Choosing DDR3 Memory: A Guide to Understanding the Benefits and Compatibility

When it comes to choosing memory for your high-end enthusiast platform, such as an Nvidia 790i EPP 2 or Intel X48/X38, DDR3 is the way to go. The higher frequencies of DDR3 provide a no-brainer advantage in terms of performance and overclocking capabilities. With DDR3, you can expect faster system speeds and lower power consumption compared to DDR2.

The Benefits of DDR3 Memory

DDR3 memory offers several benefits that make it an attractive choice for high-end enthusiasts. Firstly, the higher frequencies allow for faster overclocking, which is essential for those who want to push their systems to the limit. Additionally, DDR3 consumes less power than DDR2, making it a more energy-efficient option. This means that you can enjoy faster system speeds without the increased power consumption.

Another benefit of DDR3 memory is its compatibility with high-end platforms. As mentioned earlier, DDR3 is widely supported by enthusiast platforms such as Nvidia 790i EPP 2 and Intel X48/X38. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want to take advantage of the latest features and technologies in their systems.

The Importance of Memory Capacity

When choosing memory, it's essential to consider capacity. As DDR3 technology advances, we can expect to see higher capacities in the future. If you want to upgrade your system at some point, it's crucial to choose a memory kit that supports the latest standards. Choosing a lower-capacity memory kit now may limit your upgrade options in the future.

Physical Differences Between DDR2 and DDR3 Memory

At first glance, DDR2 and DDR3 memory may appear identical. However, there are several physical differences between the two. One key difference is the position of the notches on the memory modules. In DDR2 memory, the notch is closer to the middle of the module, while in DDR3 memory, it's located closer to the end. This means that if you're trying to install RAM and the notch doesn't seem to line up with the notch in the slot, you may have the wrong kind of memory.

Recommended Memory Kits

For mainstream users, XMS is a popular choice. When XMS 3 becomes available, it's expected to offer improved performance and features compared to its predecessors. For those who want to take their systems to the next level, XMS 2 or XMS 3 D.HX modules are highly recommended.

At the top of the line, Corsair offers Dominator memory kits that feature advanced cooling solutions, including the Moran fan. These kits offer exceptional performance and stability, making them ideal for overclocking enthusiasts. Additionally, Corsair also offers a range of Dominator modules in DDR2 and DDR3, which can be paired with other components to create a high-performance system.

Incorporating Cooling Solutions

For overclocking enthusiasts, cooling solutions are essential for maintaining stable temperatures and preventing damage to the system. Corsair's Dominator memory kits come equipped with a built-in fan that helps keep the memory modules cool. However, some users may prefer to add an additional cooling solution to their system.

Fortunately, these fans are relatively inexpensive, with prices starting at around $20-$30. The fan is designed to clip onto the outside of the memory module, providing direct airflow and reducing temperatures. This not only improves stability but also reduces the risk of damage to the system.

Conclusion

Choosing DDR3 memory for your high-end enthusiast platform is essential for taking advantage of the latest features and technologies. With its higher frequencies, lower power consumption, and improved compatibility with high-end platforms, DDR3 is the clear choice for those who want to push their systems to the limit. By understanding the benefits and compatibility of DDR3 memory, you can make an informed decision when selecting a memory kit that meets your needs.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhi welcome to MC IX tech tips did we did we trick you did you think that that was me and then actually I came from the side because that was an idea that I had the cameraman didn't like it but we decided to go with it anyway today we'll be covering ddr2 vs. ddr3 memory will be going over basically how to choose the right memory for your system advantages of either platform and we'll be talking about compatibility with a couple of Nvidia's most popular motherboards right now the 750 is Li 780 is Li and 790 I ultra SLI so the first question is why do we need an NCIX tek-tips on two different memory standards well the reason is that they are not intercom pata below ddr3 is going to replace ddr2 so why do we need to replace ddr2 right now the costs are lower than ever and as a standard it's been great for the last couple years as a mainstream standard as a performance standard it's fantastic so why do we need ddr3 well ddr3 brings a few key benefits basically we get higher clock speeds in the future we're going to get larger capacities it has lower power so that means that your system is going to run using less power more efficient also Intel keeps pushing the envelope for faster and faster frontside bus clocks so in order to keep up with that we need a faster memory standard so we talked about how ddr2 is the mainstream standard right now and what we didn't really cover is which platforms support it so right now basically any low-end platform it's going to be ddr2 so that means any Intel low-end chipset and baby AMD ATI any of those chipsets is going to be ddr2 so then up on the in the mid-range you're going to have p35 from Intel or 750i from Nvidia and also AMD's high-end chipsets are also ddr2 now at the enthusiast level you've got the seven ATI and the X 38 so those are kind of your ddr2 platforms right now the differences between them all are going to be the other feature sets as well as the speed of ddr2 that they support for example what we have here is really high speed ddr2 this is ddr2 1066 and you're only going to find support for that on the mid-range - enthusiast platforms not on the entry-level stuff so that said we're going to a little bit more in a minute about the different speeds of ddr2 and what that means so I actually answer technical questions via email for NCIX support sometimes and what I see a lot of questions about is what Ram is supported by my board so let's start with the lower end to mid range so that's where you've got XMS to so that's going to be something like 690 G or lower NP 35 boards anything along those lines and that kind of maxes out around ddr2 800 support for the lower end boards there now you step up now you're talking about higher NP 35 boards X 38 boards 750 I then you've got XMS 2d HX which is basically more optimized for overclocking it's got these fins for more heat dissipation and it's going to come at higher speeds so this is a ddr2 1066 kit and then at the very high end of ddr2 you've got also ddr2 1066 even more overclocking these are the Dominator modules these actually come with a fan for extra heat dissipation for even more extreme overclocking so that's going to be on your high-end x-38 premium boards on something like a 780 I as well also anything from the Dominator range is going to support EPP which is invidious standard for basically automated memory overclocking so it means you're going to get the best speeds possible at a year ram so we talked about ddr2 that was fine that was good that's mainstream but now let's move on to the big guns ddr3 so ddr3 is the new kid on the block so to speak and is only supported on enthusiast level motherboards so that means X 38 and X 48 premium boards from Intel or 790i ultra SLI boards from Nvidia right now there are no AMD boards that support ddr3 due to the integrated memory controller on AMD CPUs supporting only ddr2 so anyway why do we need ddr3 well we already covered that higher frequencies so that means that ddr3 support starts at around 1066 then you've got ddr3 speeds that go up to 1200 1600 1800 and there's even 2 gigahertz kits of ddr3 memory now what speed your board supports is going to come down to what it supports so the nforce 790i sli is supported up to two gigahertz ddr3 but what that means is you're going to need an e PP 2 kit what that means is that the kit is essentially designed around the 790i ultra and it's going to automatically clock the memory to that speed now Intel's also got a competing standard which is XMP and on an X 48 board you're going to want to make sure you have XMP memory so just remember that Nvidia 790i EPP 2 and Intel X 48 or X 38 for that matter XMP so let's do a quick recap why choose ddr3 memory we're going to go over the benefits a little bit first of all all the highest-end enthusiast platforms are going to be supporting ddr3 memory so that means if you're an avid overclocker or if an avid gamer you want try SLI you want whatever other high-end gaming features ddr3 is the way to go the higher frequencies are no brainer obviously again it means higher overclocking higher speeds so faster system also it does consume less power than ddr2 so it's faster and it consumes less power so that's a bit of a double whammy there the other benefits of ddr3 are going to be that we're going to see higher capacities in the future if you want to upgrade your system at some point you want to support the latest standards otherwise you're going to be stuck with no upgrade path now something we already talked about was that ddr3 consumes less power but there I mean you're buying an overclocking platform you're going to be turning up the voltages you're going to be overclocking the stuff so let's talk about cooling it down basically Corsair the XMS 3d HX kits do not come with the Dominator airflow fan only some of the SKUs do however you can buy extra memory cooling this fan is only like twenty thirty bucks and all it does is it clips on on the outside of the memory modules basically from the side is going to be a little bit easier here and gives you air flow directly over the memory so that means cooler running more stability it's not as hard to install ok it's about as hard to install as I just made it look and it also looks really really cool in your system I'm going to get the cameraman to do a close up here while I'm talking so you can see here we've got our ddr3 memory and the one in my left hand here is actually empty because it's installed in the 790i board but anyway what it comes down to is when you're shopping for ddr3 or ddr2 memory for that matter there's going to be two specs to look at the frequency we've already covered that the frequency so the megahertz are much higher on ddr3 memory than ddr2 but you also have to look at the Latin si usually expressed as si with a number or CL with a number after it so this for example is a ddr3 1600 megahertz c7 kit so you're going to look at ddr2 memory and you're going to go okay well that's a ddr2 1066 kit but it's only c5 basically with ddr3 in order to get the higher clock speeds the latencies had to go up a little bit so that's one of the trade-offs overall the performance of a ddr3 kit is going to be higher especially when you pair it up with an enthusiast platform like 790i or X 38 or X 48 for that matter so in terms of the physical differences between ddr2 and ddr3 memory at first glance you wouldn't be able to tell the difference so that's why it's really important to be sure of what you're buying and be sure which one your board supports but if you do encounter a situation where you've got memory that does not seem to fit check out the two notches in this memory I'm going to get the cameraman to zoom okay just check look see how the one on the silver one the notch is lower than the one on the black one now zoom out a little bit and you'll be able to see the differences in the memory here so there is the notch is closer to the middle of the ddr2 memory and closer to the end of the ddr3 so if you're trying to install Ram where the notch doesn't seem to line up with the notch in the slot you probably have the wrong kind of memory so to summarize what kind of memory is right for you mainstream users XMS - and when it gets released XMS 3 if you want to take it up a notch you want to go for X M s 2 or X M s 3 D HX modules and then at the very top of the line in available in ddr2 and ddr3 is corsair dominator modules and again if you're overclocking you want to pick up either a Dominator kit with the Moran fan included or you can pick up the rent and extra so thank you for watching NCIX tech tips Elpis has cleared up memory and compatibility with current platforms for youhi welcome to MC IX tech tips did we did we trick you did you think that that was me and then actually I came from the side because that was an idea that I had the cameraman didn't like it but we decided to go with it anyway today we'll be covering ddr2 vs. ddr3 memory will be going over basically how to choose the right memory for your system advantages of either platform and we'll be talking about compatibility with a couple of Nvidia's most popular motherboards right now the 750 is Li 780 is Li and 790 I ultra SLI so the first question is why do we need an NCIX tek-tips on two different memory standards well the reason is that they are not intercom pata below ddr3 is going to replace ddr2 so why do we need to replace ddr2 right now the costs are lower than ever and as a standard it's been great for the last couple years as a mainstream standard as a performance standard it's fantastic so why do we need ddr3 well ddr3 brings a few key benefits basically we get higher clock speeds in the future we're going to get larger capacities it has lower power so that means that your system is going to run using less power more efficient also Intel keeps pushing the envelope for faster and faster frontside bus clocks so in order to keep up with that we need a faster memory standard so we talked about how ddr2 is the mainstream standard right now and what we didn't really cover is which platforms support it so right now basically any low-end platform it's going to be ddr2 so that means any Intel low-end chipset and baby AMD ATI any of those chipsets is going to be ddr2 so then up on the in the mid-range you're going to have p35 from Intel or 750i from Nvidia and also AMD's high-end chipsets are also ddr2 now at the enthusiast level you've got the seven ATI and the X 38 so those are kind of your ddr2 platforms right now the differences between them all are going to be the other feature sets as well as the speed of ddr2 that they support for example what we have here is really high speed ddr2 this is ddr2 1066 and you're only going to find support for that on the mid-range - enthusiast platforms not on the entry-level stuff so that said we're going to a little bit more in a minute about the different speeds of ddr2 and what that means so I actually answer technical questions via email for NCIX support sometimes and what I see a lot of questions about is what Ram is supported by my board so let's start with the lower end to mid range so that's where you've got XMS to so that's going to be something like 690 G or lower NP 35 boards anything along those lines and that kind of maxes out around ddr2 800 support for the lower end boards there now you step up now you're talking about higher NP 35 boards X 38 boards 750 I then you've got XMS 2d HX which is basically more optimized for overclocking it's got these fins for more heat dissipation and it's going to come at higher speeds so this is a ddr2 1066 kit and then at the very high end of ddr2 you've got also ddr2 1066 even more overclocking these are the Dominator modules these actually come with a fan for extra heat dissipation for even more extreme overclocking so that's going to be on your high-end x-38 premium boards on something like a 780 I as well also anything from the Dominator range is going to support EPP which is invidious standard for basically automated memory overclocking so it means you're going to get the best speeds possible at a year ram so we talked about ddr2 that was fine that was good that's mainstream but now let's move on to the big guns ddr3 so ddr3 is the new kid on the block so to speak and is only supported on enthusiast level motherboards so that means X 38 and X 48 premium boards from Intel or 790i ultra SLI boards from Nvidia right now there are no AMD boards that support ddr3 due to the integrated memory controller on AMD CPUs supporting only ddr2 so anyway why do we need ddr3 well we already covered that higher frequencies so that means that ddr3 support starts at around 1066 then you've got ddr3 speeds that go up to 1200 1600 1800 and there's even 2 gigahertz kits of ddr3 memory now what speed your board supports is going to come down to what it supports so the nforce 790i sli is supported up to two gigahertz ddr3 but what that means is you're going to need an e PP 2 kit what that means is that the kit is essentially designed around the 790i ultra and it's going to automatically clock the memory to that speed now Intel's also got a competing standard which is XMP and on an X 48 board you're going to want to make sure you have XMP memory so just remember that Nvidia 790i EPP 2 and Intel X 48 or X 38 for that matter XMP so let's do a quick recap why choose ddr3 memory we're going to go over the benefits a little bit first of all all the highest-end enthusiast platforms are going to be supporting ddr3 memory so that means if you're an avid overclocker or if an avid gamer you want try SLI you want whatever other high-end gaming features ddr3 is the way to go the higher frequencies are no brainer obviously again it means higher overclocking higher speeds so faster system also it does consume less power than ddr2 so it's faster and it consumes less power so that's a bit of a double whammy there the other benefits of ddr3 are going to be that we're going to see higher capacities in the future if you want to upgrade your system at some point you want to support the latest standards otherwise you're going to be stuck with no upgrade path now something we already talked about was that ddr3 consumes less power but there I mean you're buying an overclocking platform you're going to be turning up the voltages you're going to be overclocking the stuff so let's talk about cooling it down basically Corsair the XMS 3d HX kits do not come with the Dominator airflow fan only some of the SKUs do however you can buy extra memory cooling this fan is only like twenty thirty bucks and all it does is it clips on on the outside of the memory modules basically from the side is going to be a little bit easier here and gives you air flow directly over the memory so that means cooler running more stability it's not as hard to install ok it's about as hard to install as I just made it look and it also looks really really cool in your system I'm going to get the cameraman to do a close up here while I'm talking so you can see here we've got our ddr3 memory and the one in my left hand here is actually empty because it's installed in the 790i board but anyway what it comes down to is when you're shopping for ddr3 or ddr2 memory for that matter there's going to be two specs to look at the frequency we've already covered that the frequency so the megahertz are much higher on ddr3 memory than ddr2 but you also have to look at the Latin si usually expressed as si with a number or CL with a number after it so this for example is a ddr3 1600 megahertz c7 kit so you're going to look at ddr2 memory and you're going to go okay well that's a ddr2 1066 kit but it's only c5 basically with ddr3 in order to get the higher clock speeds the latencies had to go up a little bit so that's one of the trade-offs overall the performance of a ddr3 kit is going to be higher especially when you pair it up with an enthusiast platform like 790i or X 38 or X 48 for that matter so in terms of the physical differences between ddr2 and ddr3 memory at first glance you wouldn't be able to tell the difference so that's why it's really important to be sure of what you're buying and be sure which one your board supports but if you do encounter a situation where you've got memory that does not seem to fit check out the two notches in this memory I'm going to get the cameraman to zoom okay just check look see how the one on the silver one the notch is lower than the one on the black one now zoom out a little bit and you'll be able to see the differences in the memory here so there is the notch is closer to the middle of the ddr2 memory and closer to the end of the ddr3 so if you're trying to install Ram where the notch doesn't seem to line up with the notch in the slot you probably have the wrong kind of memory so to summarize what kind of memory is right for you mainstream users XMS - and when it gets released XMS 3 if you want to take it up a notch you want to go for X M s 2 or X M s 3 D HX modules and then at the very top of the line in available in ddr2 and ddr3 is corsair dominator modules and again if you're overclocking you want to pick up either a Dominator kit with the Moran fan included or you can pick up the rent and extra so thank you for watching NCIX tech tips Elpis has cleared up memory and compatibility with current platforms for you\n"