AM3 Build - New DDR3 1333 or use old DDR2 800?

iDevil · 21 Mar 2010 at 18:13

Hi guys, planning to build an AM3 system for gaming, just unsure whether to buy some DDR3 ram that is listed on the motherboards QVL or should I just use some DDR2 800mhz that I'm using in my current intel machine?

Is it likely to work? If so, will I be missing out on much performance?

Planned build:
Phenom 2 x4 965BE
Asus M4A77T Pro AM3 socket
2x2gb Geil 1333mhz DDR3
HD5870 1gb

The DDR2 ram Im talking about is 2x2gb 800mhz from crucial for an Asus P5N-D (socket 775).

Thanks in advance

theron · 21 Mar 2010 at 18:40

ddr3 motherboard slots are not compatible with ddr2.

looks like the mb u want only supports ddr3

iDevil · 21 Mar 2010 at 18:45

theron said:
ddr3 motherboard slots are not compatible with ddr2.

looks like the mb u want only supports ddr3

Thanks for the reply, IM sure I read somewhere that DDR2 would work in AM3 boards, nevermind. I'll just get the Geil.

jamesgoss · 21 Mar 2010 at 21:55

AM2+ boards accept DDR2, but AM3 don't

thingemajib · 21 Mar 2010 at 22:30

as AM2+ board can support AM3 CPU's, there is some crafty marketing going on where some older AM2+ boards are being listed as AM3...

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 21 Mar 2010 at 22:53

I know that there are some AMD motherboards which can use both DDR2 and DDR3(not at the same time though) and IIRC Uriel has one such motherboard.

iDevil · 21 Mar 2010 at 23:59

thingemajib said:
as AM2+ board can support AM3 CPU's, there is some crafty marketing going on where some older AM2+ boards are being listed as AM3...

! Very crafty indeed :O

Thanks again for the input guys