DDR2 and DDR3, how much of a difference will there be?

petemyster

petemyster

petemyster

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http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-108-OK&groupid=43&catid=1270&subcat=&name="Ultima%20OC%20HD%204870%20X2"%20Intel%20Core%202%20Quad%20Q6600%202.40GHz%20@%20QX6950+%203.00GHz%20Dual%20Core%20DDR2%20System

The RAM is ddr2, and i was told i should get ddr3 (and the only way to do that, is to use PC builder, but PC builder makes the same compuer £300 dearer). So, how much of a difference will i be able to notice between 4GB of ddr2 memory, and 4GB of ddr3? And what about, what difference would i notice for games in the future, where 4GB would just about meet the "reccomended system requirements".

The reason im asking you guys, is google has mixed feelings about it :D
 
if your going vista get 64-bit and 4GB of DDR2. If your asking this i dont think you will need DDR3 for a good while. just get some decent DDR2 2x2GB kit.
 
The RAM is ddr2, and i was told i should get ddr3 (and the only way to do that, is to use PC builder, but PC builder makes the same compuer £300 dearer). So, how much of a difference will i be able to notice between 4GB of ddr2 memory, and 4GB of ddr3? And what about, what difference would i notice for games in the future, where 4GB would just about meet the "reccomended system requirements".
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Who told you, you should buy DDR3? We need some context here.

In simple terms, DDR3 will do little for gaming, the CPU and graphics card are what is important here.

In future proofing terms there is absolutely NO guarantee that 2 sticks you buy now will work with a third in a tri-channel Nehalem system (compatibility is a dark-art, particularly when items are new) so I would buy for your rig NOW, not one you might build later. You also have to consider that DDR2 is cheaper than DDR3 (£60 to minimum of £110ish) so any saving you make by buying DDR3 and switching over will be negated by the higher cost you pay now (and one can assume DDR3 will eventually reach the prices of DDR2!).

If you buy PC2-6400 or PC2-8500 you get great performance from a Core 2 CPU at stock and a reasonable amount of overclocking headroom (depending on the CPU, for E8000 series overclocks you may prefer PC2-8500). With DDR3 you pay a lot more and don't get a whole lot (though some applications like it more than others, if you have to ask they most likely do not apply to you!).

and 4GB of ddr3? And what about, what difference would i notice for games in the future, where 4GB would just about meet the "reccomended system requirements".
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In short: DDR2 is a sensible choice and for the price you pay for 4GB, you won't regret it. Also, if we get to the stage that 4GB is minimum requirements (VERY, VERY unlikely for the useful lifetime of the rig you are building now), having DDR3 over DDR2, will not help you!
 
^^Exactly, couldn't have put it better.
If you have an extra £300 that you're dying to spend then look at a better gfx card or hard drive(s).
 
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