PC133 or DDR

[firehawk68]

from what i understand ddr memory is better, but only SLIGHTLY better than pc133 memory, like 5-10 percent or so, is that true?

where i live, 256mb of ddr memory costs EXACTLY the same as 512mb of pc133 memory!

surely 512mb pc133 must be BETTER than 256mb drr?

i mean ddr memory is better, but not THAT much better is it?

also for overall computer performance, say you have a 1500xp amd processor, gf2 ti graphiccard and 40gb of storage... how big a difference is it with 256mb memory compared to 512mb memory? is it really worth getting 512mb ?? (the memory prices right not is higher than for quite some time)

lemme know thanks!

 

[InfectedVoice]

It really depends on the chipset also. KT133A is as fast as some of the first DDR chipset's (AMD 760/761, ALi MagiK), but the new KT266A simply blows the KT133A away.

If you have a SiS 735 chipset, than it is probably best to go DDR, has its faster and more future proof.

 

[firehawk68]

thanks. but as for future proof, i dont give that a second thought. when im done with my pc i buy another one. 128mb ram was good enough for me for 4 years so i doubt i will need to get so much memory in the near future. i mean seriously, has anyone in the history of pc computers, say the last 10 years ever needed more than 512 memory, or even 256mb memory for ANYTHING? unless you're running servers or are heavy into videographics or whatever but for us normal users...

 

[firehawk68]

the motherboards im considering is:

ECS K7VZA-26

or

ECS K7S5A DDR LA

(the last one is about $20 more)

 

[gritnugget]

go with whatevers cheaper!

 

[Goldfish]

No, don't go with whats cheaper, go with DDR.

 

[pcclub2000]

GO WITH DDR!!
Its expensiv, but faster than the SD-RAM and you will need faster RAMS for the future!

 

[firehawk68]

faster? how much faster? 5%? 10% is it faster than TWICE as much p133 memory? 256mb vs 512mb?
and what future are you taking about? 3 months from now? 3 years from now? you know maybe I should buy future memory in a future where i actually might need it? all motherboards can take atleast 512mb of memory so i don't see the reason for buying it now if i need it later, especially since the memory prices will be lower by then..

 

[ChrisIsBored]

I think your mind is pretty much set on NOT buying some DDR RAM although the benefits will outweigh the con's... if you're so bent on getting the cheaper deal, then why not just go for it rather than wasting bandwidth....

Good luck.

 

[Halogen]

buyin a mobo with PC133 RAM is like buying a GeForce2 MX200 to go with your brand new AthlonXP 1900+, sooner or later you will just end up buying a faster video card

im just sayin that get DDR now, you shouldn't buy things that are already obsolite, what you suggest doing is comparable to buying a celeron, get with the times

 

[John]

If cost was an absolute issue, I would rather have 256MB PC2100 over 512MB PC133 anyday. Most of your high end motherboards for the AMD cpu will support only DDR.

 

[firehawk68]

let's try this again:

is 256mb of ddr a better deal than 512mb of pc133?

if the answer to this question is "yes" please explain why.
and the answer im looking for is why is it better TODAY.

will 256mb of DDR memory performe better in my current system TODAY than if i put 512mb in it? TODAY.

 

[bjc112]

go DDR, if u are building a new machine, why go with old stuff... get DDR, PC133 doesnt much of a future left..

 

[firehawk68]

beep.
wrong answer. try again.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

<< let's try this again:

is 256mb of ddr a better deal than 512mb of pc133?

if the answer to this question is "yes" please explain why.
and the answer im looking for is why is it better TODAY.

will 256mb of DDR memory performe better in my current system TODAY than if i put 512mb in it? TODAY. >>


Yes, the performance of DDR is better than the performance of PC133 TODAY - as long as you get the right DDR chipset. The SIS 735 chipset in the K7S5A is considerably faster with DDR than the PC133 champ Via KT133A chipset. The first DDR chipset to beat the KT133A was the AMD 760 and it only beat it by 5-10%, but the SiS 735 improved on that and now the KT266A and nForce have improved on that further. A roundup article that Anand wrote earlier back in August is a good source of information for comparison (although it doesn't include the newest chipsets) and can be found here. If you are choosing between a KT133A chipset and a K7S5A, I would suggest getting the K7S5A and if you want to stay cheap and use PC133 for now you will be fine and then you can upgrade to DDR later if you decide you want to. It is keeping doors open for you to do something like that. That's just my $0.02.

 

[Sunner]

This question, like so many others like it, has no "yes or no" answer, it depends on your needs.

If you're just into gaming or surfing, you know, the avarge home user kind of stuff, then DDR is definately the way to go, you'll rarely need more than 256 MB, but those 256 MB will be faster when gaming.

If you're using Photoshop to play with really big images, doing video editing, 3D modelling, etc, typical workstation type stuff, then go with the PC133 by all means, the speed benefit of PC2100 vs PC133 wont outweigh the difference between storing stuff like an image in RAM vs in swap space.

So, in the end, it's up to what you use your computer for.

 

[veryape]

What you need to do is to compare a 256mb stick of pc133 sdram to a 256mb stick of ddr sdram, and I don't think it is double in price. I just checked Crucials prices on DDR and pc133SDram and the difference is negligabe, the SDram pc133 being $17.99 for 128mb and the 1600DDR being $23.30, and 2100DDR for 33.29. There is a big difference between double the price and a bit more than a 20% difference. I think the DDR is worth it, you just need to find somewhere else to buy it.
BTW, the 2100ddr may be close to double the price of pc133 but not quite and it is still definitely worth it, unless you are really strapped for cash.

 

[Rectalfier]

The KT133A and Sis735 with Sdram were almost as fast as the DDR solutions when testing on 1Ghz processor. However, for the Athlon XP the difference will be much more noticible. I would go with the 256 DDR, and upgrade to 512 when you can afford it. Having 512megs of ram did not improve the performance of any games for me. I saw the main difference in windows swapping, it never happens anymore, I can close out of any game or program without hidoeus hard drive thrashing.

 

[Shadows]

Here is some hard data that may be of use in this debate. I have an Athlon 1.4 with ECS K7S5A motherboard. When I first built the system I only had PC133 RAM, 384 MB (3X128). I just got a stick of 256 MB DDR PC2100 and here are the results of each in Sandra:

PC133 516/563
DDR 622/753

That is nearly 20% higher. To me it's worthwhile for the difference in cost.

Peace