DDR3 pins and DDR2 pins?

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:20 am

I think I saw something that DDR3 was listed as 240pin ram and DDR2 is also 240Pin?

Ok, if both are 240pin, dumb question probably, but are the sockets the same and is DDR3 backwards compatible with DDR2 boards?
Would I just loose extra features of DDR3 or am I correct to think it's just not the same and won't work that way.

My board is DDR2, I'd like more ram, but I may build a new system later and if I do I won't even need the 4 gigs I have in it now using it for a backup system. So I really hate to buy more expensive DDR2 ram now if I will need DDR3 for the next board!

I should probably just upgrade the board now I guess and get it over with, but just don't have the money for everything at once, and I like the board I have now just fine if I can upgrade it with more ram and 4core CPU. Of course it's AMD type and the board is a Gigabyte.

Just can't decide if I should upgrade it or not right now, or buy new, I mean if the board is partially obsolete now, why buy more obsolete stuff?

I did see at least one system board that claims to use either DD3 or DDR2 in the same slots. I think it said for DDR3 it required at least a 4core CPU to get DDR3.

I'd grab a shell shocker G-skill 16 gigs tonight for $139 if I knew I could use it! Probably should grab it and just sit on it till I can use it, if I cant right now, but don't got the extra bucks right now to do that.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:23 am

OK, 16 gigs 4x4 DDR3 for $140, I could not resist. I may not be able to use them but gee I saved some bucks!

PLEASE tell me they will work in my DDR2 board at DDR2 specs as backward compatible! If not, well, I'll get a $60 board later I guess.

It looks like with firmware update I can go as far as 6core AMD on currant board? I had the other thread asking about CPU upgrade for that board.

I haven't seen anything about RAM upgrades though.

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128379

Shadow250 · Post by **Shadow250** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:34 am

my motherboard manual says not to use ddr 2 in it it takes ddr3 my guess is it might not work.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:56 am

Shadow250 wrote:my motherboard manual says not to use ddr 2 in it it takes ddr3 my guess is it might not work.

Ya, I am so far out of the loop on things now I don't have a clue what works with what anymore.
My board was built before DDR3 and is AM2+ but with new firmware it shows I should be able to run a 6core AMD AM3 now.

I figure it looked like I saved $90 on the 16 gigs DDR3, and 4 gigs DDR2 was gonna cost me around $60 or more,
On paper it would show I got a much better deal on the 16gigs DDR3 and saved enough to pay for a new system board, but My wallet shows I have $10 left though.

mackme

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:23 am

DDR3 is NOT backwards compatible. It does have the same number of pins, however, the slot is in a slightly different location.

AM2+ is a DDR2 platform.

I know how you feel though, I am running a DDR2 board & there are tons of DDR3 deals currently.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:20 pm

OK, Thanks.

I bit the bullet this morning and bought the 16 gig ddr3 4x4 deal for $140

I figure I'll get a board to put it in, if not I should be able to sell it later