“As is well known, when users upgrade and purchase memory, they need to differentiate between DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and the latest DDR4. These types are not mutually compatible, which means that for motherboards that only support DDR4 memory, we need to match them with DDR4 memory. So, how can we visually distinguish between DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and the latest DDR4 memory? Let’s provide some insights on this for everyone.
▶ Methods to Visually Distinguish DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 Memory #
1. DDR1 generation memory (obsolete)
2. DDR2 generation memory (discontinued, still used in a small number of computers)
3. DDR3 generation memory (nearing discontinuation, still used in the majority of computers)
Quick identification methods are as follows:
- (1) Memory chips in red boxes: DDR1 has larger chips, while DDR2 and DDR3 have smaller ones. It’s quite intuitive!
- (2) Memory slots in green boxes: DDR1 and DDR2 have circular slots, while DDR3 has rectangular ones. It’s quite intuitive!
DDR1 = Large chips + Circular slots; DDR2 = Small chips + Circular slots; DDR3 = Small chips + Rectangular slots.
In recent years, how can we differentiate the mainstream DDR4 memory? In the image below, the DDR3 memory is shown in blue, and the DDR4 memory (Advantages of Dual Channel Memory) is shown in green. Both share the characteristic of small chips + rectangular slots. However, when looking at the side with the sticker, the notch on DDR3 memory is on the left side, while on DDR4 memory, the notch is on the right side. Additionally, the most significant difference between DDR4 and previous generations of memory is that DDR4 has a design where the memory’s gold contacts are slightly raised in the middle and lower at the edges. This design ensures sufficient contact between the gold contacts of the DDR4 memory and the memory slot pins, ensuring stable signal transmission. Simultaneously, the slightly elevated middle part generates enough friction with the memory slot to keep the memory securely in place.
Above are the methods to visually distinguish DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 memory. I hope this information can be helpful to everyone.
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