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    Benefits of DDR2 vs DDR3 RAM and 32bit vs 64bit systems.

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by DarkFurion, Dec 16, 2009.

  1. DarkFurion

    DarkFurion Newbie

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    G'day, I don't have much of an idea about the benefits of having DDR3 over DDR2 RAM, could someone please give me and idea?

    Also, what are the benefits of running a 64bit system over a 32bit system, and does using a 64bit system stop you being able to run any programs, especially Microsoft Office (word, excel, powerpoint etc.)?

    How do you change from a 32bit system to a 64bit?

    Thanks guys.
     
    DarkFurion, Dec 16, 2009
    #1
  2. Melody

    Melody How's It Made Addict

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    DDR3 currently provides no significant(or even noticeable) gain over DDR2 RAM. The only real "advantage" to having DDR3 RAM is for future upgrades since DDR3 RAM is becoming the standard and DDR2 prices will probably increase as they become rarer.

    As for the benefits of a 64bit vs 32bit, there are many threads in the "Software and OS" section about it.

    Basically, it's not night and day; it's just the new architecture that developers will eventually use for coding their programs which in turn will make applications better in one way or another. Currently the majority of applications and games are still 32bit, but probably 90% of them will run in 64bit(this includes MS Office). Another gain is the better and larger memory allocation. A 32bit OS is limited to addressing a total of 4Gb of memory(this includes RAM, graphics memory and everything) so if you want/need more RAM, a 64bit OS will allow you to properly address that. There's more pros/cons between both versions but I suggest you check the Windows subforum and look around as dozens of threads have been made on that subject.

    Oh and to change from a 32bit to a 64bit OS is easy, just clean install the 64bit OS. You can use the same key as the 32bit Windows(assuming it's the same version, ex: 32bit Windows 7 Home Premium --> 64bit Windows 7 Home Premium). There are free downloads of Windows 7 in all versions available here on NBR(in the Windows 7 subforum).
     
    Melody, Dec 16, 2009
    #2
  3. weinter

    weinter /dev/null

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    It is not new, it is extended basically
    movl becomes movq
    eax becomes rax
    32bit extended to 64bit
    Example if eax is represented as
    XXXXXXXX
    is 32bit, they extended the registers to
    XXXXXXXXYYYYYYYY
    It comes rax.
    You can still call eax then the processor will only write to the data in the lower 32bit.
     
    weinter, Dec 16, 2009
    #3
  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    32Bit vs 64Bit see my signature
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 16, 2009
    #4