MSI Releases DDR2/DDR3 Hybrid Motherboards
Posted 03/09/09 at 09:59:27 AM by Paul Lilly
If you're not yet ready to make the the jump to DDR3 memory but are itching to upgrade nonetheless, MSI has you covered, and it doesn't matter if you're an AMD or Intel fan. The motherboard maker has released a pair of hybrid motherboards, one for each camp, supporting both DDR2 and DDR3 RAM.
On the AMD side, MSI's AM3-based 790GX-8D supports both DDR2-1066 and DDR3-1333 memory when paired with an AM3 processor, and also works with AM2+ CPUs with DDR2 memory. Four slots of each are crammed onto the PCB, however you can't use both memory technologies at the same time. Moving away from the memory, the board also comes with two PCI-E x16 slots, two PCI-E x1 slots, and a single standard PCI slot. Using the onboard graphics, gamers can also set up a CrossFireX hybrid configuration.
Switching gears to Intel, MSI's P45-8D sports four each DDR2 and DDR3 slots as well, though it remains a generation behind as an LGA775 board with support for Intel's Core 2 processors. On the expansion front, the P45-8D comes outfitted with a one PCI-E x16 slot, one PCI-E x1 slots, and three standard PCI slots.
The P45-8D is available now for around $170 street. No word yet on price or availability for the 790GX-8D.

Image Credit: TomsHardware
All I can say is the first
Submitted by whathuhitwasntme on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 2:43pm
All I can say is the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the picture
SKITTLES TASTE THE RAINBOW
Blindly Going Where many have gone before but often failing to read the directions!
Holy RAM slots Batman!
Submitted by bear on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 8:36am
I don't quite get this debacle about making a board with both DDR2 and DDR3, especially since the board is incapable of running DDR3 in tri-channel. Plus, what happens if one uses DDR3 with an AM2+ proc does it even have the memory controller for that? Undoubtibly, it wouldn't support filling all the RAM slots... looks to me like they just take up space that could be better utilized.
================================
then (adverb) \'then\: denotes time
than (conjuction) \'than\: denotes comparison
ex., 1 THEN 2, but 2 is more THAN 1.
I agree. Seems like a
Submitted by grayscare0 on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:59pm
I agree. Seems like a waste of space.
Still don't get the point
Submitted by HeartBurnKid on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 8:22am
Boards like this came out during the DDR->DDR2 transition too, and I didn't get the point then. I still don't now. Is anybody really going to re-buy all their RAM later just to get a marginal (at best) boost in performance?
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