Building a PC, need some help with memory

[tjlmbklr]

I picked up an Asus-P5N-E SLI reasonably cheap (please spare me the opinions in this board unrelated to my question)

This board has "Memory Standard DDR2 800". I am not sure what this means. I already am sold on getting a 775 socket CPU. But this board may be replaced eventually. So ideally I want memory that can be moved to the new (more then likely faster rated for memory) board to be. I get confused by the memory speed ratings and what they mean to the board they are used in.

Does 800Mhz mean I can only use that speed or can I go with a faster memory. The reason for my confusion is the reviews/videos for this board talk about it's good ability to over clock, including the memory. They mention OC-ing it at speeds above 800Mhz :4-dontkno

Help me to better understand....I will be very thankful


But for now thanks in advance!

 

[Fat.Clown]

standard is ddr2-800 just means Asus can only guarantee memory speed up to ddr2-800

you sure can use faster memory, but there is no guarantee it will run faster than ddr2-800

if you decide to use faster memory and the board doesn't accept it, it will just down clock itself to ddr2-800



ddr3 is becoming main stream while ddr2 is being phased out

if you do decide to get a "new" motherboard, I am guessing it will utilize ddr3. therefore you will also have to get new set of RAM

since ddr2 memory will not work on motherboards using ddr3