DDR or DDR2 SDRAM for my new build desktop?

[burnselk]

Is DDR2 THAT much better than DDR?

I purchased two (2) sticks of Kingston Technologies 512MB DDR SDRAM Memory (KVR400/512R, PC3200/PC2700/PC2100) on sale for $30/stick after rebates a couple of weeks ago at CC.

Now the Kingston Technologies 512MB DDR2 SDRAM Memory (KVR533D2/512R, PC2-4200) is on sale for $35/stick after rebates.

My question: Is there enough difference in DDR and DDR2 that I should return the DDR and buy the DDR2? I'm buying hardware as it goes no sale so I'm in no real big hurry.

I've not opened the first memory and can return it easily.

[foxyshadis]

Not really. DDR2 has higher bandwidth and higher latencies, but uses up a lot less power. (Main reason for the high latency.) While some modules can be timed nearly as hard as DDR, DDR2 is usually a better idea if you're trying to future-proof (DDR support will gradually disappear from new stuff in the next few years, but 1G isn't all that future-proof anyway) and if you need really large, fast transfers (some games, a lot of image/video editing apps, science and database apps). You probably wouldn't notice a real overall improvement unless the speed was at least 667 or 800 vs DDR 400.

Oh, I forgot earlier, of course make sure your board is compatible (they almost never are, because the slots are different, unless it has two banks of slots). The decision usually has to be made when buying a new board.

[burnselk]

but 1G isn't all that future-proof anyway) and if you need really large, fast transfers (some games, a lot of image/video editing apps, science and database apps). You probably wouldn't notice a real overall improvement unless the speed was at least 667 or 800 vs DDR 400.

Thanks for responding. I do intend to use this new "home build" computer for a decent amount of video capturing, editing, and burning.....vhs and 8mm tapes to digital (DVD).

Are you recommending more RAM? If so, would you recommend?

[CWR03]

You can't have too much RAM, but 1 GIG is a bare minimum I'd ever run in any XP-based system. At 30 bucks a stick, it can't hurt to fill all your available slots.

[burnselk]

fill all your available slots.

Most of the mobo's I've looked at lately seem to have only 2 slots.

This means I'll have to shop around in order to get two 1GB memory modules.

Do you think the prices of DDR2 will come down quickly?

[foxyshadis]

512 has fallen as much as it ever will. 1G will steadily decline in coming years, but its big price drops are past. (2G is the only one likely to see a sharp drop in the next year, and 4G is years from affordability; both need x64 to be useful anyway.)

That's why 4-slot mobos are really nice, they keep the cost of 2G down.

Editors like Premier (anything Adobe really) as well as other major studio apps are made with 2G in mind these days; you might look into older ones that assumed 1G and would run a lot better on it. But you'll be limited to SD unless you have a lot of patience, HD eats ram for breakfast.

[Doom9]

Uhh.. you don't really have a choice. If you have a non AM2 AMD chip, you need DDR, if you have an AM2 AMD chip you need DDR2. If you have a <=2 year old mainboard for intel chips, you need DDR2 as well.. so it comes down to what your platform needs, not what you want.

[burnselk]

That's why 4-slot mobos are really nice, they keep the cost of 2G down..

I like that idea, know of any good 4-slot mobo's?

But you'll be limited to SD unless you have a lot of patience, HD eats ram for breakfast.

What does SD and HD stand for? Sorry I have to ask but I'm still considered a newbie. I'll be using Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0.

Comprehensive response foxy..........Thanks.

[burnselk]

Uhh.. you don't really have a choice. If you have a non AM2 AMD chip, you need DDR, if you have an AM2 AMD chip you need DDR2. If you have a <=2 year old mainboard for intel chips, you need DDR2 as well.. so it comes down to what your platform needs, not what you want.

You make a VERY good point Doom9. No one had pointed that out before.

Sounds like "I have the cart before the horse" since I don't have my mobo yet.....but now thanks to you and others, I now know what to buy first.

I'm finding it's really not that easy to buy hardware these days with such fast changing technology. I must keep on my toes!!

So, I guess the mobo should be my first purchase (after I decide on the type processor), then the other hardware I need for the mobo. Right?

Thanks millions for responding to my somewhat "simpleton" questions. But I learn something new every day.....and I love it. I know I can depend on getting good information from you guys.

[foxyshadis]

AFAIK most ASRock are 4-slot and they've never let me down (although they're not always the most featureful).

SD/HD: Standard Definition (DVD etc) vs High Def.

[CWR03]

burnselk, in this case it seems you have the shopping cart before the horse. :)

RAM is always fluctuating in price and going on sale - your decision on buying the motherboard first is a better one. I never have to shop for more than a week before I find what I need either on sale or with a rebate. I would return the RAM while I still could since it's DDR and you may not be able to use it.

[burnselk]

I would return the RAM while I still could since it's DDR and you may not be able to use it.

You have answered my question CW.....that's exactly what I will do. Thank you.

[burnselk]

Uhh.. you don't really have a choice. If you have a non AM2 AMD chip, you need DDR, if you have an AM2 AMD chip you need DDR2. If you have a <=2 year old mainboard for intel chips, you need DDR2 as well.. so it comes down to what your platform needs, not what you want.

Looks like if I want a dual core processor (AMD or Intel) in my new build I need to buy DDR2 memory modules. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

[BigDid]

Looks like if I want a dual core processor (AMD or Intel) in my new build I need to buy DDR2 memory modules. Correct me if I'm wrong please.
Hi,

For Intel definitely.

For Amd, depends if you stay with socket 939 -> DDR
or go to socket Am2 -> DDR2
Related thread Amd vs Intel dual core here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112621

Now if you start from nothing, go DDR2, the future is yours :)
If you upgrade it depends...

Did

[dragongodz]

since you are talking about buying a motherboard etc i assume you will be building nearly from scratch. if so and you choose AMD then AM2 is definatly the way to go. socket 939 has a much shorter life left.
http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20060710A1001.html

[CWR03]

socket 939 has a much shorter life left.
Keep in mind that any hardware you buy now, as long as it's good quality and will last five years or so, won't go "obsolete" until you need to replace a component that you can't find. Many people chant "Six months obsolete" on PCs, and that's partially true if you're always striving to keep the latest hardware in your system, but for those who keep a system until it's either too slow to tolerate the speeds at which it handles things or it just breaks, there's a much longer lifespan in them. I typically do a major overhaul every two years and use the old parts to assemble a functioning computer for a friend or relative, or may set it up to run other projects on the side, and all of these are still running. The oldest one is ten years old and still works, though it requires patience.

The bottom line is this: If you're building something on a budget, build it to handle what you're doing now as best you can, but with some overhead. RAM is usually a system's weak link and is the best place to go "no expense spared." Regardless of the type you're using, quantity is more important than speed. If you can only afford two sticks of 512, by all means get a board with four slots. I understand that if you go with Windows Vista, you're going to need more RAM.

[dragongodz]

somewhat true but on the same hand if you know cpus for a certain socket is going to stop being made in a matter of months its probably a good idea to not go with that. that is if you think you will be buying the cheapest cpu now but may want to upgrade in a year or so's time atleast.
yes you still may be able to get those cpus but usually they go up in price because they are harder and harder to find.

[CWR03]

yes you still may be able to get those cpus but usually they go up in price because they are harder and harder to find.
That's just it, I'm not talking about those who may want to upgrade in a year, I'm talking about the typical computer user that makes up probably 95% of all users that will build or buy a PC and use it for half a decade.

[Gerard V]

FWIW I just purchased the MSI K8N Neo2 Platimun mobo and Athlon 4600 cpu. I arrived at this combination after some research and with a view to video processing. It uses DDR2-400 memory.

[Eretria-chan]

The most economical solution today would be AM2. AMD will cut the prices on the AM2 Dual Core Processors soon and they will offer outstanding performance.
You'd need an AM2 motherboard w/ DDR2 memory and an Socket AM2 Dual Core.

[BigDid]

FWIW I just purchased the MSI K8N Neo2 Platimun mobo and Athlon 4600 cpu... "It uses DDR2-400 memory".
Hi,

If you are talking about the socket 939 Mobo, it uses DDR memory (and not DDR2). Quote from MSI page: http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=607
"Main Memory
• Supports dual channel DDR 266/333/400, using four 184-pin DDR DIMMs "
I have the socket 754 version of this (quite) good board; I say quite cause having quite a high overclock I have some strange behavior at boot, but Ok beside that.
;)

Did

[Gerard V]

Bigdid. Yes, you are right, my bad.

[BigDid]

Bigdid. Yes, you are right,

Hope you did'nt bought your DDR2 already; if so you'll have to exchange it :D

Did

[Gerard V]

From Bigdid
Hope you did'nt bought your DDR2 already; if so you'll have to exchange it

Actually, what happened was that I had a Gigabyte Ga-8IPE775 mobo, Pentium D 820 with 2 gigs DDR400 Ram and an Nvidia 6800 graphics card plus other bits. The mobo died, and when looking for a quick replacement I found that there were no medium or high end mobos that took both the Pentium D chip and the AGP graphics card. So working backwards I decided to change the chip, and chose a card that took all the other bits (Ram, GPU etc.). Then in a spirit of excess I bought a bigger, cooler case and massive CPU cooler fan - and the MSI board mentioned before - and am very happy with the result.

Only after I had done that did I realise that the original mobo is still under warranty - so now I have had that replaced, put the chip in, and used the old case. All it needs is a PSU, RAM, HDD, DVD and some how I have rationalised to myself the creation of two systems with the kind of doublethink that only an geek can truly comprehend. :cool:

But to the point - the Pentium D has always had heat problems in my original system, and although its a dual 2.8GHz CPU, it is outperformed by the much cooler running Athlon 4600 on the MSI board. Hence my recommendation to the original poster FWIW.

[BigDid]

... But to the point - the Pentium D has always had heat problems in my original system, and although its a dual 2.8GHz CPU, it is outperformed by the much cooler running Athlon 4600 on the MSI board. Hence my recommendation to the original poster FWIW.
I had heat concerns in the past and recently. On a pentium I first used cpuidleextreme and got an overall drop of temperature, then went to rightmark cpu clock which does the same thing and is opensource.
Links:http://cpu.rightmark.org/
Some articles:
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/intel-thermal-features-2/index.html
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/p4-throttling/index.html
Now I'm pentium at work and AMD at home.
With the Amd I can, with CpuClock, adjust the voltage and the coefficient of the CPU

So ATM I have 2 profiles:
-performance on demand which I use on standard programs (overclocked at 2460 Ghz)
x10 regular voltage (1.5v)
decreasing to x4 (usually only x5 in Amd cool n' quiet) 0.9v instead of 1.1v
intermediates coefficient are decresead accordingly
- maximum performance which is at x9 only, no intermediates, and voltage only 1.35v instead of 1.4, rock solid, used for encoding @ 2210ghz

Now to the point, if you are willing to test it, your x2 4600 can benefit from it if you overclok but even if not tested, you could try it with your pentium for the voltage and/or coefficient adjustment...

Disclaimer: Not fully tested on Pentium, use at your own risk etc... :D

Did

[foxyshadis]

The guy who makes it owns practically every CPU around (part of a research lab, I think), and it's actually better tested on Pentiums than Athlons, but seems to work fine on both. That'll only work on the newer P4s with speedstep though (as well as all the notebook chips).

[dragongodz]

I'm talking about the typical computer user that makes up probably 95% of all users that will build or buy a PC and use it for half a decade.
well as one of the people who doesnt upgrade for years(95% ?) i would still like to know it may be possible to do so, without paying ridiculous high prices, in a year or 2 or maybe longer. i dont want to have to buy not only a cpu but also motherbaord etc every time aswell.
so as i said if you think you will be buying the cheapest cpu now but may want to upgrade later socket 939 is not really the way to go.

[UofC]

I am confused by the posts on this thread but it looks like they are asking about upgrades.

Wait for a month as new CPUs are coming out that are using DDR2 and are to "revolutionize" the encoding market. Intel’s core 2 duo looks very promising.

DDR2 will not give any extra speeds over DDR1 right now. It’s one of those forward thinking technologies.

It is the time to wait as the market is beginning a large shift to new technology. Your old computer will not be rendered useless just not as fast. Keep in mind that if you are doing video editing or transcoding a duo core can really help out.

[BigDid]

A Asrock cheap Mobo: 50 to 60€ for Intel dualcore, more in this post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=855528#post855528

Did