M/B with DDR3 Support, Will it Support DDR2?

  • Thread starter Thread starter No.Thanks
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No.Thanks

I have an opportunity to get a good deal on a EVGA 790i FTW or a Asus
P5e3 Premium and know that they both support DDR3 memory but was
wondering if it would take my current DDR2 as I don't want to scrap it
(the memory) just yet as it's pretty new. Any one know? Also, does
anyone have either of these boards, and if so, what do you think of
them? Thanks!

Avatar
 
I have an opportunity to get a good deal on a EVGA 790i FTW or a Asus
P5e3 Premium and know that they both support DDR3 memory but was
wondering if it would take my current DDR2 as I don't want to scrap it
(the memory) just yet as it's pretty new. Any one know? Also, does
anyone have either of these boards, and if so, what do you think of
them? Thanks!

Avatar
Click to expand...

I had the same problem when I upgraded a few years ago. I wanted to keep my
DDR memory and an AGP graphics card. I managed to find a mobo that supported
both DDR and DDR2 and AGP and PCIe... That board had two DDR2 sockets and
two DDR sockets.

Neither of the mobos you mentioned support both DDR2 and DDR3 memory.

DDR2 and DDR3 are incompatible. The key in the socket is in a different
position, so you can't put DDR2 DIMMs into DDR3 sockets and visa-versa.
You'll need a mobo with both sockets. I doubt that there are many out there,
if any!

Rarius
 
I have an opportunity to get a good deal on a EVGA 790i FTW or a Asus
P5e3 Premium and know that they both support DDR3 memory but was
wondering if it would take my current DDR2 as I don't want to scrap it
(the memory) just yet as it's pretty new. Any one know? Also, does
anyone have either of these boards, and if so, what do you think of
them? Thanks!

Avatar
Click to expand...

See the image at:

http://www.build-gaming-computer-guide.com/image-files/ddr3-vs-ddr2-ram.jpg

Notice where the key notch is located for each that is used to polarize
the connection to prevent insertion backwards or using the wrong type of
memory. Also notice that notch is NOT is the same position for DDR2 and
DDR3. DDR2's notch is close to the middle while DDR3's notch is farther
from the middle.

You won't be able to insert your old DDR2 modules into the DDR3 slots.
A long time ago, some motherboards provided 2 sets of memory slots
knowing that users wanted to migrate their slower memory modules to the
new motherboard and later do a memory type upgrade. That was when
memory was a LOT more expensive, like about the price of a low-end PC
these days. I haven't bothered looking around for such memory-type
combo mobos but I suspect they are rare or don't exist because memory is
nowadays so much cheaper than back then.
 
Thanks for the quick replies guys, I was afraid that would be the
situation. :( I just hate wasting ram/money. I've already got 4gb
sitting around collecting dust as it is so I don't want to add another
4gb to the pile!

Avatar
Click to expand...

Sell it all on eBay!

Rarius
 
Asrock has motherboards that support both DDR2 and DDR3 (2 sockets of
each type). I don't think you can have both DDR2 and DDR3 installed at
the same time. Those boards also have AGP and PCIe slots. I think
there is an Intel and AMD version of each board.

Look for Asrock Dual VSTA.
 
I have an opportunity to get a good deal on a EVGA 790i FTW or a Asus
P5e3 Premium and know that they both support DDR3 memory but was
wondering if it would take my current DDR2 as I don't want to scrap it
(the memory) just yet as it's pretty new. Any one know? Also, does
anyone have either of these boards, and if so, what do you think of
Click to expand...

I suggest you either stay with DDR2 or go DDR3, rather than buying
boards that support both kinds of DDR. If you found DDR3 too expensive,
wait till the end of 2009.

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