Introduction
In time, as a laptop or desktop gets older, it also gets slower. One way to speed up you computer device is to upgrade the Random Access Memory, or RAM. If you computer or laptop was made or purchased between the years of 2003 to 2007, it most probably uses an older type of RAM, more accurately it uses the DDR type memory. You can significantly increase the speed and performance by get rid of the older DDR2 memory and replacing it with the newer and faster DDR2 type memory.
The advantages of upgrading to DDR2 memory are numerous, such as faster speeds, lower power usage, better battery life and larger amounts of memory, if you computer supports the addition of DDR2 memory you should definitely consider upgrading.
Let's take a step by step of look at the advantages of upgrading to DDR2 memory.
History
The Original DDR memory clocked out at a maximum of 200 MHz, the newer DDR2 is capable of bus speeds of up to 400 MHz. As a matter of fact, DDR2 memory is capable of supporting HD video playback, faster video encoding speeds, better multitasking and higher screen resolution thanks to it's much higher bus speed.
The DDR2 memory speeds were initially as low as the original DDR type, even slower actually. When DDR2 debuted in 2003, it ran at a maximum speed of 200MHz, and was somehow out performed by its predecessor. After that, DDR2 memory has come along way, from the year 2003 up till 2006, the DDR2 memory has seen an increase of speed form 200MHz to nearly 500 MHz.
Features
The DDR2 memory type runs on nearly half the amount of power that the original DDR ran on. Not only is twice as fast, the fact that it uses less over all power translates into longer battery life, better power management, less noise and even less heat.
The DDR2 memory chip manages to run so well by running its internal clock at half the rate of its bus speeds, depending on which model is being used.
The DDR2 memory model has various types of chip sets out on the market, each getting faster and more efficient than the other.
The initial set of DDR2-400B and DDR2-400C run at maximum of 3200 MBs, The second set of DDR2-533B and DDR2-533C run at maximum speed of 4266 MBs, the third set of DDR2-667C and DDR2-667D runs at 5333 MBs, the fourth set of DDR2-800C, DDR2-800D, and DDR2-800E run at maximum speed of 6400 MBs and the final and last set of DDR2-1066E and DDR2-1066F run at 8533 MBs.
The MBs refers to the peak transfer rates, the actual speeds are called data rates, which are shortened to MT/s Speeds. The Data rates start of at 400MT/s, 533 MT/s, 666 MT/s, 800 MT/x and finally 1066 MT/s.
Tips and comments
Remember that DDR2 memory is not backwards compatible with DDR, you'll have to buy a new Memory socket if you want to upgrade.
The best and fastest version is the DDR2-1066F that has a MBs rate of 8522 and an MT/s rate of 1066.
Post 2008 laptops cannot use or handle DDR2 memory type, as they use and are fitted the with the latest DDR3 memory type.
