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    DDR2 or DDR3

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jejjohnson, Apr 8, 2009.

  1. jejjohnson

    jejjohnson Notebook Guru

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    What is the difference? e.g. 4GB DDR2 and 4GB DDR3 ?
     
    jejjohnson, Apr 8, 2009
    #1
  2. Convoluted

    Convoluted Notebook Evangelist

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    Slight performance enhancement, slight battery life elongation. I'd say go DDR3 if you can, 'cause 3>2. Math proves its superiority.
     
    Convoluted, Apr 8, 2009
    #2
  3. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    DDR3 is also considerably more expensive.
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 8, 2009
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  4. Gophn

    Gophn NBR Resident Assistant

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    no real performance difference between DDR2 and DDR3.

    no real power efficiency difference between them.

    huge cost difference.

    the main difference is DDR3 is the new standard and has higher capacity sticks.

    e.g.
    - DDR1 maxed at 1GB per stick
    - DDR2 maxed at 4GB per stick
    - DDR3 maxed at 8GB per stick (not yet available but will be)

    Conclusion.... it does not really matter since 4GB is extremely plenty for 99% of computer users/gamers.
     
    Gophn, Apr 8, 2009
    #4
  5. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    I agree, except on the last sentence. In a few years, 8GB or even 16GB will be little. HOWEVER, all laptops nowadays don't support sticks larger than 4 GB (example: Lenovo Thinkpad T400 uses two DDR3 slots but only supports up to 8 GB total, or 4 GB per slot).

    Therefore, as Gophn said, no real difference.
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 8, 2009
    #5
  6. CA36GTP

    CA36GTP Notebook Evangelist

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    DDR3 doesn't really have much of a purpose right now.
     
    CA36GTP, Apr 8, 2009
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  7. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    True.

    Typo warning: in your signature, you have P8400 @ 2.64 GHz. Should be 2.4 GHz.
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 8, 2009
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  8. Evolution

    Evolution Vox Sola

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    You could also say that another reason why DDR3 doesn't offer any real performance over DDR2 is because the weak link with modern day PCs is hard drives not memory.

    Therefore now you cannot notice a difference between 667mhz ram and 800mhz ram.
     
    Evolution, Apr 8, 2009
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  9. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Typo alert it should be 2.26 GHz for the P8400, it`s the P8600 that is 2.4 GHz :D

     
    Tinderbox (UK), Apr 8, 2009
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  10. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    Very true, my bad.
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 8, 2009
    #10
  11. CA36GTP

    CA36GTP Notebook Evangelist

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    It's overclocked.
     
    CA36GTP, Apr 8, 2009
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  12. Polarix

    Polarix Notebook Evangelist

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    As the guy said right above me, there is a thing called overclocking. You should learn a bit about it.

    To the OP: DDR3 is technically faster, but much more expensive. Price to performance ratio isn't as good as DDR2.
     
    Polarix, Apr 8, 2009
    #12
  13. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    No need to be rude. That's why I said "typo warning", not "hey, you have a typo".

    And I know about overclocking, and have done it myself in the past actually.
     
    HerrKaputt, Apr 8, 2009
    #13