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    What's GDDR?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by y3kesprit, Nov 24, 2010.

  1. y3kesprit

    y3kesprit Notebook Consultant

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    Hey all,

    Can anyone gimme an explanation as to what this is?

    I understand that there are GDDR 3 - 5 right? What's the most common? And how different are they?

    Is it true that a lower GDDR will limit the potential of a good GPU?
     
    y3kesprit, Nov 24, 2010
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  2. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    GDDR is a graphics-specific RAM specification. GDDR3 is slower than GDDR5, basically. Look at Wikipedia for a more complete breakdown with actual numbers.

    Yes, GDDR3 will hamper a good GPU, but that's only if the GPU is fast enough to be bandwidth limited. GDDR3 will hamper a Radeon 5850. It won't limit a 5470.
     
    Pitabred, Nov 24, 2010
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  3. y3kesprit

    y3kesprit Notebook Consultant

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    Most of the notebooks in the market are using GGDR3 right?

    I suppose those with GGDR5 will be expensive?
     
    y3kesprit, Nov 24, 2010
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  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Most use GDDR3, yes. And the GDDR5 machines are typically more expensive, but it's usually because they're more gaming-centric machines.

    That said, I have an HP Envy 15 and it has GDDR3 with the Radeon 5830, and it is plenty fast to play L4D2 at 1920x1080 and high settings.

    GDDR3 will not limit you until you're in the very high-end graphics cards.
     
    Pitabred, Nov 24, 2010
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  5. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

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    Not exactly true, I think GDDR3 is already hampering on mid-range GPUs on a 128bits bus. It's been widely acknowledged that the desktop 5770 is bandwidth limited even with GDDR5 and 128bits bus (which is why it was slower than the 4870/4890).
     
    Botsu, Nov 24, 2010
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  6. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Yet it gains little from memory overclocking and a lot from core overclocking Botsu.

    800 HD4xxx series shaders != 800 HD5xxx series shaders.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Nov 24, 2010
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  7. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    It's graphics memory, your discreet video card has dedicated RAM. If you pry off your heatsink you will see RAM chips on it.

    The price difference between GDDR3 and GDDR5 isn't as significant as it was 2 years ago with the launch of the ATi Radeon 48xx series. nVidia stuck with massive memory bandwidth (448 bit and higher) and slower GDDR3 to compensate with ATi smaller memory bandwidth (256 bit and lower) but faster GDDR5. Though now all brand new high end video cards (basically 170 and up) use GDDR5.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Nov 24, 2010
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  8. Leopard2

    Leopard2 Notebook Consultant

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    its the graphics memory which is used in dedicated card... GDDR3 is minimum which good notebook should have and if you want a gaming notebook , GDDR5 is what u want like me :D... GDDR3 is most common and yes lower it is , it limits GPU but there's also other factors.

    Leopard2
     
    Leopard2, Nov 24, 2010
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