AM2 doesn't look worth the wait?

[Monstermunch]

Found this today, i'm sure it may have been posted already but anyway:

http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/default.aspx?bid=279

Just confirmed my original thoughts that DDR2 wouldn't offer an increase, mainly because of the crap latencies.

Stuff I have read recently leads me to thinking that i'm better off with good ol' 2-3-2-5 PC3200 instead of PC4000 or upwards and then running a divider.

 

[Monstermunch]

Im going to have to disagree, DDR2 is really starting to take off, if you buy cheap DDR2 then yes its not brilliant but Corsair have DDR2 modules that can do close to 400mhz (DDR800) at 3/2/2/8.

Yea but they only do 1gb kits and they're £200inc, will probably be around £400inc for a 2gb kit! I'd rather spend the extra money on a better processor and increase my speed that way cos it'll be cheaper.

£200inc for a 1gb kit, honestly. You'd have to be either a spoilt rich kid or just plain nuts to buy one!

 

[Monstermunch]

its expensive atm but once ddr2 becomes mainstream with both intel and amd motherboards being used it'll be as cheap as ddr is currently within a few months i'd have thought.

I'd be willing to be money on the fact that the £200 kit I mentioned (being the only one I can see with decent timings) will still be expensive my this time next year.

I've worked for a manufacturer for 8+ years and I know how these things work. I agree that when the demand increases the prices will drop, but it's not as easy as that. Firstly there has to be a huge increase in demand, secondly it would have to be sustained for at least 3 months. Then the manufacturers will go to their suppliers and negotiate better prices for materials because of the increased quantities they are buying. After all that and another 3 months prices should start to fall.

However, with prices as high as they are currently and also general performance, i'm not convinced that the demand will increase dramatically for a while yet.

AM2 just sounds like a load of old pants to me, all the review i've read are reporting decreased performance to that of an equal speed S939 chip. If things stay the same and there are no good new reviews then I will be buying a spanking new skt939 rig about a month after AM2 is released.