8GB DDR2-800 vs 4GB DDR3-1333

[grekan]

Okay I'm sure someone has asked this before but a cursory look didn't find it. I'm going to be building a new AMD system with a AMD Phenom II X4 965 now I still have my old LGA775 system with a gpu and ram etc, I'm now torn.

Do I build an AM3 System and get 4GB of DDR3 1333 9-9-9-24
or
Do I build an AM2+ System and get 8GB of DDR2 800 5-5-5-15

I will use the system for gaming, such as Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Counter Strike etc (I know the old games won't care either way)

In case it matters I currently have
Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) (KHX6400D2K2/4G) Which runs at 5-5-5-15 @ 1.85V
I could purchase the same kit and have 8GB

or

I could start from RAM scratch and get
Patriot Extreme Performance DDR3 PC3-10666 1333MHz 4GB (2x2GB) (PDC34G1333ELK) Which runs at 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V



Thanks for your time, if I'm repeating another thread sorry, although feel free to link it here I might also add most threads I've found comparing DDR2 vs DDR3 use 1066 and date to 2 years ago, so I don't feel they're necessarily relevant anymore.

 

[aford10]

You'll get a better overall performance with the AM3/DDR3 system. Most users don't use more than 4GB of RAM. So adding 4GB more DDR2 isn't going to improve performance much, if at all.

You'll get better performance with the DDR3 RAM, even though there is 4GB less.

 

[chefboyeb]

Build an AM3 System and get 4GB of DDR3 1333 9-9-9-24, but I'would go for ram with a little better timing than a Cas 9 working at 9-9-9-24... A cas 7 or 6, if you could afford to...

 

[grekan]

Thanks for the advice to aford10 and chefboyeb. I guess I'm off to hunt for better latency RAM, turns out the Patriot RAM I was looking at has issues with it anyway. Thanks.

 

[aford10]

Check out these G.Skill ripjaws. They are low voltage and low latency.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

 

[chefboyeb]

Those ripjaws are nice... Low voltage also means tighter and better timing at higher voltages... I had them during my AMD days... I had cas 9 2000mhz ripjaws... At 1333mhz I was able to get 6-7-6-18, and 7.9 Win 7 wei memory score... For the price, It's a sweet deal... Grab 'em...

 

[grekan]

Thanks for the advice aford10, they are nice. The voltage meets the recommended voltage for the board I was considering as well. I think will ultimately go with these, nice find.

 

[grekan]

Best answer selected by grekan.

 

[aford10]

You're welcome.

Thanks for the vote