DDr2 and ddr3 motherboard

[Doc2142]

Is there a different in those motherboard? beside you know you can use DDR3 ram?

And is the ddr3 significantly better then the ddr2?

[Bad_Motha]

DDR3 is the same amount of pins, so if you have a motherboard that support both kinds of ram it will work. But the DDR3 allows for faster speeds and lower voltages. But what you buy for ram may depend on your motherboard/cpu. If you buying and Intel i5 or i7 motherboard/cpu -or- AMD AM3/AMD Phenom series motherboard/cpu, it's best to use DDR2-800mhz/DDR3-1066 at the minimum based on what your motherboard/cpu combo supports. The choice will primary be based on what the motherboard supports of course, but if you're going to run with an expensive high-end CPU, it's best to use the highest MHZ DDR3 that the motherboard will allow.

[Baron_Fel]

Any new system you buy now should be using DDR3, unless it is ultra low budget.

[rotNdude]

DDR3 is the same amount of pins, so if you have a motherboard that support both kinds of ram it will work.

This is not true. DDR3 will not fit in DDR2 slots and DDR2 will not fit in DDR3 slots. This is due to the notches on both the RAM and the RAM slots on the motherboard. If the motherboard has slots for both DDR2 and DDR3, you can only select one type of RAM to work, not both.

I do agree with the rest of your thoughts in general though.

[Doc2142]

Well cuz i was wondering about future upgrade for my motherboard that i just got and its only ddr2 and i was wondering if i should return it. I am running it with Phenom x3 and all this talk about i5 and i7 i assume they are from intel and i am sure amd is behind but will have something similar and when they do have something similar it wont fit on my cpu right?

Sorry meant motherboard.

[lhwj]

If your processor is a Phenom x3 you can't run in an AM3 board, because the memory controller is on the processor and it lacks compatibility with DDR3 RAM.

If your processor is a Phenom II x3 (710, 720) then you may return your motherboard and exchange it for an AM3 based one which accepts DDR3.

Luke

[Doc2142]

I have a phenom 720. I dont want ddr3 after reading about it. it is not much of a performance increase. What i am asking is what kind of sockets will amd come out with for processor. Will this limit my future upgrade for my processor because i have ddr2 sockets or it doesn't matter?

[lhwj]

AM3 is fairly new, there won't be a new socket for another few years. AM2+ is based on AM2, currently AM3 processors work in AM2+ sockets but that may change in the future. I'd say if you want to think about futureproofing go with AM3 and DDR3. I'm afraid that in two years or so DDR2 would be like what DDR is today: overpriced, rare and only small capacity sticks available.

Luke

[Doc2142]

I am confused.. so which socket do i have. My motherboard is MA790X-UD4P

[lhwj]

That's an AM2+ board. It says AM3 ready though because they'll work too.

Luke

[Doc2142]

So am i good for at least 2-3 years?

[lhwj]

Well that 720 should last you a good 2-3 years anyway, regardless of whether your board is an AM2+ or AM3. By the time you want to upgrade it will probably be time for a new motherboard (and RAM).

Luke

[Doc2142]

cool i oced it to 3.6 and unlocked the 4th core. So the only thing i need to upgrade later down the road is my 8800GT 512 i am waiting on the gtx 300 to come so other video cards price drop a bit low. or maybe ill go with ati this time.