P43- Both DDR2 and DDR3 at same time?

[blu3flannel]

So I was going to add some more memory to my Gigabyte GA-EP43-UD3L when I found out it supports both DDR2 and DDR3 memory. I already have 2GB of DDR2 installed and was just wondering if it was possible to run both DDR2 and DDR3 at the same time. I know it probably isn't, I just need confirmation. But if it is, how would you do it? Thanks.

 

[Lmeow]

Are you sure that the GA-EP43-UD3L supports DDR3? I looked up GIGABYTE's website and didn't say anything about DDR3, and the DIMM slots were all spaced the same.

 

[blu3flannel]

Wow, apparently it doesn't. Or does it? I mean, can the motherboard manufacturer just turn off chipset features like that?

 

[mindless728]

it only has DDR2 slots (4 of them)

and boards with multiple DDR controllers only allow one type at a time

 

[blu3flannel]

Thanks, I just needed to clarify that. I think I'll just rebuild, my current one is a bit dated anyway.

 

[blu3flannel]

Best answer selected by Blu3flannel.

 

[mindless728]

you might not have to, if you can find a Q9550 or Q9400 for a decent price, though for the price of those cpu's you can get a new cpu/mobo on the AMD side (athlon X4 and decent crossfire mobo), you needed more ram anyways, and another 5750 wouldn't be too bad either

 

[tcsenter]

Boards don't have multiple DRAM controllers. Just different memory slots/sockets.

 

[mindless728]

Boards don't have multiple DRAM controllers. Just different memory slots/sockets.

since LGA 775 has the memory controller in the north bridge, in order for it to be able to utilize DDR2 or DDR3 memory you need the corresponding controller, and some motherboards have both DDR2 and DDR3 slots on the LGA 775 platform, though you can't use both at the same time

 

[tcsenter]

The LGA775 Intel memory controller design can support either DDR2 or DDR3 (so can AMD's, which is why AM3 processors can be installed into AM2/AM2+ boards with DDR2, or AM3 boards with DDR3). Its the same chipset. They don't use a different version of it for DDR2 or DDR3.