Double Data Rate 4 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory, officially abbreviated as DDR4 SDRAM, is a type of synchronous dynamic random-access memory with a high bandwidth interface. Released to the market in 2014, it is a variant of dynamic random-access memory, of which some have been in use since the early 1970s, and a higher-speed successor to the DDR2 and DDR3 technologies. DDR4 is not compatible with any earlier type of random-access memory due to different signaling voltage and physica. DIMM (dual in-line memory module) slots are the place on your motherboard where the RAM goes. As such, you may also see DIMM slots referred to as “ RAM slots.” The more DIMM slots your. Alternately referred to as multi-channel memory, dual-channel memory is a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 chipset on the motherboard providing RAM with two dedicated high-throughput data channels. The channels permit reading from and writing to memory to occur on distinct channels.

  1. 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.
  2. Have a glance below. DDR4 RAM: DDR3 RAM: If you observer the notch in DDR4 and DDR3, it is given at two different places to avoid the wrong insertion, apart from notch the pins in DDR4 is slightly more when compared with DDR3 and the.

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.

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).

Ddr Memory Slot Function Chart

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?


Number of Pins
Clock Speed
Max Transfer Rate
Voltage

DDR2 RAM
240 pins
400 to 1,066 MHz
3,200 to 8,533 MB/s
1.8V

DDR3 RAM
240 pins
800 to 2,133 MHz
6,400 to 17,067 MB/s
1.5V

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

Ddr Memory Slot Function Wizard

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

Memory

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

Ddr Memory Slot Function

DDR SDRAM is a stack of acronyms. Double Data Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) is a common type of memory used as RAM for most every modern processor. First on the scene of this stack of acronyms was Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM), introduced in the 1970s. DRAM is not regulated by a clock. DRAM is asynchronous, i.e., not synchronized by any external influence. This posed a problem in organizing data as it comes in so it can be queued for the process it’s associated with. Because DRAM was asynchronous, it was not going to work as fast with processors that were just getting faster.

SDRAM is synchronous, and therefore relies on a clock to synchronize signals, creating predictable orderly cycles of data fetches and writes. However, SDRAM transfers data on one edge of the clock. DDR SDRAM means that this type of SDRAM fetches data on both the leading edge and the falling edge of the clock signal that regulates it, thus the name “Double Data Rate.” Prior to DDR, RAM would fetch data only once per clock cycle. Synchronous data lends itself to faster operation when coordinating memory fetches with the processor’s requirements.

Many people refer to a processor’s RAM as simply “DDR”, using the terms interchangeably because DDR is so widely used as CPU RAM and has been since the late 1990s. DDR is not flash memory like the kind that is used for Solid State Drives (SSDs), Secure Digital (SD) cards, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives. DDR memory is volatile, which means that it loses everything once power is removed.

Slot

This may seem like a detriment, but the trade-off is that DDR has much faster transfer rates than other memory products, as well as a high capacity. The ubiquitous use of DDR SDRAM for a processor’s working memory, or RAM, has improved over the years as the industry has progressed from DDR to DDR2, DDR3, and now DDR4 SDRAM (see Table 1). DDR2 – DDR4 evolved to require lower supply voltages, which generally saves power. Other changes were made to increase the speed, as well. DDR2 SDRAM was reduced to operating at a voltage of 1.8 volts, and a clock multiplier was added to the memory module to again double data transfer speeds while operating at the same bus speed. DDR3 RAM integrated a 4x clock multiplier, again doubling the memory transfer rate for the same bus speed.

Ddr Memory Slot Function

TABLE 1: Comparison of SDRAM in order of release. Clock and transfer rates are approximate and vary by manufacturer.

Standard (Approximate Year Introduced)Operating VoltageAmount of Data Transferred (Words per Clock Cycle)Associated RAM Clock RatesApproximate Transfer Rates
SDRAM (1993)3.3 V166 – 133 MHz100 – 166 MT/s
DDR SDRAM (2000)2.6 V, 2.5 V2100 – 200 MHz200 – 400 MT/s
DDR2 SDRAM (2003)1.8 V, 1.55 V4200 – 400 MHz400 – 1066 MT/s
DDR3 SDRAM (2007)1.5 V, 1.35 V8400 MHz – 1066 MHz800 – 2133 MT/s
DDR4 SDRAM (2014)1.2 V81066 – 1600 MHz1600 – 3200 MT/s

In addition to a steady decrease in operating voltage and power consumption, DDR also became denser as more transistors were packed into a smaller area. DDR SDRAM is packaged as an integrated chip module, which includes the Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM) used with desktop computers. DIMM is a small PCB populated with SDRAM chips. Before DIMM, we had Single In-Line Memory Modules (SIMMs), which were used in the 1980s and 1990s. DIMM chips carry DDR SDRAM for upgrading RAM on a PC.

This article discusses the more modern versions of volatile RAM, including general points on DDR SDRAM standard and how it evolved. Before DRAM, there was the also-volatile SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The fundamental differences between DRAM and SRAM were covered in an earlier post. More on non-volatile memory can be found in an earlier post Embedded use of NAND and NOR flash memory is evolving.

DDR5 SDRAM is the next standard proposed to double the speed of DDR4 SDRAM. According to the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the standard-bearer for DDR SDRAM, “The JEDEC DDR5 standard is currently in development in JEDEC’s JC-42 Committee for Solid State Memories. JEDEC DDR5 will offer improved performance with greater power efficiency as compared to previous generation DRAM technologies. As planned, DDR5 will provide double the bandwidth and density over DDR4, along with delivering improved channel efficiency.” DDR5 SDRAM is forecasted for 2018.

You may also like: