Upgrading to DDR3 worth it?

So basically this is my setup right now.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.8ghz
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128379
Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 820220315.
XFX AMD 6870 1GB
Thermaltake 650W PSU

I really want to upgrade to 8gb or more but DDR2 is ridiculously expensive and my mobo only supports DDR2. So my question is it worth it to buy 8gb DDR2 or just do a MOBO and RAM upgrade all together to use DDR3.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by chaualain on 02-01-2012 at 01:40:23 AM

Reply to chaualain

Hi there chaualain,

EDIT: U can only add DDR2, DDR3 your mobo has no support for both types of the RAM.

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Message edited by Nikorr on 01-31-2012 at 11:49:07 PM

Reply to Nikorr

Get this one from here ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 1&name=2GB

Message edited by Nikorr on 01-31-2012 at 11:47:33 PM

Reply to Nikorr

Upgrading to DDR3 worth it?

U can't get DDR3, only DDR2 will fit, so yes, do it while the RAM is so cheap.

Message edited by Nikorr on 01-31-2012 at 11:48:43 PM

Reply to Nikorr

Bit of a noob question but will ddr3 work in a ddr2 slot.

I wanna do the same?

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Reply to deejayburnout

deejayburnout wrote :

Bit of a noob question but will ddr3 work in a ddr2 slot.

I wanna do the same?

U are right, the mobo does not have DDR2+DDR3 option. I did not check that.

What is your mobo, if there is option for the DDR3, u can do it.

------------------------------ Where there's smoke, there's fire...

Reply to Nikorr

deejayburnout wrote :

Bit of a noob question but will ddr3 work in a ddr2 slot.

I wanna do the same?

No DDR2 and DDR3 will not work in the same slot. They are keyed differently.

------------------------------ i7 2600K @ 4.5/P67A UD4/Scythe Mugen 2 Rev B/OCZ Vertex 2 120GB/2xWD 640 Blacks/Antec 1200/Samsung 23in LED LCD/EVGA GTX 460/2x4GB GSkill Ripjaws X DDR3 1600 7-8-7-24/Windows 7 Ultimate x64/Corsair 750TX
Reply to anort3

chaualain wrote :

So basically this is my setup right now.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.8ghz
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128379
Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 820220315.
XFX AMD 6870 1GB
Thermaltake 650W PSU

I really want to upgrade to 8gb or more but DDR2 is ridiculously expensive and my mobo only supports DDR2. So my question is it worth it to buy 8gb DDR2 or just do a Ram/Mobo upgrade.

I would not try to upgrade to 8GB with DDR2. 8GB kits were never common with DDR2 and the ones you can still find are crazy expensive.

If you use memory intensive applications then I say get a new motherboard. It will also have new features like SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3 so you are gaining more than DDR3 support. Especially if you plan on adding an SSD at some point.

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------------------------------ i7 2600K @ 4.5/P67A UD4/Scythe Mugen 2 Rev B/OCZ Vertex 2 120GB/2xWD 640 Blacks/Antec 1200/Samsung 23in LED LCD/EVGA GTX 460/2x4GB GSkill Ripjaws X DDR3 1600 7-8-7-24/Windows 7 Ultimate x64/Corsair 750TX
Reply to anort3

Nikorr wrote :

Hi there chaualain,

EDIT: U can only add DDR2, DDR3 your mobo has no support for both types of the RAM.

Maybe i wasn't clear but I was asking about getting 8gb DDR2 or just do a RAM and MOBO upgrade all together to get DDR3

anort3 wrote :

I would not try to upgrade to 8GB with DDR2. 8GB kits were never common with DDR2 and the ones you can still find are crazy expensive.

If you use memory intensive applications then I say get a new motherboard. It will also have new features like SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3 so you are gaining more than DDR3 support. Especially if you plan on adding an SSD at some point.

Thanks, thats a good idea having those features would be nice!

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Reply to chaualain

chaualain wrote :

Maybe i wasn't clear but I was asking about getting 8gb DDR2 or just do a RAM and MOBO upgrade all together to get DDR3

I see, no, its not worth at all to get new mobo, unless u will replace the CPU too.

The RAM is not the bottleneck here.

Do u have x64bit Windows?

I think the gain in the real world would be barely noticeable.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Nikorr on 02-01-2012 at 01:46:08 AM

Reply to Nikorr

Nikorr wrote :

I see, no, its not worth at all to get new mobo, unless u will replace the CPU too.

The RAM is not the bottleneck here.

Do u have x64bit Windows?

I think the gain in the real world would be barely noticeable.

Yes i'm using 64bit Win7, Im really pushing my 4gb thats why. I do a bit of photoshopping and alot of multi-tasking using 3 of my monitors.

You dont' think AMD phemon II X4 955 still okay to use?

Reply to chaualain

It's still a good processor, especially overclocked. The only way to really improve what you have would be a move to an Intel platform. The new FX processors are good at very little compared to the Phenom II line, they are only better at rendering and encoding video. Other than that they are actually slower clock for clock compared to what you have.

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------------------------------ i7 2600K @ 4.5/P67A UD4/Scythe Mugen 2 Rev B/OCZ Vertex 2 120GB/2xWD 640 Blacks/Antec 1200/Samsung 23in LED LCD/EVGA GTX 460/2x4GB GSkill Ripjaws X DDR3 1600 7-8-7-24/Windows 7 Ultimate x64/Corsair 750TX
Reply to anort3

OK, take a look what it would do, if u would change the CPU. I changed from C2D 6750 to 2600K and it is not comparable at all. When encode of the 1080P video took all day, 2600K will be done a few hrs.

Your CPU is closer to the i5, but still behind. And u could OC the i5 to run easily @4.2GHz.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=288

Reply to Nikorr

anort3 wrote :

It's still a good processor, especially overclocked. The only way to really improve what you have would be a move to an Intel platform. The new FX processors are good at very little compared to the Phenom II line, they are only better at rendering and encoding video. Other than that they are actually slower clock for clock compared to what you have.

I can agree with that ^^^ +1.

------------------------------ Where there's smoke, there's fire...

Reply to Nikorr

Thanks for the answers guys, I'm thinking about trying to sell my old stuff if I can and getting I5 2500k setup!

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to chaualain

chaualain wrote :

Thanks for the answers guys, I'm thinking about trying to sell my old stuff if I can and getting I5 2500k setup!

Also check the 2600K
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=287

------------------------------ Where there's smoke, there's fire...

Reply to Nikorr

Yea, i did check that out too thanks for that link, its really helpful! the 2600k is a little out of my budget

Is there any recommended/popular lga1155 mobo out there for midrange builders? First time using Intel for me heh