighboring bits in a DRAM, such memory systems are designed so that neighboring bits belong to different words, so such single event upsets (SEUs) cause only a single error in any particular word, and so can be corrected by a single-bit error correcting code. As long as no more than a single bit in any particular word is hit by an error between refreshes, such a memory system presents the illusion of an error-free memory.

G. Skill is decent -:(-, I don't use it, I have friends that do and they like it, it is just typical. I like Corsair XMS2, which is a good deal with rebate.
Click to expand...
Same. :)
I hate rebates though. :P
spanky said:
Yeah, I really like my Corsair Ram. Although I'm tempted to try G.Skill on future build.
Click to expand...

Yeah i like corsair but i've heard A LOT of good reviews on G.Skill ram.:)
 
rbxslvr said:
I haven't been here for almost a year. (I'm about sixteen days short of a full year)

I was wondering what your thoughts on DDR3 are now? I was thinking about doing an almost full upgrade. (Case, Cooling, Power Supply, Proc, Memory, Motherboard, Optical Drives. I plan on keeping my graphics card, and my hard drives)

At this point has DDR3 become "stable"... And, is it worth the extra $$$$ for it? Does it really make a difference?
Click to expand...

It's still not worth it. The prices have come down, but even if DDR3 was fast enough to actually justify the cost (which I don't think is the case), you won't need all the speed - you don't even need all the bandwidth of piss-cheap DDR2 in single-channel.

I read an article on Tom's Hardware whatever testing out two identical systems, only difference being that one used dual-channel, one single-channel memory. The difference in games was only a few FPS in favor of dual-channel, and the improvement was only marginal in all other applications, meaning that as long as you have your DDR2 in dual-channel, it'll provide enough bandwidth for a while.

No reason to go DDR3, yet.

And of course, DDR2 is the cheapest way to go :P
 
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