Ddr2 Vs. Ddr3 Mac

Ddr2 Vs. Ddr3 Mac thumbnail
Older Macs use DDR2 ram, while newer Macs use DDR3 ram

Knowing the type of random access memory used for a Mac is important for upgrading. DDR2 RAM can be found on some older models of Mac computers, but as of 2010, the full line of releases from Apple use DDR3 RAM.

  1. Compatibility Issues

    • It's important to note that DDR3 and DDR2 memory are not compatible. Each Mac is built for a specific memory type.

    Understanding DDR2 Ram

    • DDR2, which is an upgrade from DDR RAM, offers synchronous double data rates. The data is transfered through the RAM in 64-bit chunks. Apple used DDR2 RAM on its Intel Core Duo line of computers.

    Evolving with DDR3 Ram

    • An increase over DDR2, DDR3 RAM offers double the maximum transfer rate over its predecessor. Additionally, DDR3 consumes 30 percent less power. Apple's line of computers from mid-2009 all use DDR3 RAM.

    Calculating Data Transfer Rates

    • The formula for calculating the data transfer rate on DDR2 is:

      (memory clock rate) x 2 x 2 x 64 / 8

      The formula for calculating the data transfer rate on DDR3 is:

      (memory clock rate) x 4 x 2 x 64 / 8

    Differentiating Between DDR3 RAM Options

    • DDR3 is sold with a naming convention that refers to its internal specifications. Those names are: 800, 1066, 1333, 1600, 1866, and 2133.

      Maximum data transfer rates range from 6,400 megabytes per second for the 800 model up to 17,066 MB/s for the 2133 model.

      A quick way to find out theoretical bandwidth is to look for the PSC3 number. For example, PSC3-6400 means the maximum data transfer rate is 6,400 MB/s.

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