DDR3 memory has been slowly taking over DDR2 as the new standard in RAM. Lower voltages and higher speeds make the difference easily worth the price. The lower voltage means lower energy bills. In the long run it can save you hundreds of dollars over years of use. These savings add up, and easily make DDR3 worth the extra cost. On top of these savings you get more performance. This performance also guarantees a bit of future proofing. If you look back at the life span of RAM you will find that DDR and DDR2 both lasted for years, so it is pretty safe to assume that DDR3 will last just as long as the previous standards of DDR. With this in mind, it makes a lot of sense to be considering upgrading that old computer that just isn't as fast as it used to be.

There is no better choice than the new Intel Core i7 platform. While it may be a little more pricier than AMD's offerings, the Core i7 packs a lot more punch. To complete that punch you will need a triple channel kit of RAM. What better kit of RAM to get than a Mushkin HP3-12800? This kit is aimed at the mid range system builder, with a speed of 1600 MHz. While not the fastest DDR3 out there, it is the perfect blend of speed and price to keep you from breaking your wallet in half. Another nice feature of this RAM is its ability to run on only 1.5 volts, which should help out on the power bill even more. That is, unless you plan on overclocking it. With overclocking results of Mushkin RAM of the past, there is no doubt these sticks will overclock quite nicely.