DDR or not DDR

[kaldor01]

I need to upgrade from socket7/K6-2/500. I already have 128MB PC133
SDRAM.
I want to go for the 1.2 T-BIRD, but not sure which MB to pick.
Iwill KK266 and ASUS A7V133 have good reviews but will not support
DDR, so I am sort of limiting myself in future upgrades.
Is there a good stable MB which supports both SDRAM and DDR ?
Should I go with a DDR only board and spend the extra $$ for new
DDR memory ?

Tell me what you experts think.

 

[nippyjun]

Hi, Your existing memory isn't worth too much (maybe $25 bucks) so I wouln't consider that in any part of the equation. I would go the ddr route. I wouldn't look for a mobo that supports sdram and ddr, just one that supports ddr only.

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

I dont ever think ive even seen a Mobo that can use both SDRAM and DDR. Just go with a DDR mobo only like the Asus A7M.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

The solutions that support both SDR and DDR RAM do not have the best chipsets for DDR RAM, so the improvement will not be anything beyond what you could get with a mobo based on the VIA KT133A chipset. The thing is, you only have 128 Mb of RAM you are trying to pull over anyway and that could be replaced for a paltry $31. If you want to switch to DDR, this is a great time to buy. the memory is cheap (basically the same as SDR) and the motherboards are available at good prices too. The Epox EP-8K7A is one that gets a lot of hype here, but I purchased one for a customer and it was easy to set up and has been rock solid for him, so I would also suggest you look into it. It only has two DDR slots because it is based on the AMD 761 northbridge (which is the best DDR solution currently available) but you can fill those with relatively inexpensive sticks of 256 Mb DDR RAM and be sitting pretty at 512 Mb which is all you need for almost any application under the sun. Whatever you decide to do (if you follow my propaganda or not), just make sure you have fun with it!

 

[DARRIN]

DDR all the way!

 

[kaldor01]

So if I have lets say $150 to spend, I can get the Epox + 128MB of DDR ram, or get Iwill KK266 + 128MB SDRAM, and I will end up with 128MB of
DDR or 256MB of SDRAM. What would be a better choice ?

 

[Scouzer]

Well with a new CPU in there which you forgot in the equation 😛 DDR...just get a 256m stick... big performance jump compared to 128m..

 

[nortexoid]

scrap your 128mb pc133...go DDR.

spend the extra bucks and get a 256mb pc2100 dimm...if u get only a 128mb dimm, u only have one slot left to populate...not a good idea, especially when 512mb DDR dimms cost a fortune..

if u do get a SDR board and another stick of 128 pc133, get something utterly cheap but good, since hte asus board, iWill, and abit aren't worth the money for a kt133a chipset based board...
i'd recommend the MSI K7T Turbo, Soyo K7VTA-Pro, or Epox 8kta3...

oh yeah, overclocked kt133E boards can be had for pennies and offer good performance, getting just over 133mhz fsb speeds...