GDDR 3 ( I think )

**JohntheKern** · August 12, 2011, 11:05 AM

Greetings

Im upgrading my graphics card, now while Ive done this before, its been a while. I cant remember which GDDR my RAM is, am I correct in thinking a GDDR 5 card will not run with GDDR3 RAM ?

More importantly, how do I find out the GDDR of my RAM?

Cheers in advance
TheKern

**RO Citizen** · August 12, 2011, 01:16 PM

RAM doesn't have GDDR, it has only DDR

(G comes from graphical). They are 2 different things. I do have a GDDR5 video card and DDR3 memories, they're perfectly compatible. Just check if your motherboard supports each one of them (separately)

**Taiji** · August 12, 2011, 02:35 PM

JohntheKern, to upgrade the graphics card you buy a new graphics card which replaces the old one.

**JohntheKern** · August 12, 2011, 03:29 PM

RO Citizen : Thanks for clearing that up for me

Taiji : yes, i understand this concept, however thank you for your valued input

**Oberbefehlshaber** · August 12, 2011, 04:12 PM

Yeah, your current RAM has nothing to do with your graphics card. Before you get a new graphics card you just need to make sure that your motherboard is at least PCI-E 1.0, which Im sure it is. But more importantly, you need to make sure your current power supply is up to spec with the new demands of your chosen graphics card.

**Ishan** · August 12, 2011, 09:41 PM

GDDR 3-5 etc are terms used for Video RAM on your G.Card. To put in a graphics card all you need to check is the wattage of your SMPS (PSU) & your graphics slot. Could be PCI-ex 1.0 or 2.0 etc can be figured out by telling which motherboard you have (that freeware below will also tell us that).

And to check the what's the GDDR on your G.card you can use a freeware system profiler like CPU-Z.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**Taiji** · August 13, 2011, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by JohntheKern

Taiji : yes, i understand this concept, however thank you for your valued input

Judging by your question in the OP it seems you need it explaining.

Because the type of RAM your current graphics card has built into it has no bearing whatsoever on upgrading a graphics card to another one which will have it's own built in RAM.

It simply should not cross your mind to ask the question you have asked, unless you mistakenly believe the memory on graphics cards to be upgradeable in the same way as the memory on your mainboard.

On the other hand if you were trying to find a way to measure the differing performance of cards, the way to do this is to look for reviews with benchmarks for different games. Looking at the memory type and speed will not tell you very much at all.

As Ishan has points out, the considerations are going to be whether you need a new mainboard (because the new graphics card may require a new slot) and whether you need to buy a new power supply (because it may require more power than the one you have currently).

**JohntheKern** · August 13, 2011, 08:01 AM

Thanks for the info and the CPU-Z

My PSU should be fine, Im pretty sure its 900w, but I will make sure I verify that before ordering.
Taiji : I know I have to exchange one card for another, unless I have more than one useable PCI-E slot, I just didnt know whether the different RAM(s) would conflict. Im also aware that the numbers dont always mean better performance.

**Taiji** · August 13, 2011, 08:21 AM

I think I follow you now. You definitely have nothing to worry about with regards the RAM in your new graphics card conflicting with the RAM in your mainboard. Or else perhaps you intend to keep your old graphics card plugged in, in which case you again have nothing to worry about.