The Glade 4.0

So I've decided I want to upgrade the RAM in my desktop as I've been running 2GB for almost the last 2 years. I have an Asus M3A motherboard, and the info site says its compatible with DDR2 1066 memory. I was perusing my usual parts website and there is a lot more DDR3 memory listed than DDR2. I'm guessing this is the new RAM standard or something? Is it backwards compatible, I'm assuming not.

If I do have to buy DDR2 stuff, is it worth it to get 1066 RAM vs 800? Seems like 800 stuff is about $20 cheaper for the pair, but I wouldn't mind spending a bit extra if its a decent increase in performance.

Oh, you're not talking about Dance Dance Revolution?

_________________
The Dude abides.

DDR3 is the new spec, but unless you're going to upgrade your motherboard and go with an i7 class chip, it's not worth it. As for DDR2 800 vs. 1066, it depends. If you're already using 1066, I'd just stick with it so you can use the old stuff as well. Also, if you want to do any overclocking going with the 1066 gives you more headroom.

Screeling, that is in the Gaming Forum, this is the Tech Forum.

And year, that was my first thought too.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

After years of trying to squeeze out all the performance I could out of my system components (without overclocking...at least not much), I have decided that spending on memory performance increases is not an efficient use of funds beyond getting moderately superior latencies. And even that might not be incredibly useful. In general, I believe that going from cheap to expensive memory will net a 1-3% performance increase, but YMMV.

Hey, come on. Your technique in the game is very technical.

_________________
The Dude abides.

Seriously depends on application, processor type, and other bottlenecks.

DDR3 is not backwards compatible. Depending on how old your motherboard is, it *may* (not sure, haven't been keeping up since I haven't been shopping) be forwards compatible, but in that case, you still couldn't mix types.

Spring for the 1066, otherwise you'll be slowing your entire bus's worth of memory down to match the 800 new stuff.

_________________
"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Sweet thanks for the info. I'll pick up some 1066 later on today sometime.

There any major difference between DDR2-1000 and DDR2-1066? I found a 2x2gb set of 1000 from a brand I've used before and liked vs a 1066 set of someone I've never heard of for the same price. Both had good reviews, and many of the comments said they overclocked the 1000 to 1066 very easily with no trouble afterwards. I'd prefer to go with the 1000 out of loyalty but not a cost of a significant loss in performance.

Good point. I will add that I am only concerned with gaming performance...relatively small to moderate amounts of data (after initial texture loading) needed quickly. For any video or CAD type stuff where throughput is more important, then having more throughput is a good thing, of course.

Not just a whole lot, really. I'd wager less than about a 3% difference in actual comprehensive system performance. But perhaps I should point out that DDR2-1000 isn't a "real" DDR2 speed in the first place. There's 400, 533, 667, 800, and 1066. Anything you see branded as DDR2-1000 is either some kind of weird frankenmemory, or it's DDR2-800 that's already been overclocked by the mfr.

In any case, name names. I can't tell you if either is any good without knowing who they are

_________________
Sail forth! steer for the deep waters only!
Reckless, O soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me;
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.

Ok, I was looking at THESE and THESE as a 4gb set of DDR2. I'd like to keep it below $100 if possible. There's also a bunch more types listed on that website.

Looks like all the Corsair there has a mail in rebate of some sort. It's been a while since I purchased RAM, but one of the first things I look at is the warranty. Corsair and Crucial both have lifetime warranties. However, at the end of the day, if everything else is pretty much the same, it comes to what brand you prefer.

This is 77 bucks and change after the 22$ mail in rebate... but you have to make sure to mail it in

I bought some G.Skill RAM not that long ago based on the outstanding reviews on newegg, got 4GB for under 100$ there too. Have had no problems with them at all.

Ended up buying the Corsair pair, shipped em out this morning. Probably going to do a reformat on the desktop too as it's been over a year and is starting to run kinda slow. Looking forward to the added memory!

I would see how it runs after the new RAM before wiping and all that. You'd be amazed what more memory can do for machine performance, even with boot times.

Alrighty, I'll give it a shot.

Well RAM arrived, got it installed with no issues (even took advantage of my case being open to give it a much needed cleaning). Unfortunately I neglected to look closer into my main board's support of 1066 RAM as its only supported with an AM2+ CPU installed, which I do not have! Still running my old Athlon 64 X2 4200+. Oh well, at least the option is there when / if I choose to upgrade to a Phenom CPU at some point.