AM2+ v AM3

shadowake

shadowake

shadowake

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AM2+ v AM3

Is it worth the extra for AM3 DDR3 over AM2+ DDR2?

Is it a big performance increase or just a minimal one?

I can build an AM2+ system £150ish cheaper! :confused:
 
The difference in the cost of the mobo is <£40. [taking the AM2+ as the £77 msi] For £5 more you get an 8 phase UD3 Gigabyte board. The AM3 boards are going to be that bit better quality than the AM2 ones, even if they do cost a bit more.

6GB of DDR3 is on for £62 this week, so the diference in cost vs 4gb DDR2 is about £25.

So more like £65, not £150! :)
 
Still is the added £65 worth it at the moment. Will their be a significant difference in performance? Is the extra worth it for upgradability in the future. I am looking at building a system soon(next 3 Months) to replace old Dell. I am looking at AMD because upgrade path looks better.
 
AMD uses dual channel DDR3 which is going for £80 for 4gb at ocuk. a lot more expensive than ddr2 or ddr3 triple channel as well.

Since you want upgradeability, I would suggest its worth the extra.

sid
 
For future proofing the AM3 and DDR3 would be the choice

On performance difference i'm not sure but i'm sure someone will come along soon with some advice :)
 
Definitely AM3 cheap as chips atm and future proof. Cant complain £68 for 6GB of Ram I wish I had money to upgrade right this sec because i would, its a steal.
 
OcUK got this on order awaiting stock.

New OCZ AMD Edition Ram coming out that runs on 1.65v.

Basically same as the X58 3x2gb Ram thats available, but this will be 2x2gb kits - hopefully the price will reflect its comparison of 4GB / 6GB.

LINK: http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_12800_platinum_amd_edition

Specifications
  • 1600MHz DDR3
  • CL 7-7-7-24
  • (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS)
  • Available in 4GB D/C kits
  • Unbuffered
  • Platinum Z3 XTC Heatspreader*
  • AMD AM3 DDR3 Platforms Only
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • 1.65Volts
  • 240 Pin DIMM

Needs to be priced well to make it worthwhile obviously.
 
So DDR3 triple dual channel memory modules are not actually compatible? I didnt think of that. So why is the more expensive dual channel DDR3 memory, and the whole AM3 socket thing actually future proof? Haven't all more expensive incompatible, inferior memory formats always failed in the past?

The benefit of going a particular socket route has perhaps more to do with your second machine, and the grandfathering of equipment down to it, then the next. Benefiting from backwards compatible dims, cpus, mobos when you are troubleshooting why the new purchase (or your mate's) is not working.

The way I see it is picking the right time to jump socket format, and picking the right one is likely of more use than saving £65 -> £85 or spending a bit more on I7.
 
JTrickle said:
The difference in the cost of the mobo is <£40. [taking the AM2+ as the £77 msi] For £5 more you get an 8 phase UD3 Gigabyte board. The AM3 boards are going to be that bit better quality than the AM2 ones, even if they do cost a bit more.

6GB of DDR3 is on for £62 this week, so the diference in cost vs 4gb DDR2 is about £25.

So more like £65, not £150! :)
Click to expand...

The £150 is because of the change in processor as well as RAM and Mobo ;)

3.0GHz AM2+ Black is nearl £100 cheaper than the 3.2GHz AM3 Black :eek:
 
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