DDR Memory

The abbreviation DDR stands for "double-data-rate." This is to signify that two data transfers to or from memory occur per clock cycle. The architecture of DDR memory is such that for each clock cycle (measured in hertz, or Hz), the memory can transfer two "words" (16 bits each) of data. DDR memory speed is listed in one of two ways. The first is by nominal data rate. For example, DDR memory that operates at a nominal clock frequency of 133 MHz is rated as "DDR266." Since the data rate is two "words" per clock cycle (rather than one "word" per cycle for single data rate), the nominal data rate is 266 MHz. The other means of listing DDR memory speed is by use of how many megabytes per second the memory is capable of transferring. For example, DDR memory that operates at a nominal clock frequency of 133 MHz is capable of transferring 2.1 GB/second. This would be noted as "DDR PC2100" memory. DDR memory comes in three variations: PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200. PC2100 has a nominal data rate of 266 MHz, and can transfer 2.1 GB/second. PC2700 has a nominal data rate of 333 MHz and can transfer data at a rate of 2.7 GB/second. PC3200 has a nominal data rate of 400 MHz and a data transfer rate of 3.2 GB/second.

DDR2 Memory

DDR2 memory is based upon the same concept as DDR; however, DDR2 operates at higher nominal clock frequencies. The DDR2 nomenclature is similar to that of DDR. For example, a DDR2 memory module that operates at a nominal clock frequency of 266 MHz would be sold as either DDR2 533MHz or DDR2 PC4200 (since the memory module transfers data at a rate of twice what a DDR PC2100 module would). DDR2 memory comes in three variations as well. PC4200 has a nominal data rate of 533 MHz, and a data transfer rate of 4.2 GB/second. PC6400 has a nominal data rate of 800 MHz, and a data transfer rate of 6.4 GB/second. The third DDR2 memory speed is listed in three different ways. DDR2 that has a nominal data rate of 667 MHz is listed as either PC5300 or PC5400. The reason for this is that the data transfer rate on DDR2 667 MHz is 5.336 GB/second, and while some companies rounded their PC number down, others rounded up. However, PC5300 and PC5400 memory modules are compatible with each other and are interchangeable.