DDR3 Won’t Be Mainstream Until 2009

If you’ve just recently bought a computer, chances are it’s probably using DDR2 memory sticks. As for me, two of my PCs use DDR1, while one of my older Macs still use SDRAM memory. But wait, when I check out prices for accessories and systems, I usually see DDR2 among the specifications. But with DDR3 expected to be announced soon, should we hold off on PC purchases to wait until DDR3 is available? Is it time to ditch our mobos and RAM modules for new memory?

Probably not, as Extreme Tech reasons. Bearlake chipsets intended for the desktop market will indeed be unveiled soon by Intel, and some predictions say motherboards with DDR3 support will soon be available by the second quarter of this year.

Market research firm DRAMeXchange says DDR3 is still too expensive for the mainstream market, and prices will likely go down by 2009. DDR3 module prices are currently in the $180 level, which is about eight times higher than DDR2. Factor in motherboard costs (for mobos that support DDR3), and this would definitely be a limiting factor for regular PC users.