“AM3 based processors from AMD are designed with two integrated memory controllers; a 128bit wide DDR2 memory controller and a 128bit wide DDR3 memory controller. This is made possible thanks to DDR2 and DDR3 having the same mount of pins as DDR2 modules, just differently spaced. AMD has designed AM3 processors to be able to slot into AM2+ boards to run with their DDR2 memory controllers. However, you can also place the CPU into an AM3 based board to take full advantage of the DDR3 memory controller.Now, this is a time of transition. AMD wants to get the AM3 based Phenom II’s out there and current AM2+ boards have already been given support for it. But what about users who don’t want to spend a fortune? – Jetway has come to the party with its AM2/AM3 combo board supporting both DDR2 and DDR3 memory slots onboard. Today we will see just how much difference there is in performance between using DDR2 and DDR3 memory thanks to this very board.”
Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
- Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR3 PC3-12800 6GB kit @ OC3D
- Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR3-1600 6GB Kit Review – BCCHardware
- Kingston’s DDR3 2,000MHz 6GB Core i7 memory kit @ HEXUS
- Crucial Ballistix Triple Channel DDR3-1600 3Gb kit @ CPU3D
- Mushkin 6GB (3x2GB) XP series DDR3 PC3- 12800 1600MHz @ OC3D
Which memory will serve your Phenom II properly
AMD hasn’t been in any rush to switch to DDR3, the new Phenoms are the first to support it. That does make sense, DDR2 keeps getting cheaper and faster and the timings keep getting tighter, so it is still a very viable product. Perhaps the biggest caveat is Triple Channel DDR3, all the tests are done in dual channel. You can see how DDR2-1066MHz @ 5-5-5-15 and DDR3-1333MHz @ 9-9-9-24 compare the full review at Tweaktown.