The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    DDR2 versus DDR3 - battery life wise

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Rustfizzle, Sep 20, 2008.

  1. Rustfizzle

    Rustfizzle Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello, I would like to know how much better are DDR3 memories in terms of battery life - how longer can same laptop (for example Sony SR) live on them instead of the older ones? Thanks.
     
    Rustfizzle, Sep 20, 2008
    #1
  2. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    7,101
    Messages:
    5,757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Impossible question to answer. That is because the amount of "power" used by the memory is a fraction of the whole (entire system, screen, CPU, HDD) the more the other components use the the lower the RAMs relative power consumption is. Conversely the lower the other components power consumption is the greater the RAMs relative power consumption is.

    Real world rule of thumb? It is a minor difference in both power and heat in the big picture. Do not get me wrong it is real and DDR3 is better, but to ask about as part of the system it is much less. If you got a 10 minute boost using DDR3 that would be good.

    Turning of your screen or downclocking CPU likely would have much greater affect on run time.

    Conclusion? Makes little difference.
     
    powerpack, Sep 20, 2008
    #2
  3. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    7,197
    Messages:
    28,841
    Likes Received:
    2,166
    Trophy Points:
    581
    On paper, DDR3 provides some power saving. However, as already noted, the difference is likely to be minutes and not hours. The power consumption differences between nominally identical Intel CPUs are likely to be bigger.

    The best indicator is the range of battery run times being reported by owners of the concerned notebook.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Sep 20, 2008
    #3
  4. emike09

    emike09 Overclocking Champion

    Reputations:
    652
    Messages:
    1,840
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If your looking at a system with DDR3 support, you'll likely want to look at a P series CPU running at 25w vs the standard 35w. Thats where you'll see your greatest power gains.
     
    emike09, Sep 20, 2008
    #4