Changing to DDR3

[elecdan]

Hi everyone,

I've been building desktop PC's since 1996 and still enjoy the ability to upgrade my box bit by bit. I would like thoughts on how risky my next idea is though.

Currently I run a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (the old original version purchased in 2007 - longest time I've owned a processor!) and after a bad experience with the original motherboard I now have a Gigabyte P35C-DS3R. The board support DDR2 RAM (I currently own 4x1GB 800MHz sticks) and DDR3 ram.

The future looks to be DDR3, so what I am thinking about doing is purchasing 2x 2GB sticks of DDR3 ram, 1333MHz. The plan is to use the same RAM in the future when I buy a Core i5/i7 or some AMD AM3 system.

The first problem is - is it wishful thinking that 2GB 1333MHz sticks would work in my board. The compatibility list doesn't say anything higher than 1GB at that speed.

The second problem is would going for 2 sticks limit my upgrade options as I see a few of these triple channel DDR3 kits around?

The third problem is timings - should I go for CL7 and hope or is CL9 safer? The price difference seems small.

I would value your opinion 🙂 , especially if anyone has the same board running DDR3 RAM successfully.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Why not just wait until you upgrade to buy new ram?

 

[TemjinGold]

Why not just wait until you upgrade to buy new ram?

This.

OP: If you are doing it for "faster" ram performance, don't bother. You won't be able to tell the difference.

 

[elecdan]

Your probably right. In theory RAM would be cheaper then anyway, though I've not really noticed much of a drop in the last year.

I would have expected some performance gain though - DDR2 800MHz was probably invented 5 years ago and we must have moved on since then. I suspect I would not notice any real difference in game frame rates or other applications though.