The transition from DDR2 to the newer and more efficient DDR3 memory technology gained additional momentum when AMD launched its first DDR3 platform, AM3. During each transition period there is always a number of manufacturers that announce products that support both the coming and the fading technology, in this case MSI is one of them. The motherboard manufacturer has displayed two motherboards, one for AMD’s platform and one for Intel’s platform, which sport eight memory slots for either DDR2 and DDR3.
MSI 790GX-8D is for AMD’s Phenom II AM3 processors with the latest 790GX chipset, while MSI P45-8D supports Intel Socket 775 processors. The latter of the two have been around for a while, but it still a modern board.
MSI 790GX-8D – Picture courtesy of PCGamesHardware
The suffix, “8D”, is short for 8 memory slots, four are DDR2 and four are DDR3. MSI announced the memory ambivalent Intel motherboard a while back, also known as Memory Lover, and those who are looking to upgrade but want to hang on DDR2 it might be a good choice.
MSI P45-8D “Memory Lover” reviews:
