DDR2 vs DDR3 RAM - What's the difference between DDR2 and DDR3 memory? How do you tell them apart? Can you use DDR3 RAM in a DDR2 socket? Get the full answers right here.
The RAM found in most modern desktop and laptop computers is DDR3 RAM (DDR3 is short for Double Data Rate Type 3). To be more precise, its full technical name is DDR3 SDRAM.
If your computer was built in 2008 or earlier, then chances are that it has the older DDR2 RAM instead.
At buildcomputers.net, we don't take chances or make guesses... so let's learn what are the differences between DDR3 vs DDR2 RAM and how to tell them apart.
And IC in DDR2 is just center of the RAM. Number of Pins in DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4. DDR1 – 184 Pins DDR2 – 240 Pins DDR3 – 240 Pins DDR4 – 288 Pins. The voltage of RAM cannot be used for the Physical finding of RAM, but it can be used to place the RAM in the Motherboard Slot. (voltage are written in the RAM Slot of. As mentioned before, in regards to the memory settings both the DDR2 and DDR3 memory were set to AMD's maximum supported speeds of 1066MHz and 1333MHz respectively. 2-Can i cross between DDR3 and DDR2 memory in the two slots, or do i have to keep the same type in each? - (and also, whats the difference between the two) Thank You. JMMD Posts: 840 +7. A DDR3 memory won't fit at all in the slot for DDR2 memory. The same holds true if you want to add DDR2 memory to a DDR3 slot. However, they did build a few motherboards that you could either use DDR3 or DDR2 on the board. These boards gave you the choose what memory you want to use. In the DDR2 or DDR3 table, we can observe that DDR3 RAM provides better performance while consuming significantly less electricity. The difference in clock rate and maximum transfer speed numbers seem impressive on paper.
How to Tell If You Have a DDR2 or DDR3 RAM Module
In terms of physical appearance, DDR2 vs DDR3 RAM looks largely similar. They are of the same length (~13.3 cm or 5.25 in) and have the same number of pins (240):
Here's the trick to tell them apart: Look at their notch positions (circled in yellow above).
As you can see from the image below, the DDR2 notch is located near the middle of the RAM stick while the DDR3 notch is positioned nearer to the left side. If you want to be more precise,
- DDR2: distance between left side of RAM stick and notch = 7.1 cm (2.8 in)
- DDR3: distance between left side of RAM stick and notch = 5.4 cm (2.1 in)
This difference in notch position is also why you can't use DDR3 RAM in a DDR2 system or install DDR2 RAM into a DDR3 slot (even though they have the same number of pins).
In short, DDR2 and DDR3 RAM are not compatible with each other: If your motherboard has DDR2 RAM slots, then you can only use DDR2 RAM. The same applies to DDR3 RAM.
What's the Difference between DDR2 and DDR3 RAM?
| DDR2 RAM | DDR3 RAM |
Number of Pins | 240 pins | 240 pins |
Clock Speed | 400 to 1,066 MHz | 800 to 2,933 MHz |
Max Transfer Rate | 3,200 to 8,533 MB/s | 6,400 to 17,067 MB/s |
Voltage | 1.8V | 1.5V |
From the DDR2 vs DDR3 table above, we can see that DDR3 RAM offers better performance while consuming less power.
The difference in clock speed and max transfer rate numbers look impressive on paper, but DDR3 RAM is in fact just 2 to 10% faster than DDR2 RAM for most real-world applications (depending on your hardware specification and usage).
DDR3 RAM consumes less power and produces less heat than DDR2 RAM at the same clock speed (e.g. DDR3 vs DDR2 RAM that is both running at 1,066 MHz). However there is a catch: RAM with higher clock speeds have higher power consumption so DDR3 RAM running at 2,133 MHz will still drain more power than DDR2 RAM at 1,066 MHz.
Recommended RAM
Budget Computer: 2 x 4GB Crucial DDR4 3200Mhz
Mid Range Computer: 2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DD4 3600Mhz
Gaming Computer: 2 x 16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR4 3600Mhz
Home Theater PC: 2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600Mhz
RAM GUIDE
- How to Install RAM Memory
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How to identify computer ram ddr1 ddr2 ddr3, DDR4 Identifying the Computer RAM (Random Access Memory) like DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 physically is not so hard if you follow the steps.
- Distance of Notch
- Integrated Chip (IC) type
DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4 is the most using RAM currently in the market.
First of all confirm is it DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, or Different DDR's SDRAM. keep your DDR chip front-facing as given bellow. here look to the notch each DDR notch distance is different from others DDR. It's mentioned in the picture.
Also Read :
Distance of Notch
- Notch Means above cuts Mark on RAM
- DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 having Single Cut mark on the base of the RAM
- But you can see the Cut mark (Notch) distance (see below photo)
- Notch of DDR1 and DDR2 are similar but if you see closely,
- You can find DDR1 Notch is just above the IC and DDR
- DDR2 Notch is just far to the IC
- Notch of DDR3 is different from the other two.
- Notch of DDR1 and DDR2 are similar but if you see closely,
- Notch Means above cuts Mark on RAM
Integrated Chip (IC)
- See the Above Photo
- DDR3 having small and square type IC.
- DDR2 is just bigger then DDR3 and smaller the DDR1,
- In this case, too, DDR1 and DDR2 are just a small difference
- IC in DDR1 are touched both top and bottom of RAM
- and IC in DDR2 is just center of the RAM
- See the Above Photo
Number of Pins in DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4
- DDR1 – 184 Pins
- DDR2 – 240 Pins
- DDR3 – 240 Pins
- DDR4 – 288 Pins
- DDR3 – 240 Pins
- DDR2 – 240 Pins
- DDR1 – 184 Pins
Voltage of RAM
- The voltage of RAM cannot be used for the Physical finding of RAM, but it can be used to place the RAM in the Motherboard Slot. (voltage are written in the RAM Slot of Motherboard)
- DDR1 Volts – 2.5 v
- DDR 2 Volts – 1.8 v
- DDR3 Volts – 1.5 v
- DDR4 Volts – 1.2v
- DDR3 Volts – 1.5 v
- DDR 2 Volts – 1.8 v
- DDR1 Volts – 2.5 v
- The voltage of RAM cannot be used for the Physical finding of RAM, but it can be used to place the RAM in the Motherboard Slot. (voltage are written in the RAM Slot of Motherboard)
Does Ddr2 Ram Work In Ddr3 Slot
Budget Computer: 2 x 4GB Crucial DDR4 3200Mhz
Mid Range Computer: 2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DD4 3600Mhz
Gaming Computer: 2 x 16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR4 3600Mhz
Home Theater PC: 2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600Mhz
RAM GUIDE
- How to Install RAM Memory
Like and Share
How to identify computer ram ddr1 ddr2 ddr3, DDR4 Identifying the Computer RAM (Random Access Memory) like DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 physically is not so hard if you follow the steps.
- Distance of Notch
- Integrated Chip (IC) type
DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4 is the most using RAM currently in the market.
First of all confirm is it DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, or Different DDR's SDRAM. keep your DDR chip front-facing as given bellow. here look to the notch each DDR notch distance is different from others DDR. It's mentioned in the picture.
Also Read :
Distance of Notch
- Notch Means above cuts Mark on RAM
- DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 having Single Cut mark on the base of the RAM
- But you can see the Cut mark (Notch) distance (see below photo)
- Notch of DDR1 and DDR2 are similar but if you see closely,
- You can find DDR1 Notch is just above the IC and DDR
- DDR2 Notch is just far to the IC
- Notch of DDR3 is different from the other two.
- Notch of DDR1 and DDR2 are similar but if you see closely,
- Notch Means above cuts Mark on RAM
Integrated Chip (IC)
- See the Above Photo
- DDR3 having small and square type IC.
- DDR2 is just bigger then DDR3 and smaller the DDR1,
- In this case, too, DDR1 and DDR2 are just a small difference
- IC in DDR1 are touched both top and bottom of RAM
- and IC in DDR2 is just center of the RAM
- See the Above Photo
Number of Pins in DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4
- DDR1 – 184 Pins
- DDR2 – 240 Pins
- DDR3 – 240 Pins
- DDR4 – 288 Pins
- DDR3 – 240 Pins
- DDR2 – 240 Pins
- DDR1 – 184 Pins
Voltage of RAM
- The voltage of RAM cannot be used for the Physical finding of RAM, but it can be used to place the RAM in the Motherboard Slot. (voltage are written in the RAM Slot of Motherboard)
- DDR1 Volts – 2.5 v
- DDR 2 Volts – 1.8 v
- DDR3 Volts – 1.5 v
- DDR4 Volts – 1.2v
- DDR3 Volts – 1.5 v
- DDR 2 Volts – 1.8 v
- DDR1 Volts – 2.5 v
- The voltage of RAM cannot be used for the Physical finding of RAM, but it can be used to place the RAM in the Motherboard Slot. (voltage are written in the RAM Slot of Motherboard)
Does Ddr2 Ram Work In Ddr3 Slot
- Click to Buy Best DDR RAMs for Desktops
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