Anandtech speaks on DDR2

[Soulburner]

AT News Update: DDR2 Memory Performance

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.html?i=1977

[freecableguy]

And I quote: "There will not be a performance increase between DDR2-400 and DDR-400 (or even between DDR2-533 and DDR-533). DDR2 is the technology to enable post-DDR533 speeds, rather than a technology to enhance it."

[Kalway]

I prefer this quote...

"Even once prices fall to within range of the DDR prices of today, the newer technology will not really benefit the consumer until we get into the speeds unobtainable by DDR1."

Looks like we're gonna stick with DDR1 until at least Q4.

[shrae]

Of course I'm disappointed that we won't see some (magical) increase; at the same time, I certainly wouldn't mind being able to use my BH-5 for another generation.... as long as it can clock high enough to keep up, anyway.

[saaya]

well, winbond wants to get out of dram business, so they might just sell the bh5 license to a diferent manufacturer wich could then produce bh5 in masses again and maybe even tweak it and make some ddr500 2-2-2 chips, maybe even ddr533! quite some people are getting those speeds with overvolted bh5 already!

theres something weird about their note regarding the latency, it sounds like they expect future ddr2 module to run with better latencies. afaik the latencies will get worse and worse the higher the ddr2 memory is clocked, around cl5 for ddr800 for example. afaik its physically impossible to get lower latencies than cl3 with ddr2, unless you use an extra controller chip on each stick wich will again cost even more.

[Anarki]

What would be the point in bringing out DDR2 if DDR is still managing, PC4400 is the highest (I think). Thats adaquite for a P4 and certainly an AMD.

If AMD CPU's of today like low latencies, the future ones better like high latencies otherwise they wont work well with this DDR2, especially if its CL5

They ought to just bring DDR2 out when DDR cannot take anymore (when everyone has overclocked them to their death).

[Geforce4ti4200]

why not just run ddr2 ram async so you can get lower latencies?

[Çhrist0ph]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/memory/...222180122.html

455$ of 256mb of DDR2 PC3200!!!!!!!!!

I am sooo confused, why so much for something the performs on par with DDR1?!

[Kanavit]

Higher frequency ram @ a cost of higher latency. As always I'm about 6-12 months behind the technology cycle. Just bought DDR 333 ram about a week ago.

[tritium]

Intel is pushing DDR2. AMD will not use DDR2 until it is absolutly necessary. AMD is not even in the new memory group that has been formed.
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3315231

When Intel raises their FSB's on their upcomming processors, DDR2 will be needed.
266Mhz quad pumped = 1064Mhz ==== DDR2.

[ricjax99]

Originally posted by Geforce4ti4200
why not just run ddr2 ram async so you can get lower latencies?

The rams designed for higher clock speed not lower latencies, thats one of the main points in this discussion.

[Geforce4ti4200]

I understand sir, but why not just save $$$$$$ and run async at cas3 instead of ultra high clocks at cas5? same performance either way

[Slickthellama]

naw, massive frequencies will result in higher bandwidth. Timings are nice, but they still dont compare to raw mhz power.

[lalPOOO]

Originally posted by Anarki
What would be the point in bringing out DDR2 if DDR is still managing, PC4400 is the highest (I think). Thats adaquite for a P4 and certainly an AMD.

If AMD CPU's of today like low latencies, the future ones better like high latencies otherwise they wont work well with this DDR2, especially if its CL5

They ought to just bring DDR2 out when DDR cannot take anymore (when everyone has overclocked them to their death).

Not everyone overclocks Also, PC4400 isn't a real speed. The actual memory chips pc4400 aren't designed to run that speed. They've merely been configured/forced specially to run the way they do. And as others have mentioned the ddr2 will be needed in future, coincidentally, the future is also when its coming out (really)

[STEvil]

Its RAMBUS all over again, figures.

[Penti]

Originally posted by tritium
Intel is pushing DDR2. AMD will not use DDR2 until it is absolutly necessary. AMD is not even in the new memory group that has been formed.
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3315231

When Intel raises their FSB's on their upcomming processors, DDR2 will be needed.
266Mhz quad pumped = 1064Mhz ==== DDR2.

Well intel has stated that there Nacona server 32/64bit processor will be shipped with 200/800MHz FSB. So it will be interessting to see if they do the same thing to the desktop prescotts.. Does look like they will use 200/800MHz FSB and DDR2-533. Not a great choice if so...
I see no point for DDR2 yet, it doesn't preform good. Hopfully it wont become mainstream this year..

[Kosmic]

Nah, prices are going to be sky high on DDR2 for another year probably. I'm sure plenty of mobo makers will keep supporting ddr1, and there's always AMD to fall back on.

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by Slickthellama
naw, massive frequencies will result in higher bandwidth. Timings are nice, but they still dont compare to raw mhz power.

Not entirely true...

There is a point where increased FSB gives you greater performance than low latency, but it varies.

On this, and other forums it has been widely proven that running ram at any given CPU/FSB speed with 5:4 2-2-2 is faster then the same 1:1 at 2.5-4-4-8

Thus 250/200 (FSB/RAM) 2-2-2-5 is faster then 250/250 (FSB/RAM) at 2.5-4-4-8.

DDR2 will not be a strong performer , at least until DDR2 667 is out. This years crop of DDR2 400 and DDR2 533 wont help us.

[Soulburner]

Hmm it seems that Corsair is saying that DDR2 has double the bandwidth potential of DDR at the same clock rate:

http://www20.tomshardware.com/mother...erwood-07.html

The performance says otherwise if you read on, though its only in single channel...

[retrospooty]

Uhh... Anything you read at Toms = complete poop.

[hollywood]

Originally posted by retrospooty
Uhh... Anything you read at Toms = complete poop.

Not true...

[saaya]

ok 90% of what you read at toms is crap

[retrospooty]

Yes, let me rephrase...

There is SO much useless crap printed at Tom's that you cannot beleive anything you read there... The best course of action is to simply not go there at all, and dont give them any "hits" to pad their pockets.

[STEvil]

I like how DDR2 is performing worse than "normal" DDR at TOM's, though

EDIT

Notice the bent pin in the LGA socket?

[Soulburner]

Originally posted by retrospooty
Uhh... Anything you read at Toms = complete poop.

That was a chart from Corsair, NOT Tom's.