Chips and modules

For use in computers, DDR2 SDRAM is supplied in DIMMs with 240 pins and a single locating notch. Laptop DDR2 SO-DIMMs have 200 pins and often come identified by an additional S in their designation. DIMMs are identified by their peak transfer capacity (often called bandwidth).

Standard name

Memory clock
(MHz)
Cycle time
(ns)
I/O bus clock
(MHz)
Data rate
(MT/s)
Module name

Peak transfer rate
(MB/s)
Timings[2][3]
(CL-tRCD-tRP)

DDR2-400B
DDR2-400C 100 10 200 400 PC2-3200 3200 3-3-3
4-4-4
DDR2-533B
DDR2-533C 133 71/2 266 533 PC2-4200* 4266 3-3-3
4-4-4
DDR2-667C
DDR2-667D 166 6 333 667 PC2-5300* 5333 4-4-4
5-5-5
DDR2-800C
DDR2-800D
DDR2-800E 200 5 400 800 PC2-6400 6400 4-4-4
5-5-5
6-6-6
DDR2-1066E
DDR2-1066F 266 33/4 533 1066 PC2-8500* 8533 6-6-6
7-7-7

* Some manufacturers label their DDR2 modules as PC2-4300, PC2-5400 or PC2-8600 instead of the respective names suggested by JEDEC. At least one manufacturer has reported this reflects successful testing at a higher-than standard data rate[4] whilst others simply round up for the name.

Note: DDR2-xxx denotes data transfer rate, and describes raw DDR chips, whereas PC2-xxxx denotes theoretical bandwidth (with the last two digits truncated), and is used to describe assembled DIMMs. Bandwidth is calculated by taking transfers per second and multiplying by eight. This is because DDR2 memory modules transfer data on a bus that is 64 data bits wide, and since a byte comprises 8 bits, this equates to 8 bytes of data per transfer.

In addition to bandwidth and capacity variants, modules can

1.Optionally implement ECC, which is an extra data byte lane used for correcting minor errors and detecting major errors for better reliability. Modules with ECC are identified by an additional ECC in their designation. PC2-4200 ECC is a PC2-4200 module with ECC.
2.Be "registered", which improves signal integrity (and hence potentially clock rates and physical slot capacity) by electrically buffering the signals at a cost of an extra clock of increased latency. Those modules are identified by an additional R in their designation, whereas non-registered (a.k.a. "unbuffered") RAM may be identified by an additional U in the designation. PC2-4200R is a registered PC2-4200 module, PC2-4200R ECC is the same module but with additional ECC.
3.Be fully buffered modules, which are designated by F or FB and do not have the same notch position as other classes. Fully buffered modules cannot be used with motherboards that are made for registered modules, and the different notch position physically prevents their insertion.
Note: registered and un-buffered SDRAM generally cannot be mixed on the same channel.

Note that the highest-rated DDR2 modules in 2009 operate at 533 MHz (1066 MT/s), compared to the highest-rated DDR modules operating at 200 MHz (400 MT/s). At the same time, the CAS latency of 11.2 ns = 6 / (Bus clock rate) for the best PC2-8500 modules is comparable to that of 10 ns = 4 / (Bus clock rate) for the best PC-3200 modules.