Inexpensive DDR3 RAM is out

[traveler]

Well it finally happened. It's now out.

Inexpensive DDR3 RAM is now out for those that want to make the jump to the next RAM technology.


Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


And it's even rated at DDR3-1600!

[SRTDodge05]

9-9-9-24 timing ouch!

[Ford Freak]

$60 more gets you 7-7-7-18 timings. Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Or you could spend $145 if you really don't need anything over 1066.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

[SRTDodge05]

I read some where that DDR-500 @2-2-2-5 is the same as DDR3-1600 @9-9-9-24 speed.

[polonyc2]

still very expensive compared to DDR2 memory...4 GB of DDR2 for under $100 can't be beat

[traveler]

Originally Posted by SRTDodge05

I read some where that DDR-500 @2-2-2-5 is the same as DDR3-1600 @9-9-9-24 speed.

It's the other way around. (and I think you meant DDR2) Same as DDR3 500 at 4-4-4-10 (if there was DDR3 500). And it's not the speed. It's the amount of data put through.

DDR3 has 8 bit throughput where DDR2 has 4 bit throughput. Twice the throughput for DDR3. Each tick puts through twice the data of DDR2. (if you did mean DDR1 than even less data goes through since it's 2 bit) So DDR3 at 9-9-9 would be about the same as DDR2 at 4.5-4.5-4.5. But DDR2 stops at 1200. It can't go any faster. The highest DDR3 is now at 2000.

So each tick of 2 gigs of data in DDR3 RAM puts through the same as 4 gigs of DDR2 RAM. It takes 4 gigs of DDR2 to do the same throughput of 2 gigs of DDR3 RAM per each tick.

[Gorganzola]

I think you've developed a tick there.

Originally Posted by traveler

It's the other way around. (and I think you meant DDR2) Same as DDR3 500 at 4-4-4-10 (if there was DDR3 500). And it's not the speed. It's the amount of data put through.

DDR3 has 8 bit throughput where DDR2 has 4 bit throughput. Twice the throughput for DDR3. Each tick puts through twice the data of DDR2. (if you did mean DDR1 than even less data goes through since it's 2 bit) So DDR3 at 9-9-9 would be about the same as DDR2 at 4.5-4.5-4.5. But DDR2 stops at 1200. It can't go any faster. The highest DDR3 is now at 2000.

So each tick of 2 gigs of data in DDR3 RAM puts through the same as 4 gigs of DDR2 RAM. It takes 4 gigs of DDR2 to do the same throughput of 2 gigs of DDR3 RAM per each tick.

[traveler]

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[ctal]

Originally Posted by traveler

It's the other way around. (and I think you meant DDR2) Same as DDR3 500 at 4-4-4-10 (if there was DDR3 500). And it's not the speed. It's the amount of data put through.

DDR3 has 8 bit throughput where DDR2 has 4 bit throughput. Twice the throughput for DDR3. Each tick puts through twice the data of DDR2. (if you did mean DDR1 than even less data goes through since it's 2 bit) So DDR3 at 9-9-9 would be about the same as DDR2 at 4.5-4.5-4.5. But DDR2 stops at 1200. It can't go any faster. The highest DDR3 is now at 2000.

So each tick of 2 gigs of data in DDR3 RAM puts through the same as 4 gigs of DDR2 RAM. It takes 4 gigs of DDR2 to do the same throughput of 2 gigs of DDR3 RAM per each tick.

With respect, most of this is misleading.

First, I would say that SRT's post indicating that the effective throughput of DDR500 (not DDR2-500) at 2-2-2-5 would be comparable to that of DDR3-1600 at 9-9-9-24 strikes me intuitively as likely to be a reasonable approximation in typical useage.

As to the post quoted above, everyone should realize that the main reason DDR3 achieves higher speed ratings than DDR2 (albeit at longer latencies), and the reason DDR2 achieves higher speed ratings than DDR (albeit at longer latencies) is that the DDR numbers (e.g., DDR3-1600, DDR2-800) already reflect (have built into them) the greater number of bits per internal clock. In other words, the "1600" in DDR3-1600 already has built into that rating the benefit of 8 bits per internal clock, and the "800" in DDR2-800 already has built into it the benefit of 4 bits per internal clock, relative to the 2 bits per internal clock of DDR1 (= "DDR").

Also, I would respectfully suggest that the references to "gigs" in the last paragraph are poorly worded, as they could easily be misinterpreted as referring to memory size rather than throughput; and also I'm not sure what 2 or 4 "gigs/tick" means even if gigs is interpreted in the context of throughput.

I do agree, though, that the statement that "DDR3 at 9-9-9 would be about the same as DDR2 at 4.5-4.5-4.5" may very well be a good rough approximation, due to the faster speed ratings that DDR3 can achieve.

Regards,

-- Al

[SRTDodge05]

Im trying to find the article with the info in it. It was in OCZ news somewhere.

[XJ.]

well, another 50% drop in the price and then it would be worth thinking about, IMHO.

[SRTDodge05]

$99 for 2gb kit of DDR3
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by SRTDodge05

$99 for 2gb kit of DDR3
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

That same kit was $199 a couple months ago. The stuff I got is $169.99 now. I just paid $259 for it a couple weeks ago and it was $279 a couple months ago. I wonder how the prices are for other companies compared to a couple months ago.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by Ford Freak

That same kit was $199 a couple months ago. The stuff I got is $169.99 now. I just paid $259 for it a couple weeks ago and it was $279 a couple months ago. I wonder how the prices are for other companies compared to a couple months ago.

It looks like they just plunged!

Get a load of this from OCZ; yes it is DDR3 1333.

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ ReaperX HPC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

[XJ.]

Hmm, I just got 4GB of Cas5 PC2-8500 for $125 - so while DDR3 is finally coming down in price - I still don't think it's worth it.