Upgrading DDR2 to DDR3 on Intel Q33 Express chipset

[Filingo]

*edit: NVM, the G33 supports DDR3, not the Q33, so I guess I was wrong and it does not support DDR3! 

 

I found that the Q33 Express is compatible with both DDR2 DDR3. But just came here to make sure if it's right? 

Thanks

[Jurrunio]

Tbh the chipset doesnt matter to users, just look at what slots the motherboard has. The platform is so old that the memory controller is still on the board.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

10 minutes ago, Filingo said:

*edit: NVM, the G33 supports DDR3, not the Q33, so I guess I was wrong and it does not support DDR3! 

 

I found that the Q33 Express is compatible with both DDR2 DDR3. But just came here to make sure if it's right? 

Thanks

It all really boils down to whatever RAM slots your motherboard has and whether that board supports your CPU. Just so we have all of our bases covered, the pin outs for DDR2 and DDR3 (in addition to the physical notch on the DIMM and slots) are different so you're stuck with whatever the board supports. 

[Filingo]

how can I tell if the slots support DDR3?

 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just now, Filingo said:

how can I tell if the slots support DDR3?

 

Hopefully it'll say in the manual or perhaps written on the board itself because it's sort of hard to tell just by looking at the slot. The differences between all 4 generations of DDR are rather subtle. The notch is just at different locations. 

[Filingo]

3 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Hopefully it'll say in the manual or perhaps written on the board itself because it's sort of hard to tell just by looking at the slot. The differences between all 4 generations of DDR are rather subtle. The notch is just at different locations. 

Oh so wait, I didn't notice that, so if I already have DDR2 installed right now it means the notches only fit DDR2 right?

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

50 minutes ago, Filingo said:

Oh so wait, I didn't notice that, so if I already have DDR2 installed right now it means the notches only fit DDR2 right?

Yep. A DDR3 module would not physically fit in the DDR2 slot nor would the pins line up with the contacts in the slot. You can see how subtle the difference is when the different standards are all lined up.