DDR3 - Should I Wait?

martyn · 29-09-2007, 02:43 PM

Hi People,

Well the title says it all really..

Im looking to build a new system, but with DDR3 just hitting the shops should I wait for a bit?

I've read a few reports saying that DDR3 doesn't really give must performance advantage at the moment and currently its best to stick with DDR2. But I dont really want to build a system that will be completly un-upgradable in a few years when DDR2 is no longer available.

On the other hand DDR2 is more than fast enough to keep up with motherboards and processors that are currently on the market and im not really that interested in overclocking so the extra MHz availiable with DDR3 is not that much of a draw for me.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

Cheers

Big B · 29-09-2007, 01:50 PM

Right now, only the Intel X38 can utilize DDR3 officially, and the boards aren't released just yet, though a trickle of them has started.
We've only now just gotten switched over to DDR2, and unless you plan on keeping your system as is past 5 years, I really wouldn't worry.

Hell, you can still buy SDRAM, and we've been away from that for at least 5-6 years. DDR is still widely available, despite the fact that no new chipset supports it.

DDR3 can be useful in the future, but right now, unless you must be on the cutting edge, I really wouldn't sweat it.

martyn · 29-09-2007, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the quick reply B,

Just out of interest, how long do you think it'll be before DDR3 boards are common place and have a good selection availiable?

Also what are the advantages of getting DDR3 today, because as far as I can work out with current FSB speeds there's no extra advantage to be gained as least in terms of sheer throughput anyway.

Big B · 29-09-2007, 02:40 PM

I wouldn't worry until at least until the end of next year, possibly not until the middle of 2009. This is, of course, a guess, but I'd only aim strictly for DDR3 when AMD has switched over, as Intel will lead the charge, regardless of if there's an immediate benefit. AMD tends to wait and see how the market reacts. With DDR3, it's not so much if, as when. AMD waited a couple years before implementing DDR2.

edijs · 29-09-2007, 04:52 PM

I agree with Big B and would certainly go for the fastest DDR2 modules out.

rimmer · 06-10-2007, 11:36 AM

Well, what I am doing, is I am waiting till 2009-2010 before my next whole PC replacement, and hope to buy the "AMD Phenom" line of microprocessors, which some will be using DDR3, 45nm fabrication and are up to 8 cores.

Does anybody think I will still be able to play relatively new games, regardless on what graphical settings between now and 2012 when I give it to my brother in 2009ish on the following: Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.5GHz, 2GB of PC3200 RAM (4x512MBs) nVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS 512MB Overclocked

29-09-2007, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
martyn Geek Trainee Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Status: Offline	DDR3 - Should I Wait? Hi People, Well the title says it all really.. Im looking to build a new system, but with DDR3 just hitting the shops should I wait for a bit? I've read a few reports saying that DDR3 doesn't really give must performance advantage at the moment and currently its best to stick with DDR2. But I dont really want to build a system that will be completly un-upgradable in a few years when DDR2 is no longer available. On the other hand DDR2 is more than fast enough to keep up with motherboards and processors that are currently on the market and im not really that interested in overclocking so the extra MHz availiable with DDR3 is not that much of a draw for me. What are peoples thoughts on this? Cheers

29-09-2007, 01:50 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Right now, only the Intel X38 can utilize DDR3 officially, and the boards aren't released just yet, though a trickle of them has started. We've only now just gotten switched over to DDR2, and unless you plan on keeping your system as is past 5 years, I really wouldn't worry. Hell, you can still buy SDRAM, and we've been away from that for at least 5-6 years. DDR is still widely available, despite the fact that no new chipset supports it. DDR3 can be useful in the future, but right now, unless you must be on the cutting edge, I really wouldn't sweat it. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

29-09-2007, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	I wouldn't worry until at least until the end of next year, possibly not until the middle of 2009. This is, of course, a guess, but I'd only aim strictly for DDR3 when AMD has switched over, as Intel will lead the charge, regardless of if there's an immediate benefit. AMD tends to wait and see how the market reacts. With DDR3, it's not so much if, as when. AMD waited a couple years before implementing DDR2. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

29-09-2007, 04:52 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
edijs Programmer Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 22 Male Posts: 519 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Busy Status: Offline My Computer	I agree with Big B and would certainly go for the fastest DDR2 modules out. __________________ Come to Latvia \| Crossfade, Element Eighty, Nickelback \| The Best Series Ever \| Love the classics: PlayStationOne \| Works well for me \| Opera rocks \| My Ride

06-10-2007, 11:36 AM	#6 (permalink) Top
rimmer Big Geek Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 18 Male Posts: 302 Times Helpful: 5 My Mood: Amazed Status: Offline My Computer	Well, what I am doing, is I am waiting till 2009-2010 before my next whole PC replacement, and hope to buy the "AMD Phenom" line of microprocessors, which some will be using DDR3, 45nm fabrication and are up to 8 cores. Does anybody think I will still be able to play relatively new games, regardless on what graphical settings between now and 2012 when I give it to my brother in 2009ish on the following: Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.5GHz, 2GB of PC3200 RAM (4x512MBs) nVIDIA GeForce 8600GTS 512MB Overclocked __________________

29-09-2007, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
martyn Geek Trainee Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Status: Offline	Thanks for the quick reply B, Just out of interest, how long do you think it'll be before DDR3 boards are common place and have a good selection availiable? Also what are the advantages of getting DDR3 today, because as far as I can work out with current FSB speeds there's no extra advantage to be gained as least in terms of sheer throughput anyway.

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