Is it worth it to upgrade to DDR2 for gaming?

[Eeezee]

My current setup

ASUS a8n-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 nForce4 ATX Motherboard
Athlon 64 3200+ Venice
Sapphire x800 XL 256MB PCIE
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2x512MB PC3200 Dual Channel


A friend of mine wanted me to show him how to assemble a new computer from parts he had already purchased. He bought a motherboard that couldn't support DDR2 (like mine), so he gave me the RAM sticks that he had purchased. So here's some RAM that I currently own (but can't use, since my board doesn't support it either)

Patriot 2x1GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel
Patriot

I've been having trouble selling it for anywhere near what he purchased it for, so I've thought that I could upgrade with it instead. I understand that the RAM is pretty sweet. It'd be faster than what I own now and I would love to upgrade from one gigabyte to two.

I will at least have to purchase a DDR2 motherboard. I've never been good at selecting good motherboards. I'll miss my ASUS as well, it's been a great board. I'd also get a new dual core CPU, which would also be an improvement. After that I would consider a new video card....

How much faster is DDR2? Is it worth it to upgrade?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I will at least have to purchase a DDR2 motherboard. I've never been good at selecting good motherboards. I'll miss my ASUS as well, it's been a great board. I'd also get a new CPU, a dual core probably.

You'd also have to purchase a processor that can support DDR2.

How much faster is DDR2?

It isn't faster, really, since although it runs at twice the DDR speed, it has twice the latency.

Is it worth it to upgrade?

Not unless you get yourself a nice Core 2 Duo, and use that PC6400 to overclock it.

 

[Eeezee]

Is that really the only way to get any use out of these sticks? That's a real shame, cause no one wants to buy this RAM for anywhere near retail price even though it's brand new =(

 

[randomstring]

🙂

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Is that really the only way to get any use out of these sticks? That's a real shame, cause no one wants to buy this RAM for anywhere near retail price even though it's brand new =(

 

[HannibalX]

A faster CPU and/or GPU will serve you better than DDR2/new mobo combo.