tell me your opinions

[PewPewBangBang]

well how noticable is the difference is a game? is the extra 25-30 bucks worth it?

Well im not really sure, i havn't read any new benchmarks on the new DDR3 memory compared to DDR2 but the FPS gains aren't a ton but its still the preferable upgrade. DDR3 has a lot more potential so go with DDR3, DDR2 is now outdated.

 

[Ryken]

Gaming Benchmarks

Short end of the chart in the link is that current DDR3 is not any faster than DDR2. The latencies of DDR3 are higher, but the RAM is faster. In the end, DDR3 with 7-7-7-20 perform essentially the same as DDR2 with 4-4-3 timings.

I would say the $25-30 is easily better spent on upgrading your graphics card or processor.

Pewpew, DDR2 is not outdated yet. DDR3 has more potential in the future, but if you buy it now, it doesn't magically get better. If anything DDR3 is underdeveloped currently, and should be avoided for gaming purposes as it doesn't provide better frame rates, but it does cost more.

Go DDR2. Spend the $25 on a better gpu.

 

[PewPewBangBang]

Gaming Benchmarks

Short end of the chart in the link is that current DDR3 is not any faster than DDR2. The latencies of DDR3 are higher, but the RAM is faster. In the end, DDR3 with 7-7-7-20 perform essentially the same as DDR2 with 4-4-3 timings.

I would say the $25-30 is easily better spent on upgrading your graphics card or processor.

Pewpew, DDR2 is not outdated yet. DDR3 has more potential in the future, but if you buy it now, it doesn't magically get better. If anything DDR3 is underdeveloped currently, and should be avoided for gaming purposes as it doesn't provide better frame rates, but it does cost more.

Go DDR2. Spend the $25 on a better gpu.

I know its not much faster or anything but its still worth it. $25 isn't much for going from DDR2 to DDR3. Plus when the ATI 5 series comes out. $25 wont help him get a better GPU, it barely does now. The price gap between a 5850 and a 5870 is going to be around $100 again when they come out. Even now, most of the price gaps are around $50 or more. In the case of the 4850 and 4870, the prices have dropped so much that you can actually upgrade to a 4870 from a 4850 for around $30-50 maybe even $20

I still think its worth it to just go for DDR3

Yes DDR2 technically isnt outdated but many people will tell you that there is no reason to go to DDR2 now since DDR3 prices dropped so much. Theres also no reason to have less than 4gb since they are dirt cheap pretty much

 

[Ryken]

If it's not faster, how is it worth it? Because people say it is? How on earth is "people say it is" a reason to buy one computer part over another, when the scientific data says otherwise?

$25 will help him get a better gpu. If the difference between the 5850 and the 5870 is $100, then $25 makes the difference $75. Thus, it helps. See how that works?

 

[PewPewBangBang]

If it's not faster, how is it worth it? Because people say it is? How on earth is "people say it is" a reason to buy one computer part over another, when the scientific data says otherwise?

$25 will help him get a better gpu. If the difference between the 5850 and the 5870 is $100, then $25 makes the difference $75. Thus, it helps. See how that works?

-.- its not like DDR3 is slower than DDR2, its actually faster. The only problem is that the processors aren't really fully utilizing it yet except for maybe the i7's and i5. You will see performance gains with DDR3 in gaming and things where the memory is needed, it just wont be a huge gain. When newer processors come out that will utilize the full DDR3, then there will be a huge gap between DDR2 and DDR3. So far gaming wise, you will only see something around ~5 FPS using DDR3 over DDR2 but the gap in FPS increases as the resolution increases.
W/E though, we all have our opinions, you may think its not worth it, but i do think its worth it. Memory is already dirt cheap.....

I understand what your saying, saving $25 will help towards making the cost of buying the GPU less, yes i know that but hes still gonna have to pay a lot of money to go for the faster card. I could honestly care less if he gets DDR2 over DDR3, its all opinion but if i was to pay so much for GPU already, i honestly wouldnt think much of the $25.

 

[Ph?bus]

Gaming Benchmarks

Short end of the chart in the link is that current DDR3 is not any faster than DDR2. The latencies of DDR3 are higher, but the RAM is faster. In the end, DDR3 with 7-7-7-20 perform essentially the same as DDR2 with 4-4-3 timings.

I would say the $25-30 is easily better spent on upgrading your graphics card or processor.

Pewpew, DDR2 is not outdated yet. DDR3 has more potential in the future, but if you buy it now, it doesn't magically get better. If anything DDR3 is underdeveloped currently, and should be avoided for gaming purposes as it doesn't provide better frame rates, but it does cost more.

Go DDR2. Spend the $25 on a better gpu.

i think i will, thanks for the input

 

[PewPewBangBang]

i think i will, thanks for the input

ahh yea i originally used those benchmarks for my opinion about DDR3. Then i realized the thing was from 2007. After reading newer benchmarks, they showed DDR3 being faster or the same.
But nothings wrong with DDR2.....its ur choice, im running DDR2 1066 right now anyway lol