Is it worth upgrading to a DDR capable motherboard ?

[vinayag]

Kind of curious

How much speed difference would I get if I get a new MB capable of taking DDR ram and use DDR ram. Is the cost to performance ration good ?

P.S : Im currently using a tyan trinity 400 motherboard with 128MB ram.

 

[compuwiz1]

5% max gain on a good day. It's not worth paying extra for, IMO. That gap lessens with good system optimisation. Unless you can immediately recoup the price difference in some quantifiable way, forget it.

 

[MCS]

You might as well just go DDR the next time you NEED to upgrade your board. I certainly wouldnt upgrade JUST to get the DDR.

 

[JesusCow]

<< 5% max gain on a good day. It's not worth paying extra for, IMO. That gap lessens with good system optimisation. Unless you can immediately recoup the price difference in some quantifiable way, forget it. >>

hmm, good points... correct me if i am wrong, but aren't ddr boards about the same cost right now? i know the ram is almost the exacty same price right now at crucial.com

 

[jcovercash]

I upgraded and went a head and got a DDR board while i was at it. I figured pend 20 extra bucks then next time I upgrade I will only have to buy the processor, next the palameno-[spelling]throurobred[spelling] are all socket A.

 

[CraigRT]

Basically the upgrade to DDR is only not worth it if you have a perfectly good system you are happy with or have recently just upgraded. DDR is a little better, but on a good KT133A board with great memory numbers like the Iwill KK266 you won't even notice much anyways! FPS in Quake III is a bit of an improvement over SDR at about 5-10% increase but not enough to go through the hassle of a new motherboard and all, I'd say. the new EpoX DDR board the 8K7A+ looks really good and that's what I'd get if i was going to upgrade my PIII any-time soon. DDR prices have dropped too, quite alot, so it's really not all that much more to buy a DDR system. but the main thing is if you have a good system now don't go to DDR yet.

 

[Biggs]

The problem with going the DDR route is that there is still no clear winner.

 

[grygrx]

I think some of the above points are well stated:

1) If you need a full upgrade, why not go DDR?

2) If you are just 'thinking' or have top notch SDRAM on hand, I would wait.


I got to a point just recently where I felt I needed an upgrade. I already had some high quality PC133 on hand, so for about $160 I moved up to a KT7E and a Duron 750 (143 * 7 = 1001).


Adam

 

[Dhruv]

Correct me if I'm incorrect, but

according to anandtechs articles, there MAY be a 5-10% performance boost with a DDR mobo at this time...

Won't the gap widen in the future? I'm with the rest of the guys as far as your particular situation, you already have a good setup, why go out and buy new memory, mobo, just for 5% or tops 10%? But for someone like me, a NEW buyer, I think DDR is the ONLY way to go..esp since prices are reasonable for the memory now. But for you, I'd wait, prices can only get cheaper in the future when the gap (if it does) finally does widen. my 2 centz

 

[Expandable]

I am still using overclock p3bf board. What performance will I get if upgrade to DDR board?

Thanks.