$100 DDR3 RAM ???

[dttuner]

Just spotted this on Newegg:
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Some of you might be shuddering at the site of this ram... but I'm on a budget for my current build.
I know I want the ASUS P5E3 Motherboard, for future upgrade reasons.
Problem is DDR3 hasn't reached realistic prices yet. To get my system up and running, does it make sense to purchase this budget DDR3 mem, then upgrade to DDR3-1600/1800 in a few months when prices drop?

[gvblake22]

I think it's going to take more than a few months before DDR3 prices drop to what we are used to seeing with DDR2. Although that DDR3-1066 memory has a faster speed than the typical DDR2-800 memory, the latencies are much slower and it probably wouldn't be any faster than a good CAS 4 DDR2-800 kit.

At this point, I would still lean toward DDR2 memory, especially if you are on a budget. Almost all of the CAS 4 DDR2-800 kits on Newegg are priced lower and many of the top brands feature mail in rebates right now, further sweetening the deal. Memory speed is usually never one of the usual suspects to cause a bottleneck in a modern system. The slowest part is most often the hard drive, followed by the video card (if you are gaming) and the CPU (if you are rendering/ripping). The amount of memory would probably have a greater effect on gaming than the speed, especially if it is between two similar kits.

From the reviews I've seen so far, it takes at least DDR3-1600 to give a noticeable improvement over good DDR2-800 memory. And by the time DDR3 prices fall to where it will be mainstream, there will be a whole new crop of CPUs, motherboards, and video cards on the market and you'll probably be itching to upgrade all that stuff too.

[dttuner]

In terms of Motherboard compatibility, DDR2 may not be an option.
Does a MB such as the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe support DDR2, or only DDR3?

Sure the P5E3 Deluxe may not last 3-4 years in terms of upgrades, but I can build a decent machine now, and then in a year or two upgrade to 1600/1800+ Mem, now-bleeding-edge Video, and CPU w/1600 fsb for a significant boost in performance.

I don't expect much from that budget DDR3... similar performance as DDR2 800, like you said.
But by Summer/Fall I can save-up for a killer set of DDR3 1800... or whatever is on the market then.

What I'm really asking is... since my MB will be DDR3, is that budget memory a mistake, or will it do for gaming short-term as long as the rest of my specs are high?

[Capper]

A couple things......companies are clearing out stock of low speed DDR3 (PC3-8500,etc)....much like they did with DDR2 when it took hold (Remember PC2-4200?).

As for performance, It takes PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600) for you to see any benefits at all. Theres nothing at all with grabbing a kit like that for right now, and using it for the next 4-6 months untill DDR3 enthusiast kits become much more affordable.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by dttuner

What I'm really asking is... since my MB will be DDR3, is that budget memory a mistake, or will it do for gaming short-term as long as the rest of my specs are high?

In terms of pure performance on its own, That G-Skill DDR3-1066 should be very capable of running any typical system for regular gaming needs.

What I was getting at is that the $100 you set aside for memory could buy you a faster DDR2 2GB kit or even a DDR2 4GB kit compared to what you can get spending $100 on any DDR3 kit. But if you are set on a DDR3 motherboard, then yes, that 2x1GB DDR3-1066 kit will still be up to the task for gaming.

[dttuner]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

In terms of pure performance on its own, That G-Skill DDR3-1066 should be very capable of running any typical system for regular gaming needs.

What I was getting at is that the $100 you set aside for memory could buy you a faster DDR2 2GB kit or even a DDR2 4GB kit compared to what you can get spending $100 on any DDR3 kit. But if you are set on a DDR3 motherboard, then yes, that 2x1GB DDR3-1066 kit will still be up to the task for gaming.

Awesome. Yes, I agree my money would be better spent on DDR2. But since it seems the Motherboard I have chosen won't accept anything but DDR3...