Member Avatar for forumdude123

Is there a noticable performance increase with choosing a higher speed of the following ram:

DDR2:

667 mhz
800
1066
1142
1250


DDR3:

1066
1333
1600
1800
1866
2000


what about ddr2 1250 vs ddr3 1066, which is better. also, what are the benefits of ddr3 over ddr2. is it worth the extra $$$

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

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This thread mixes two separate issues: raw capacity (what talked about) and memory bandwidth/latency (the OP question). ’s point about matching speeds to the CPU is a common intuition, but the practical constraints are set by the CPU and motherboard: check which memory type and frequencies the platform actually supports before buying.

Two quick, reliable checks to compare modules:

  • Bandwidth_MBps = MT/s * 8 (MT/s is the quoted speed like 1066).
  • Latency_ns = CAS * 2000 / MT (CAS is the module’s CL number).
    Use the module’s rated MT/s and CAS to compute both numbers — higher MT/s raises theoretical throughput, but higher CAS can erase latency gains.

Which is “better” (DDR2 1250 vs DDR3 1066)? Pure bandwidth-wise the higher MT/s wins; but real-world effect depends on CAS, platform support, and workload. Tasks that stream lots of data (integrated GPUs, large video/photography edits, scientific work) benefit more from bandwidth. Typical desktop and many games gain only a few percent from faster RAM; adding capacity or enabling dual-channel gives bigger, more consistent wins.

Practical checklist:

  • Verify CPU/motherboard memory type and supported speeds.
  • Buy matched kits for dual-channel operation; mixing speeds/timings reduces gains.
  • Compare the module’s MT/s and CAS with the formulas above to see real latency vs bandwidth tradeoffs.
  • Prioritize capacity and correct channel configuration first; choose higher-speed modules only if the platform supports them and the price premium is justified for your workload.

This approach clarifies the confusion raised here and gives a repeatable method to compare any two sticks without relying on marketing numbers.

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Member Avatar for jeet5

yes system speed greatly increases by usin add RAM

well i am a BTech student n we people always spend gr8 time sharing data in ntwrks...
so as per my practical exp i would say dat system speed significantly increases by doublin the amount of RAM but not merely adidng a new stick which is half or less than half of the existing stick..
for eg a 1 GB RAM system performance would be almost same as 1.5GB
but the effect is significant whn u double it to 2GB

Member Avatar for jeet5

yes system speed greatly increases by usin add RAM

well i am a BTech student n we people always spend gr8 time sharing data in ntwrks...
so as per my practical exp i would say dat system speed significantly increases by doublin the amount of RAM but not merely adidng a new stick which is half or less than half of the existing stick..
for eg a 1 GB RAM system performance would be almost same as 1.5GB
but the effect is significant whn u double it to 2GB

Member Avatar for forumdude123

u answered the wrong question, i asked about ram speed, not amount.

Member Avatar for caperjack

not a ram expert ,but the faster ram speed will decently make a difference ,the closer you get the ram FSB the Same as Your CPU's FSB the better off you will be ,i think ,it works like this i think,CPU 1333 FSB to Ram 800 fsb is like a relay runner passing the baton to a runner with one leg ,everything will slow down ,

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