Intel has recently jumped on the DDR2 bandwagon, and the 925X and 915P/G platforms can utilize this high-end memory. DDR has been transformed into DDR2 through the doubling of internal data bus, thereby allowing next-generation memory speeds of 533 MHz and above. The DDR2 market is still limited, with only a few of the larger vendors jumping on board, but as the weeks pass, we expect that number to grow.
We're also concentrating mainly on DDR2-533 and DDR2-667, as the DDR2-400 type seems to be virtually non-existent, and higher-end speeds are just starting to emerge. Like Registered DDR, DDR2 is still something of a niche market, and it will take some time before it becomes the de facto memory standard.
The DDR2 chart is where all the juicy price cuts are hiding, both in terms of individual decreases and overall market activity. Vendors are taking an axe to their DDR2 prices, with 256-MB modules and matched pair kits being most susceptible to cuts. Kingston DDR2-533 2x256-MB dropped a whopping $72, Crucial Ballistix DDR2-667 2x512-MB fell by $58, and Kingston DDR2-533 256-MB decreased by a healthy $40. We're continuing to see noticeable price cuts on the DDR2 side, and as additional manufacturers and vendors jump on the DDR2 train, prices should continue to drop, albeit not continuing at these levels.