PC1600 DDR vs 133 SDRAM

[Fruitcake]

I'm looking into upgrading my machine to a 1.2GHZ Athlon rig, and I'm trying to decide what MB to get. With all the discussion these days about the small advantage DDR rigs currently have over 133 MHZ equipped machines (After the Athlon chip has been modified to run at 133 MHZ of course), I'm wondering whether it's better to get a DDR board (probably AMD 760 based) and use PC1600 memory or go with a board based on the KT-133A chipset with 133MHZ SDRAM. Technically, the memory bus of the PC1600 equipped machine should be running at an effective frequency of 200 MHZ vs 133MHZ of the KT-133A board. Since PC1600 memory is priced roughly the same as good 133MHZ SDRAM these days, I'd appreciate any insight into which configuration would be best.

Thanks.

 

[paruhd0x]

I'd wait till Via makes DDR support... (I'm waiting for Abit or Asus to release a DDR supporting board)

 

[DonS]

looks like pc1600 based computers will run on par with the pc133 (KT133A) boards. I have been waiting for crucial to come out with pc2100 ddr ram but I'm not sure how much longer I can wait (new box is sitting next to me telling me to fill it up). As far as MB go you can go with the Iwill (Ali chipset) or the Asus (AMD 761 chipset). The Iwill board is a bit slower than the AMD based boards but is more available. The Asus board is around but according to a couple of reviews I have seen they haven't put the multiplier dipswitches on the board. There is a place for them but no switches. This kind of limits the value of the board for under/overclocks with the multiplier and 133+ fsb. Add that and the fact that pc2100 is real expensive (about 2x of highest quality pc133) and ddr doesn't make much sense yet. If you can find a 133 MHz fsb (266) Tbird processor then you would be in buisness with the asus board assuming you wanted to spend the $$ for the ram.

Give me about a month and I will be singing a different tune. By the end of Feb PC2100 should be out in force along with a couple more ddr mb (MSI & FIC & probably others) and ddr will probably be the thing to have. Of course the NV20 will be on the hot dog list too.

I don't think I'm going to be able to wait the month out so a KT133A MB is on my shopping list along with some Tiny BGA PC150 Ram.

 

[DaddyG]

Check out Jonnyguru's article at Torturetest.com, 40% increase in memory using PC1600 DDR. Since the PRO 2A is not known as a speedster, 25% could be easily attainable.

 

[Planktune]

If you have alot of sdram to use go for the kt133, If you will buy ram anyway might as well go for ddr

 

[Planktune]

anyone actually have a ddr board?

 

[jonnyGURU]

yeah. why?

 

[Planktune]

are happy with it. I was going to get a kt133 board with some good cheap ram. But with the new ddr boards coming out.... Are you satisfied with your board?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

DDRram will only drive the price of SDram down, then I can buy more!!!!

 

[Planktune]

I'm not so sure about that. fab plants switch over and prodution of sdram falls. demand could reemain high. It happened with 72 pin edo
I doubt sdram will be cheaper than it is now. If youwant sdram buy it now.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Maybe if you bought ANY motherboard and "good cheap RAM" you might have a problem.

I like the DDR board. I think it's a good choice for those looking at RAM AND motherboard purchases.

And SDRAM prices HAVE BEEN falling quickly, as has DDR prices.

 

[senior guy]

jonny~ How do you account for your ddr test results showing so much more performance gain than Anandtech's or TomsHardware's ddr test results indicated?

 

[senior guy]

DonS: While the Iwill with ALiMagik1 chipset may be somewhat slower than DDR boards with the AMD 760 chipset, I believe it accepts up to 3 unbuffered DIMMs. To the best of my knowledge, none of the AMD DDR boards can be populated with more than 2 unbuffered DDR DIMMs (regardless of their size and speed)!

jonny: Still would like to hear why you think your DDR results showed 20% to 40% realizable gain from DDR when every other similar test (including Anandtech and TomsHardware) only showed about 10%