ddr2 vs ddr3

[cinemalone]

So the price of ddr3 is still much higher than ddr2, and the timing is slower.

Any number of the benchmarks in the last three years comparing the two reveal that ddr3 is only slightly faster, whatever benchmarks are worth. DDR3 seems to excel in video encoding. Besides the fact that ddr3 is native to some boards, why would anyone choose it when trying to spend efficiently?

Mind you, I've done a fair share of reading on RAM, but at the bottom of it I don't have a full grasp of what makes RAM quicker. I mean basically the Peak Transfer Rates on ddr3 are higher, but the timing is generally faster on ddr2. So, how to compare the two?

[Zaap]

Generally, if you're buying DDR3, it means you're looking more toward the future of your hardware, not backwards. IE: You're buying an i5/i7 system and hardware vs. an older 775-based model. It may not seem like a big deal now, but in a few years one should be able to still adequately support the newer hardware, whereas DDR2 will be long gone. Also DDR3 supports tri-channel which hopefully is a performance improvement.

 

I remember something of the same deliema when DDR2 first came in- it was wisest to ditch the older DDR hardware in favor of the new. Now that's pretty obvious- finding DDR memory is much harder and costlier.

[cinemalone]

Generally, if you're buying DDR3, it means you're looking more toward the future of your hardware, not backwards. IE: You're buying an i5/i7 system and hardware vs. an older 775-based model. It may not seem like a big deal now, but in a few years one should be able to still adequately support the newer hardware, whereas DDR2 will be long gone. Also DDR3 supports tri-channel which hopefully is a performance improvement.

 

I remember something of the same dilemma when DDR2 first came in- it was wisest to ditch the older DDR hardware in favor of the new. Now that's pretty obvious- finding DDR memory is much harder and costlier.

 

 

Yeah, but I hate to think that I'm being presented with a product that really isn't a whole lot better, for a whole lot more money. But there is kind of a lot to know about RAM.

I mean we know more RAM is better, but in what proportions?

Is a 16gb of ddr2 (4gb sticks) at 10660 with 7-7-7-24 timing better than 12gb of ddr3 (2gb sticks) pc3 12800 with 9-9-9-24 timing?

And how relative is "better" to the application and why? (that might be too large of a question for anyone to want to explain to a noob like myself) But what about say in terms of 3d rendering?