Asus Motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR2)

[chewie999]

Hi guys,

I'm new here but have been coming to browse on several occasions and found that this forum is really helpful.

I need help in figuring something. I just bought a desktop from a supplier that originally promised to install the Asus DDR3 motherboard but later I found out that instead they installed the DDR2 board.

I called them about it and they said they will change it to the DDR3 board if I wanted it but said that they didn't install it because they didn't have the DDR3 RAM memory at that time. They said that the DDR3 memory is significantly more expensive.

For your reference, I use my desktop for gaming with Windows Vista 32 bit. Currently with the DDR2, I have 4gb of RAM installed.

Few questions:

1. If I choose the DDR3 board, then I assume I would install 2gb of RAM. Does this mean it's slower than 4gb of DDR2 RAM.
2. Would there be a significant performance difference between DDR3 and DDR2 boards with the above configs.
3. If yes, does the increased price justify it. If I'm not wrong the difference in RAM price should be an additional $40. I've paid for the DDR3 board so I only need to pay for the additional RAM. If I take the DDR2 board, I assume that I'll get some money back.
4. If I do plan on upgrades in the future, is the DDR3 board better.

I read on another forum posting that DDR3 is not worth it but just wanted to make sure coz this is my only chance to exchange it if I do decide.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Drexl]

1. That would depend on the RAM, but I would much rather have 4GB of DDR2 (although 32-bit Vista will only see about 3GB or so of it).
2. No, assuming the FSB speeds are the same. In fact, the DDR3 might be slower because CAS latency of typical DDR3 is between 7-9 as opposed to 4-5 for DDR2.
3. Even if it did, I couldn't see the increased price justifying it. It's much more than $40 higher.
4. I doubt it. Remember that you can't mix DDR2 and DDR3. Do you really want to toss good RAM and replace it for a slight benefit? I would put it this way: by the time DDR3 is needed, it will probably be time for a new motherboard anyway.

I would stay away from DDR3 for a while. The point of DDR3 is to get higher bandwidth than is possible with DDR2, but right now it's pointless because CPUs aren't really calling for it (even the yet-to-be-released Wolfdale/Yorkfield CPUs). DDR2-800 is already higher than the stock speeds of the fastest CPUs, let alone DDR2-1066 which is still well under the price of DDR3. Even with overclocking, you can't reach the point where more memory bandwidth is needed in a 1:1 configuration where the memory matches the FSB, and even if you could, it's doubtful that the board (the northbridge) could run at that speed reliably anyway. The overclocking thread also mentions that higher FSB speeds don't give you a real-world benefit, at least with today's apps. It may be useful if you can run it at twice the speed of the FSB, but even then I doubt there would be a tangible difference.

Right now DDR3 is in that introduction phase where it's being implemented in order to get support, while the status quo is still a far better deal. It's kind of like how they keep making faster hard drive interfaces, but the actual speed can't come close to the new theoretical speed. At least in that case you don't have to pay a whole lot more to get it.

 

[chewie999]

Thanks so much for the explanation.

I'll probably stick to my current setup then. I don't want the hassle of taking the computer to the store again unless it's a significant difference.

Again, I'm impressed by the helpfulness and expertise of the people in this forum.

Thanks