DDR2 Finally Crowned DRAM King

[Capper]

After a much longer than expected delay, DDR2 (double data rate, second generation) has finally taken over as the most popular memory chip used in PCs.

The crossover to DDR2 from the previous mainstream chip, DDR-400 (double data rate, 400 megahertz), took place this week on both the spot DRAM market and the contract market, industry researcher DRAMeXchange Technology said Wednesday.
Slow Start for DDR

It's been a long time coming. The chips entered the market far later than expected, mainly due to heat problems. In fact, DDR-400, which has reigned as industry leader for the past few years, was supposed to be a stop-gap with such a short life span that some companies hadn't even planned to support it with a chip set.

But when DDR-400 showed up on Intel's product road map in late 2002, component makers began to move forward on DDR-400, and put off developing compatible parts for DDR2. Intel microprocessors power around 80 percent of all PCs, making Intel's stamp of approval vital to computer industry parts makers.

Advanced Micro Devices helped further put off demand for DDR2 this year. The company waited until the middle of the year to launch its first desktop and laptop processors that support DDR2 because it didn't think initial versions of the chip added substantial performance benefits to AMD processor-based systems, yet commanded a higher price.

The first DDR2 chips ran at 400 MHz and then 533 MHz, but AMD waited until DDR2 chips running at 667 MHz reached mass-production levels, which lowered prices and ensured a plentiful supply.

Currently, a wide range of Intel and AMD systems support DDR2.
Pricing Could Be a Problem

DRAMeXchange noted Wednesday that prices may become an issue again for DDR2. Prices for the chips rose 8.8 percent last week, compared to the previous week, the company said, due to strong demand for PCs. The market researcher expects prices to remain strong throughout September, the traditional time when back-to-school PC buying increases buying activity in the DRAM market.

PC World - DDR2 Finally Crowned DRAM King

[stinger608]

Imagine that 8)

[Jokerswild]

DDR2 now DDR3 next.

[yurimxpxman]

Wow. I'm really, REALLY surprised. Does that mean Dell and all of the other OEMs are using DDR2 regurally now?? :shock:

[jph1589]

Originally Posted by yurimxpxman

Wow. I'm really, REALLY surprised. Does that mean Dell and all of the other OEMs are using DDR2 regurally now?? :shock:

I guess I just always assumed that anything they built from the Pentium D forward, had DDR2 in it. I know there are a few motherboards that support dual core and DDR, but not many.

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by jph1589

I guess I just always assumed that anything they built from the Pentium D forward, had DDR2 in it. I know there are a few motherboards that support dual core and DDR, but not many.

Perhaps for Intel, but AMD's dual-core CPUs have all used DDR1 until the recent launch of AM2. Of course, Dell's always used Intel anyways.

[RangerXLT8]

Originally Posted by jph1589

I guess I just always assumed that anything they built from the Pentium D forward, had DDR2 in it. I know there are a few motherboards that support dual core and DDR, but not many.

Any machine purchased that ran a Pentium D, atleast from DEll, Gateway, HP have had DDR2. The only systems not using DDR2 were AMD 939 and AMD opteron, A64 ect.

DDR2 has been the Intel standard for the last 2 years. Any Intel machine built in about the last 2 years has been on DDR2.

[Capper]

I've worked on a few systems lately (Dell and HP) both used extremely generic DDR2 memory.
you all knew this day was coming, no big surprise. Hopefully with DDR2 taking hold, we'll start to see some better quality offerings from the major RAM makers (better latencies, etc)

[Lead Head]

Originally Posted by Capper

I've worked on a few systems lately (Dell and HP) both used extremely generic DDR2 memory.
you all knew this day was coming, no big surprise. Hopefully with DDR2 taking hold, we'll start to see some better quality offerings from the major RAM makers (better latencies, etc)

Really? The XPS700 looks like it comes with some form of Micron ram, not sure about the others though

[Capper]

I should have clarified...I'm not talking about their super high end gaming rig....all three I've worked on were run of the mill systems.