Motherboard: PCI Express 2.0 or DDR3 (which is more important?) - PC Forums

gt1209 · 03-23-2008, 02:31 AM

I'm thinking about building a new computer around summer. I have almost everything down except for the motherboard. I'd like this motherboard to last 4 years before I upgrade my computer.

Right now I'm debating to go with one of the two following motherboards:

1. PCI Express 2.0 with DDR2 (8GB max).
2. PCI Express x16 with support of both DDR2 (8GB max) and DDR3 (up to 4GB).

Video card: 8800 GT.

Now, assuming I can only get one of the two mobo above, which one should I get? Which one is more future proof?

Advantages of option #1:
1. I have PCI Express 2.0. Good until 3.0 becomes popular.
2. I see myself getting 2x2GB now, and maybe another 2x2GB a year later. Slower compared to DDR3 but I'd probably prefer 8GB DDR2 over 4GB DDR3, even in 4 years.

Advantage of option #2:
1. I don't need to buy another mobo within 4 years to enjoy DDR3. However, I'd probably go with 2x2GB DDR2 right now due to DDR3's price. Then wait for a year, sell my DDR2s, and then buy 2x2GB DDR3.

In my mind I'd go with option #1 because I can see myself getting 2x2GB DDR2 right now, and maybe get another 2x2GB DDR2 1-2 years later. For me to pick option #2, the following 2 conditions must be true:

1. 4 GB DDR3 is better than 8GB DDR2.
2. PCI Express 2.0 is not that much better than PCI Express x16.

What do you think?

Iceman0124 · 03-23-2008, 02:42 AM

4 years is LONG time for a gaming machine, that said....neither of those things are very important right now, and shouldnt cause any major pains in the future, new vid cards will work on the older PCIE spec, you just wont get the benefits of the new spec. Tons of folks ran AGP 8x cards in 4x slots and didnt suffer very much. DDR3 when it comes into its own bothe price and performance wise will be great, however by the time that comes, you will have to resort to OC to take advantage as todays chipsets wont support the new speeds. As it stands now DDR2 is the best way to go, i got my 2X2 kit for $60 after rebate, I have a board that will support 4gb of ddr3, but honestly, for the life of this board, I see 8GB of DDR2 as a much better option.

MrFong · 03-23-2008, 08:01 AM

PCI-E 2.0 and PCI-E x16 aren't mutually exclusive. The x16 just means that it has 16 data lanes. There are x16 slots for PCI-E 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0.

If the motherboard supports DDR3, it -should- support PCI-E 2.0... do you have the exact model?

Charr · 03-23-2008, 09:11 AM

I would go with PCIe 2.0. DDR is still popular today, so I would imagine DDR2 is still in use a few years from now. Plus DDR3 is still very expensive and and is fairly new technology.

Not all DDR3 motherboards support PCIe 2.0. DDR3 boards like the P5K3 series have been out almost a year now.

gt1209 · 03-23-2008, 09:48 AM

Thanks all--

Iceman,

I'm not a hardcore gamer, I'll be happy as long as the video card can handle next gen civilization and madden for 4 years. The worst case is that I replace the video card in 2 years, but the mobo should still last me 4 years. What's the brand of your 2x2GB DDR2?

MrFong,

The mobo that supports DDR3 but doesn't support PCI-E 2.0 is this:

GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813128048

I know that I can run 2.0 video cards on PCI-E x16, but I'm wondering if there is a huge difference between frame rate in actual gameplay when 8800GT is inserted to PCI-E x16 vs. PCI 2.0.

Charr,

All right thanks.

Charr · 03-23-2008, 10:21 AM

I have two 8800GTS (G92 512MB), both are PCIe 2.0 compliant, and are in PCIe x16 in my 680i board. There is no performance loss, because each card doesn't use the full 16 lanes. The only cards that could even come close to needing PCIe 2.0 bandwitdh are the HD3870x2 and the 9800GX2.

gt1209 · 03-23-2008, 10:53 AM

Ok thanks Charr! That's the answer I'm looking for. I think I really can't go wrong with either option 1 or 2 then in this case.

ccbr01 · 03-23-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charr

I have two 8800GTS (G92 512MB), both are PCIe 2.0 compliant, and are in PCIe x16 in my 680i board. There is no performance loss, because each card doesn't use the full 16 lanes. The only cards that could even come close to needing PCIe 2.0 bandwitdh are the HD3870x2 and the 9800GX2.

The 3870x2 actually has a PLX 1.1 bridge on the card. No need for Express 2.0.