Too early for DDR RAM??

[steves1728]

Gotta appreciate people that say things like 'only 256 meg'when referring to ram.Since you're into gaming and graphics higher amounts of ram are probably justified.You could start with the ddr system and if needed either upgrade to 256 meg ddr modules if and when they arrive -[good bet] or just sell and upgrade to a larger capacity mobo.The sdram route is safe as these components will be viable for a good while yet. DDR is new and you risk a few bugs.If you go that way please post your results and experiences. A sure bet is that there are a lot of regulars here that WILL have ddr soon [even if they have to give up heat]so a few benchmarks would be appreciated.

[NDC]

If you're going to be working with large image files in graphic applications such as PhotoShop, 3D-Max, Corel Draw, etc... you will most likely outgrow using 256MB very quickly, because you're going to have to be doing multi-tasking. That is unless you can be satisfied with opening and closing applications each time, which wouldn't be an efficient way to get things done.

I was using 768MB on my Dual 733Mhz system, and even that wasn't enough so I upgraded to 1GB. I have 4 DIMM slots on my mainboard. Trust me, how efficiently things will get done will depend on how much memory you have when it comes to graphic applications. Don't get me wrong now, I'm not saying you can't do graphics with 256MB. I'm just saying that it will be that much slower due to heavy access to the swap file....


[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 11-30-2000).]

[RobRich]

Rowan, if you do go the DDR route, then go for the fastest hard drive configuration (SCSI 160!) that is available for the system in question. This will somewhat aid in offsetting the performance issuese associated with virtual memory operations.

Robert Richmond

[NDC]

I heard that there is or will be a SCSI Ultra 320. Anyone hear about that?

[rowan]

I'm about to buy a system for Web Design, Graphics and 3D Gaming. I've been holding out for quite some time waiting for DDR RAM to go mainstream, and it finally has.

Now, Axis Systems, a reputable 2nd tier box manufacturer, is offering AMD Athlon systems with DDR RAM with one caveat. The DDR system can be expanded to only 256 MB!! The question is, should I go with this system knowing that it has only 2 DIMM slots and is expandalble to 256? Should I just go with a SDRAM PC133 system? (there is a $30 difference between the two).

Incidentally, the DDR supported system has an AMD 761 chipset, the PC133 has a VIA KT133 chipset.

Thanks in advance!

[rowan]

Thanks, folks, for the many replies. I'm still unsure of what I'm going to do. I suppose the consensus is that I will outgrow 256 RAM very quickly, which means I should probably play it more conservatively and get the PC133 SDRAM.

Then there's that little demon on my shoulder whispering "DDR is GOOD!".

If I understand you correctly, steves1728, the two DIMM slots on the board in question could allow expandability over 256 RAM when 256 modules actually come out. This implies that only 128 DDR SDRAM modules are on the market. I'll look into this, thanks.

I'll certainly let you all know what I plan on doing.

R.

[NDC]

As you already now, there are 512 RAM Modules on the market now which means that you can put 2 x 512MB = 1024MB (1GB) RAM Modules in the 2 DIMM slots IF the BIOS supports it. Not only must you be concerned with how many DIMM slots the mainboard has, you also have to be concerned about how much memory the BIOS will support....