RAM - DDR and DDR2 - What's the difference?

[Londo]

I have 2 x 256MB DDR in my machine. I am wanting to increase this to 2GB (2 x 1 GB) and I see an advert where it is called DDR2. To be precise:
"Kingston KVR667D2N5K2/2G 2GB Kit DDR2-667 PC2-5300"

My question is will this fit into my motherboard which currently has the DDR designation. Is there a size and/or shape difference between DDR and DDR2? (I don't know what motherboard I have and I cannot check as I am in the US at the moment and machine is in SA).

Thanks for the help. And apologies for my garbled language. I'm a greenhorn

 

[bwana]

iirc the notch is in a different position so it wont fit and then there is the matter of an extra 56 pins.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

DDR2 will *not* fit into a DDR board, neither will it allow for the correct chip intructions due to various latency differences etc.
If you have an older AMD like the XP athlon64 series then you will only be able to use DDR and the really sucky part is that its alot more expensive than DDR2

 

[Londo]

iirc the notch is in a different position so it wont fit and then there is the matter of an extra 56 pins.

Thanks for the quick reply. So to comfirm I must look for RAM designated "DDR" as only this will fit?

 

[bwana]

Thanks for the quick reply. So to comfirm I must look for RAM designated "DDR" as only this will fit?

Yeah - like Rocket-Boy points out its not just a matter of it just not fitting.

You're in the states so have a look at http://crucial.com/ - they'll help you choose the right ram even if you end up buying it elsewhere.

 

[Londo]

DDR2 will *not* fit into a DDR board, neither will it allow for the correct chip intructions due to various latency differences etc.
If you have an older AMD like the XP athlon64 series then you will only be able to use DDR and the really sucky part is that its alot more expensive than DDR2

I see what you mean about price...

OCZ OCZ4001024V25DC-K 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Value Series Dual Channel Memory - US$62

OCZ OCZ4001024PFDC-K 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Premier Series Dual Channel Memory - $75


OCZ OCZ4002048PFDC-K 2GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Performance Edition Dual Channel Memory - US$142

All of these would work? I am wanting to increase the RAM as I can run Vista (don't ask). Is it worth going to 2GB? Maybe, just go to 1GB? Or is it time for a new computer? (The aim of Microsoft?)

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I see what you mean about price...


OCZ OCZ4001024PFDC-K 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Premier Series Dual Channel Memory - $75

This is the one you want^^

All of these would work?
All of those would work yes, but you dont want the single 2GB units, they are always stupidly expensive and not worth it.


I am wanting to increase the RAM as I can run Vista (don't ask).
Nothing wrong with that, if it floats your boat...

Is it worth going to 2GB? Maybe, just go to 1GB?
Two is pretty much what you need just to run vista normally, at idle is uses about 600MB of RAM anyways so you definately need 2GB.


Or is it time for a new computer? (The aim of Microsoft?)
If your current rig suits you needs then no its not time, the added RAM will make a pretty substantial difference to your system so its probably a more feasible option.

I was too lazy to type in the quote tags so I just edited yours

 

[Sapphiron]

I would recommend against going for Vista

to run Vista you really need a dual core processor, no matter how much ram you have.