DDR
Shopping Guide
If you actively follow the technology
industry, you've heard all the hoopla
about how double data rate (DDR)
memory is twice as fast as regular
SDRAM. You've probably also heard
that DDR isn't compatible with standard
SDRAM. So if you want to use DDR,
you'll need an entirely new system.
Now the big question is, should
you bite the bullet and shell out
the money for a new system that
uses DDR.
The answer depends on what kind
of computer user you are and how
happy you are with your current
system.
What
Can DDR Do for Me?
Before we go much farther, let's
make one thing clear: systems with
double data rate (DDR) memory are
not twice as fast as systems without
DDR. DDR is twice as fast as standard
(single data rate) SDRAM, but the
speed of a system depends on a lot
of different factors-not just the
memory.
However,
while DDR doesn't double overall
system performance, it can lead
to significant performance improvements.
In order to see the biggest performance
gains, you'll want to get a system
designed to take advantage of the
benefits of DDR.
Should
I Buy a DDR System?
If you're in the market for a new
system, consider purchasing one
that uses DDR. You'll enjoy using
one of the fastest systems available
today. And since DDR upgrades are
already fairly inexpensive, it will
be easy to upgrade in the future
to help extend the life of your
system.
If
you only use your computer for basic
word processing and games of solitaire,
it's probably not worth buying a
whole new system just so you can
say you have DDR. Instead, consider
upgrading the RAM that's already
in your system. In our tests, adding
just 64MB PC100 SDRAM to a computer
running Windows 2000 improved performance
by 41%.
If
you're a hard-core technology addict
or someone who wants to have the
latest, greatest system as soon
as its available, DDR is definitely
for you. Whether you plan to buy
an off-the-shelf model or build
a system of your own, keep reading
for our suggestions on what to look
for in a DDR machine.
