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Advice on RAM selection

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Hello all,

My current motherboard (the Gigabyte P35-DS3L) supports up to 8GB of DDR2 memory (at 1066/800/667 MHz memory modules), but only 4GB of DDR3 memory (at 1333/1066/800 MHz modules).

I'm thinking of upgrading my computer's GPU & RAM in about 6 months for games, CS5 & other applications. Right now, it would cost me about $270 for 8GB of DDR2 1066 RAM. That's more expensive than my planned GPU purchase (the Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB)! And to make things worse, DDR2 prices are expected to rise (according to what I've read... please correct me if I'm wrong) due their being gradually phased-out of production.

So, my question is: Should I buy 8GB of 1066 DDR2 now (at $270), or should I wait 6 months and buy 4GB of 1333 DDR3 in 6-months time (at which point it will have probably dropped in price).

Which is better in terms of performance? 4GB of DDR3 1333 or 8GB of DDR2 1066?


Questions, questions!

Thanks in advance.

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Memory Expert

Jason F said:
Hello all,

My current motherboard (the Gigabyte P35-DS3L) supports up to 8GB of DDR2 memory (at 1066/800/667 MHz memory modules), but only 4GB of DDR3 memory (at 1333/1066/800 MHz modules).

I'm thinking of upgrading my computer's GPU & RAM in about 6 months for games, CS5 & other applications. Right now, it would cost me about $270 for 8GB of DDR2 1066 RAM. That's more expensive than my planned GPU purchase (the Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB)! And to make things worse, DDR2 prices are expected to rise (according to what I've read... please correct me if I'm wrong) due their being gradually phased-out of production.

So, my question is: Should I buy 8GB of 1066 DDR2 now (at $270), or should I wait 6 months and buy 4GB of 1333 DDR3 in 6-months time (at which point it will have probably dropped in price).

Which is better in terms of performance? 4GB of DDR3 1333 or 8GB of DDR2 1066?


Questions, questions!

Thanks in advance.


First, yes - DDR2 prices are expected to rise as DDR3 is expected to stay neutral or fall slowly.

Second, Why don't you tell us a little about what you plan on doing with this machine? Surfing the Net? Gaming? Folding? Taking over the world, Pinkie! Same as every night! etc...?

Then, we (the TH community) can better assist you!

Thanks!
Memory Master

Hello and welcome to the forums
Well 8GB DDR2 is faster than 4GB DDR3,because capacity is more important than speed but all current games/apps will run fine with 4GB RAM, and i wouldn't recommend 8GB unless you have multiple CS5 pages(projects) opened at the same time.

makwy2 said:
First, yes - DDR2 prices are expected to rise as DDR3 is expected to stay neutral or fall slowly.

Second, Why don't you tell us a little about what you plan on doing with this machine? Surfing the Net? Gaming? Folding? Taking over the world, Pinkie! Same as every night! etc...?

Then, we (the TH community) can better assist you!

Thanks!


Hello,

I intend to use my PC primarily for gaming (high-end / very graphics-intensive games).
Thanks a lot for the help!

Jason
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Maziar said:
Hello and welcome to the forums
Well 8GB DDR2 is faster than 4GB DDR3,because capacity is more important than speed but all current games/apps will run fine with 4GB RAM, and i wouldn't recommend 8GB unless you have multiple CS5 pages(projects) opened at the same time.


Thank you very much.

I think I might tend towards 8gb due to the fact that my motherboard is capped at 4GB for DDR3, meaning I would have no room to expand any further down the road if I choose to go with DDR3.

What is your opinion on the question of memory timings? Is 1066 significantly better than 800, and so on?

All the best,

Jason
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