"The time for DDR is finally here. With
memory
prices dropping to the level of conventional SDRAM, there few reasons for
buying an Athlon computer based on SDRAM.
Double Data Rate SDRAM is able to provide
twice the bandwidth of Single Data Rate by transferring data both on the
rising and the falling edge of the clock signal. Graphics cards based on
GeForce2, GeForce 3 or Radeon chips have already been taking advantage of
this
fast memory technology for almost two years now.
Right now, there are four Athlon chipsets
available that come with DDR support: ALi's MaGiK-1, the SiS 735, the VIA
KT266 and the AMD 760, of course. While all four chipsets work reliably,
the
ALi and VIA products are not quite able to unleash the full potential of
DDR
SDRAM - as the new SiS 735 and the AMD 760 do. However, there is still a
long
way to go for SiS, as they are primarily known as manufacturer of low-end
products. Though the SiS 735 is a good performer, it will be difficult for
the
company to introduce it to the mid-range market. That leaves the AMD 760 as
the go to choice right now.
The performance advantage of DDR memory
over
SDR is usually between 5 and 10%. With some applications, you won't see any
difference at all, while bandwidth-intensive software might see up to 30%
improvement. However, there are three reasons why DDR is the memory to
choose:
First, DDR actually enhances performance (Rambus DRAM was never able to
live
up to expectations). Second, the current price difference between DDR and
SDR
SDRAM is getting to be negligible. Lastly, mobo manufacturers did not
release
their DDR-enabled products in a hurry, but took the time to make sure that
their chipsets work reliably. That means that DDR Athlon mobos are now
ready
for the mainstream."