ddr2 or ddr3 on new mb

[skeewiff03]

im looking into building a new system to last me for the next 3-4 years based on the p35 chipset using the Asus P5K(3) Deluxe motherboard.

Shall i stick with my current DDR2 memory which i can transfer over or invest in the overpriced DDR3 one?

thx guys

 

[kenny0813]

stick with the p5k-deluxe, but not the ddr3 version.
mainly because. . . ddr3 is too expensive still, it wont provide much improvement in terms of performance, and it's still pretty new.

 

[skeewiff03]

thx
appreciated
any1 else wants to add anythin or this is the general consensus?

 

[NXIL]

Dear Skee,

looks like it is best to stick with DDR2 for now:

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/511/7/

and

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2989&p=8

That brings up the more difficult question: what to buy today? That is a much more complicated question. If you are looking for a new system, definitely choose the new P35 chipset over the P965, as it is a better memory performer. At launch we are told DDR3 will be much more expensive than DDR2. Prices are expected to be about $480 for a 2GB DDR3 kit. At that lofty price it is difficult to recommend DDR3 over DDR2, when DDR2 performs just the same on the P35 chipset and decent 2GB kits can be had for under $150 now.

Two conditions would shift the recommendation to DDR3 instead. When DDR3 prices come close to DDR2 then buy DDR3 instead. More significantly, when DDR3 becomes available at higher speeds and/or faster timings then definitely choose DDR3 if you are looking for performance - even if the price is higher.

Note that decent 2GB DDR2 kits can be had for less than $100 now....

HTH

NXIL

 

[NXIL]

Addendum: Maximum PC Magazine is a pretty good source of info: they test DDR2 v. DDR3, and "find DDR3 wanting".

You can download a PDF of the August issue here, which is pretty cool:

http://dl.maximumpc.com/Archives/MPC0807-web.pdf

DDR2/DDR3 review is on page 41 of the PDF. Also, see page 47 for some further testing.

HTH

NXIL