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X48/X38 with DDR2 versus DDR3

Forum Motherboards & Memory : General Motherboard - X48/X38 with DDR2 versus DDR3

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Aloha everyone...

Its been a long long time since I last posted here...lots of new names I don't recognize... :)

Anyways...hope the forums are live and kicking...here goes...

I plan on building a new PC...not really for gaming..but I intend to buy the best I can afford at the moment...mainly for video editing, photoshop..etc..

I'm set on the Core 2 Quad Q9450...but I would like to know...would pairing DDR2 with a x48/x38 be a bad idea?

I intend to use vista 64bit..and was planning to install 8gigs of ram...and DDR3 prices are still CRAZY...

So what are your suggestions?

The X48 or the X38....and which model? Preferably MSI or Gigabyte? I just want a BASIC rock solid board..

And if DDR2 is good to go...can you please specify which mobo+ which specific ram model and speed please? I want to install 4 x 2GB sticks..

I don't care for heat spreaders...color etc...and don't care for HIGH PERFORMANCE RAM for gaming...just simple stable good quality ram...also...I DO NOT INTEND TO OVERCLOCK ANYTHING...so please bear that in mind when suggesting a product..i will run all at stock speeds...

Thanks a lot for any help...

BTW...is TOEJAM or CRASHMAN still around the forums??

Cheers..

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ddr2 has almost the same performance of ddr3 right now... granted that might change with nehalem because that greatly increases bandwidth... but I'd go for fast ddr2 with low timings but fast speed as well... mushkin makes great performance ram... I bought 2 X 1GB sticks that were 800 mhz and 4 4 3 11 timings... overclocked to 1200 mhz 5 5 4 11... completely stable.... while you don't need something like that, this ram would do well i'd think 2 of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731 would work and I chose this kind because it's cheap and reliable plus for about 30 $ less you save more power wth a lower voltage... and the cas latency is only 5 4 4 12 instead of 4 4 4 12... so that might work for you...

the motherboard I would choose is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128336
it's gigabye and it's x48... but you can't really find much cheaper boards... the cheapest board is about 50 $ less expensive so this would work because it supports penryn, ddr2, and 8 gb...

so thats my 2 cents... don't know if anyone else agrees but w/e

Reply to thogrom

DDR3 is not mainstream ready yet. Most modules above 1066 run at 1.6 volt or above while 1.5 (1.575) is the specified standard for DDR3. This means that the manufacturing process hasn't matured enough yet.
The bandwidth advantage is currently not being used and mainboards that use DDR3 come at a price premium. The price-premium is a mockery since DDR3 has on-dimm-termination, so the mainboards require less circuitry and are easier to design.
Last but not least, the price is a reason against it. Usually manufacturers should have switched to a smaller process to build the modules which should make the dimms cheaper. Instead they cost between three to five times as much as DDR2 modules.
Nah, DDR3 isn't ready.

Reply to Slobogob

thx for your replies....

So its DDR2 then...good...that's out of the way...

as for the mobo...you suggested the GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4....whats the difference between that one and the GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6..??

Both are X48 and support DDR2 and same timings?

I just came across the MSI X48C Platinum...it has support for DDR2...and also DDR3...so just put in 2GBx2 DDR2 for now...and maybe in a year or so...put in 2GBx4 DDR3..Any opinions on the MSI board?

Reply to oymd

Boards that support both DDR2 and DDR3 are not recommended.

Reply to modtech

sry double post


Message edited by thogrom on 05-25-2008 at 11:32:55 PM
Reply to thogrom

modtech wrote :

Boards that support both DDR2 and DDR3 are not recommended.




why??

Reply to oymd
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