ID:182014
 Mar 11 2009, 3:56 pm
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If you were to build a new computer right now which type of memory would you choose?
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Mar 11 2009, 4:09 pm
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Jeff8500
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I'm not a computer expert or anything, but isn't DDR3 faster? I'd go for the fastest affordable option.
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Eh... In a word, no.
DDR1 ram can be faster than DDR2 if its operating speed is more than half of the DDR2 you're comparing it to. The same rule applies with DDR2 & DDR3. | |
This depends on which CPU type you plan on using.
If you want to use the very latest Intel Core i7 processors, then you should use DDR3. If you want to go with a Core Duo, Core Quad, or Atom processor, then you should go with DDR2. DDR2 is much less expensive and DDR3 is only significantly faster with a memory controller designed to take full advantage of the newer design. While all recent Intel and AMD processors can benefit from DDR3 RAM, the Core i7 platform is the first Intel line that is really designed to push DDR3. | |
Iiiinteresting...
So if you had a budget of about $1200 do you think you could build a decent i7 box? If not what would you go with? Personally I have always been an AMD fan, but since intel released the core 2 duo I can't say with a strait face that intel isn't a better choice right now. | |
While Intel does have the better processors that money can buy, AMD is still competitively priced (if not better bang for you buck). I'm assuming you're wanting a gaming rig set up.
There are few things you need to keep in mind when budgeting for a build. I would say an i7 is most likely out of your range, unless you want to skimp out on a bunch of other things and upgrade them later. Also, I dunno what peripherals you desire as well. You might also be looking to buy an OS. Start off by listing everything you need and figuring out the lowest price you can spend on each. Deal with upgrading parts from your baseline. Remember, some CPUs are coupled with more expensive mobos. And as for the RAM, I would say there's no harm in either one. As Pirate said, you won't gain much from DDR3 and it is more expensive. It would probably be more cost efficient to get DDR2 RAM. | |
Motherboard for Core i7, $190 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130221)
Core i7 processor, $290 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202) 3GB DDR3 1333 RAM, $33 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148245) 80GB WD 7200rpm disk, $34 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195) CD/DVD drive, $14 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106086) Keyboard & Mouse, $13 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017) Crap case /w power supply, $34 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148044) Reasonable graphics card, $36 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102757) Total: $644 Head-room: $556 So, with that money you can grab a better graphics card, better case and power supply, 6GB or 12GB of RAM instead of 3, a better quality mother board and RAM for overclocking, etc. I'd say that a $1200 system is definitely feasible. | |
I figure everybody has one of those. Often if you don't have one, you can get one through Freecycle or find a friend who's got an old one or is buying a new one.
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DDR, DDR 2 and DDR 3 all have very similar cycle latency to each other. So from that respect that are much the same "speed", it's just a matter or how much they can fetch in a cycle, or their through-put if you like. The DDR2-1066 standard has the lowest specified cycle latency of all DDR, DDR 2 and DDR 3 standards, however will only fetch two words compared to three in anything in the DDR 3 group of standards. Of course, this then gets shot through by CAS.
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