Mixing Ram, Sodimm + Dimm - Questions DDR3 + 4

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Warhiker

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Sep 22, 2014
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I am thinking of using some DDR3 memory with DDR4.
Not only is the ddr3 laptop memory, but it is a slower speed also.

Will I have way too many errors?

WIll my DDR4 ram underperform?

Am I much better off just purchasing matching ddr4?
 
Solution
byza
That adaptor would only work with that motherboard. For the adaptor to work, the motherboard chipset would need to support both memory types which isn't a standard feature. It's also unlikely that anyone will make one for DDR2/DDR3 given that RAM isn't so expensive anymore and given the age of DDR3 (coming towards the end of it's lifecycle by the looks of it) it doesn't seem like many people would have need for it.

There are two reasons that you cannot use DDR4 in DDR3 or in the reverse order. One, the motherboard chipset doesn't support both memory types and two, they have different keys so one won't even fit into the others socket. There are some rumours that when Skylake is released next year that it will support DDR3 and DDR4.

As...
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viewtyjoe

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Jul 28, 2014
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Barring insane motherboard designs with DDR3 and DDR4 channels and CPUs accepting that sort of setup, there is zero universe in which this will work. If you're getting an X99 board, go ahead and get a matched set of DD4 RAM.
 
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Warhiker

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Joe, Byza thanks for your responses.
I'm wondering if you have seen this : http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2005/11/08/gigabyte_via_ddr/1
This link (above) is an adapter for DDR to be used in DDR2 slot.

Here is an example of a "testing" adapter for Sodimm to dimm
http://www.amazon.com/Jujet-DDR3-204pin-SODIMM-adapter/dp/B005F0E26S

I'm pretty curious if they will come out with a DDR3 to DDR2 Adapter.
I don't know why they wouldn't, especially considering the amount of money that people have spent on DDR3 already.

"IF" someone mixed DDR3 and DDR4, would it all function at ddr3 levels?
 
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byza

byza

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Sep 7, 2013
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That adaptor would only work with that motherboard. For the adaptor to work, the motherboard chipset would need to support both memory types which isn't a standard feature. It's also unlikely that anyone will make one for DDR2/DDR3 given that RAM isn't so expensive anymore and given the age of DDR3 (coming towards the end of it's lifecycle by the looks of it) it doesn't seem like many people would have need for it.

There are two reasons that you cannot use DDR4 in DDR3 or in the reverse order. One, the motherboard chipset doesn't support both memory types and two, they have different keys so one won't even fit into the others socket. There are some rumours that when Skylake is released next year that it will support DDR3 and DDR4.

As for using a testing adaptor, not all motherboards are compatible with them and i'm not sure if there are any performance penalties when they do work.
 
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Warhiker

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Sep 22, 2014
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Great explanation guys.
It is bizarre that as an industry, we do not demand backward compatibility with more parts.
It is similar to textbooks. Okay, there's one revision. Every student must buy a new edition.
I understand that there is a bigger difference with ram, but I guess it is a way for them to
sell more with the jumps in technology.
 
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byza

byza

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Yeah, it is a bit annoying but motherboard makers can't even guarantee that every DDR3 module will run on their boards, never mind trying to make them compatible with older versions. Also as RAM technology improves, it's actually getting less stable and compatible rather than more stable and compatible. There's a lot of issues at the moment with the X99 boards not working with a lot of DDR4 modules, can only imagine the issues they'd be having if they were trying to add DDR3 compatibility too.
 
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