Upgrading to DDR3 worth it?

[chaualain]

So basically this is my setup right now.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.8ghz
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379
Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220315.
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.

 

[nikorr]

Hi there chaualain,

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

 

[nikorr]

Get this one from here ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611%20600006042%20600006061&IsNodeId=1&name=2GB

 

[nikorr]

[fixed]Upgrading to DDR3 worth it?[/fixed]
U can't get DDR3, only DDR2 will fit, so yes, do it while the RAM is so cheap.

 

[deejayburnout]

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

I wanna do the same?

 

[nikorr]

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.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

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.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

So basically this is my setup right now.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.8ghz
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379
Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220315.
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.

 

[chaualain]

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

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!

 

[nikorr]

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.

 

[chaualain]

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?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

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.

 

[nikorr]

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

 

[nikorr]

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.

 

[chaualain]

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

 

[nikorr]

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

 

[chaualain]

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

 

[nikorr]

I like ASUS and Gigabyte... And for the best editing performance, make sure u take Z68!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131781

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

 

[nikorr]

Great read @ http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/05/13/what-is-the-intel-z68-chipset/1