Can I Use an RX 580 8GB GDDR5 with DDR3 RAM?
The type of RAM on a graphics card is unrelated to the type of system RAM your motherboard uses. Therefore, yes, you can use an RX 580 with a motherboard that uses DDR3 RAM. This guidance assumes that your PC’s internal Power Supply Unit (PSU) is sufficient. An RX 580 typically requires up to 185W at stock settings and necessitates a PCIe 8-pin power cable to function. If you attempt to use an RX 580 without connecting the power cable, it will not turn on.
Power Supply Unit (PSU) Considerations
If your PC’s PSU does not have a PCIe power cable, you will be limited to graphics cards that use 75W or less, such as a GTX 1650. This is because this is the maximum amount of power that can be delivered directly to a graphics card through a PCIe slot. Some OEM motherboards, like those found in low-end Dell office computers, may have PCIe slots that are limited to less than 50W.
One solution is to replace your current PSU with a better one that has a PCIe power cable. I strongly recommend against attempting to use a PCIe power adapter with a PSU that lacks a PCIe power cable, as this could potentially overload the PSU and create a fire hazard.
Understanding GDDR5 vs. DDR5
Despite their similar-sounding names, GDDR5 and DDR5 are quite distinct types of RAM. GDDR5 is a type of graphics RAM that dates back to 2007 and is considered obsolete, having been largely replaced by GDDR6 and GDDR6X on modern graphics cards. In terms of internal design, GDDR5 is more similar to DDR3 than to DDR5. DDR5, on the other hand, is a type of system RAM that first became available in 2020 and is currently the most advanced type of DDR RAM available.
It is important to note that some product listings or descriptions may mistakenly describe an RX 580 as using DDR5; however, this is always incorrect. The RX 580 is not physically compatible with DDR5 RAM, and no current graphics card, including those existing as of September 2024, uses DDR5 RAM. It is possible that some low-end graphics cards may use DDR5 in the future if it becomes significantly cheaper than GDDR6, similar to how some old low-end graphics cards, such as certain versions of the GeForce GT 1030, used DDR4 when GDDR5 became too expensive. At the time of writing, no such cards exist.
Modern Integrated GPUs
Most modern integrated GPUs utilize DDR5 RAM, as integrated GPUs share the system RAM with the CPU instead of having their own dedicated VRAM. This means that the system RAM (be it DDR3 or DDR5 in the case of desktops with DDR5 being more common) is used for the GPU as well.
In summary, an RX 580 8GB GDDR5 can indeed be used with a motherboard that has DDR3 RAM, as long as your PSU is capable of providing the necessary power. However, it is crucial to ensure that your PSU has the correct PCIe power cable, and if not, consider upgrading to a compatible PSU.