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    RAM: DDR3 vs. DDR2

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by lorenzino, Jun 25, 2009.

  1. lorenzino

    lorenzino Newbie

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    Hi

    I am about to buy a Sony VGN SR 290 (slightly older model) on a private deal.

    The machine has a DDR2 RAM memory (4GB).

    In the future, if I wanted to update it to a DDR3 memory, will I be able to do so?

    If yes, how much do you think it will cost me?

    How much difference in terms of speed or power is there between a DDR2 and a DDR3 memory?

    Thank you !!!
     
    lorenzino, Jun 25, 2009
    #1
  2. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    don't think you could update, I think the shape or the pinout is different. I'm sure someone here will be able to give better info than me.
     
    moral hazard, Jun 25, 2009
    #2
  3. Soviet Sunrise

    Soviet Sunrise Notebook Prophet

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    The only substantial benefit that DDR3 has over DDR2 right now is lower power consumption. And even considering that, it isn't much as notebook RAM doesn't consume that much power to begin with. The difference in performance between the two memory standards is negligable. You will only see a difference when you are running professional grade applications that involve serious number crunching and calculations over long period sessions.

    With this said, no mobile motherboard in existance can interchange between DDR3 and DDR2 modules as they are physically and electrically incompatible. In this case, your Sony will only be able to accept DDR2 modules.
     
    Soviet Sunrise, Jun 25, 2009
    #3
  4. Tyranus07

    Tyranus07 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well as Soviet Sunrise said this sony wouldn't be able to use DDR3 memories.. but i think that for at least 2 years or 3 the DDR2 memories will be fine, and the bottleneck of the most of laptops will still being the GPU, or in some cases the CPU...

    But at this moment expend extra money in a DDR3 computer for no extra performance is not a smat idea, so stay with DDR2 =)
     
    Tyranus07, Jun 25, 2009
    #4
  5. 5482741

    5482741 5482741

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    DDR3 is mainly a big deal if you overclock your FSB. I do, and for this reason I have 1333MHz RAM.
     
    5482741, Jun 25, 2009
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  6. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    At the moment the Intel chipset can't handle the bandwidth of DDR2-800.

    Perhaps the next chipset will be better. I think the memory controller mayl be moving to the CPU and bypass the chipset completely. DDR3 should then make a significant difference.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jun 25, 2009
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  7. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Agreed....
     
    sgogeta4, Jun 25, 2009
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