Confused by RAM options - help!
- Thread starter CrusaderX
- Start date
Cergorach
The Laughing One
To answer that i would have to explain a lot about how the hardware works, if you don't mind, i won't. Suffice it to say that DDR an RD Ram are two different flavours of memory, each is available in differnt speeds. It depends on what processor you use and what it supports. Generally DDR Ram is cheaper. 1GB of RAM is overkill for gaming, i think 512MB is already more than enough. DDR and RD Ram speeds are not to be compared with each other.
Ranger REG
Explorer
I suggest you first find out what your computer's motherboard can use.
jdavis
First Post
DDR ram
http://www.kingston.com/tools/bits/bit33.asp
RDRAM (Rambus)
http://www.kingston.com/tools/bits/bit31.asp
http://www.kingston.com/tools/bits/bit33.asp
RDRAM (Rambus)
http://www.kingston.com/tools/bits/bit31.asp
RyanL
First Post
They're both really fast (way faster than what I have, eh). If you buy RDRAM, you're supporting RAMBUS, which just happens to be one of the most evil, lame IP corporations ever, so I'd get DDR if my motherboard supported it. If you've already bought the motherboard, get whatever it supports (it won't support both). If not, you can't go wrong with either.
-Ryan
-Ryan
jdavis
First Post
Re: Ooh, I have ram question
RDRAM need two equaly sized memory modules (they work in parallel) so you would get two 256mb modules if you wanted 512mb.
For regular DDR dimms it's better to get one chip the size you want. You can never have too much memory, it's better to add to what you have rather than have to replace the old (which is what normally happens with RDRAM). most boards have two to four slots for memory modules.
Rambus my not be evil but they sure are stupid, if there product wasn't so good they would of sunk themselves years ago. I think they tried to sue nearly every memory maker out there at one time or another, and lost every single case, and several counter suits.
Welverin said:
RDRAM need two equaly sized memory modules (they work in parallel) so you would get two 256mb modules if you wanted 512mb.
For regular DDR dimms it's better to get one chip the size you want. You can never have too much memory, it's better to add to what you have rather than have to replace the old (which is what normally happens with RDRAM). most boards have two to four slots for memory modules.
Rambus my not be evil but they sure are stupid, if there product wasn't so good they would of sunk themselves years ago. I think they tried to sue nearly every memory maker out there at one time or another, and lost every single case, and several counter suits.
Welverin
First Post
Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question
Actually have a rather old PC I can't replace at the moment, but I want to upgrade a few parts so it will run a little better. I'll have to get rid of the old modules in order to max it out so that's not a big deal.
Thanks for the answer.
jdavis said:
Actually have a rather old PC I can't replace at the moment, but I want to upgrade a few parts so it will run a little better. I'll have to get rid of the old modules in order to max it out so that's not a big deal.
Thanks for the answer.
jdavis
First Post
Re: Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question
If it's older make sure you get the right memory, DDR dimms and the older SDRAM dimms are not interchangable (I think one is 168 pin and the other is 184). Older rambus modules are probably also different, I have never actually messed with RDRAM, most of the early Pentium 4s use RDRAM, the older Pentium 3s primarily used SDRAM DIMMs and the AMD chips used SDRAM or DDR. Really old computers used 72 pin SIMMs and if you have anything older than that (pre pentium) then it probably doesn't matter.
Welverin said:
If it's older make sure you get the right memory, DDR dimms and the older SDRAM dimms are not interchangable (I think one is 168 pin and the other is 184). Older rambus modules are probably also different, I have never actually messed with RDRAM, most of the early Pentium 4s use RDRAM, the older Pentium 3s primarily used SDRAM DIMMs and the AMD chips used SDRAM or DDR. Really old computers used 72 pin SIMMs and if you have anything older than that (pre pentium) then it probably doesn't matter.
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Psionicist
Explorer
Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question
That's not completely true. Intel's 850E chip for one supports 32-bit RDRAM modules that are basically two 16 bit modules in one stick. This means you just have to use one 32-bit RDRAM module.
HOWEVER, most other boards need 2x RDRAM modules so your statement is okay.
As for DDR versus RDRAM? Unless you overclock or run the DDR with aggresive timings/dividers, RDRAM is way faster, particularly for P4 solutions where the bus between the RDRAM and P4 proc is synch'ed at 533 (or 400 Mhz), whereas the DDR solution will be "twice as slow". The quad-pumped P4 proc is faster than the "dual pumped" DDR modules (for the record, RDRAM is also "quad pumped", two (dual) dual-banked modules).
jdavis said:
That's not completely true. Intel's 850E chip for one supports 32-bit RDRAM modules that are basically two 16 bit modules in one stick. This means you just have to use one 32-bit RDRAM module.
HOWEVER, most other boards need 2x RDRAM modules so your statement is okay.
As for DDR versus RDRAM? Unless you overclock or run the DDR with aggresive timings/dividers, RDRAM is way faster, particularly for P4 solutions where the bus between the RDRAM and P4 proc is synch'ed at 533 (or 400 Mhz), whereas the DDR solution will be "twice as slow". The quad-pumped P4 proc is faster than the "dual pumped" DDR modules (for the record, RDRAM is also "quad pumped", two (dual) dual-banked modules).
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