2Gb dual channel vs. 3Gb single channel

[ZuePhok]

if you do a search, you will notice that this forum has always advised everyone to go for bigger memory size instead of ultra high bandwidth. the usefulness of memory bandwidth has been way overhyped by memory vendors and certain media who don't investigate thoroughly - jsut a couple of sandra and everest, and call it a review (with editor's choice of course!). dual channel controller, yes it sounds exciting. after all, two is better than one, right?

now, nahalem supports triple channels!!! but the truth is, even a single channel is good enough for this supposedly bandwidth hungry CPU.

let me show you some figures. i chose power director 7 to convert 3 mins of a 1080 HD video that i took in house (because PD7 is heavily threaded) and the usual suspect, cinebench.

3.2GHz, turbo mode off. TRIPLE CHANNEL, 1066, 7-7-7-20, L3 cache at 2.6GHz.
Power director 7: 13 min 03 second
Cinebench (8 threads): 57 sec

3.2GHz, turbo mode off. Dual CHANNEL, 1066, 7-7-7-20, L3 cache at 2.6GHz.
Power director 7: 13 min 12 second
Cinebench (8 threads): 58 sec


3.2GHz, turbo mode off. Single CHANNEL, 1066, 7-7-7-20, L3 cache at 2.6GHz.
Power director 7: 14min 36 sec
Cinebench (8 threads): 58 sec

3.2GHz, turbo mode off. triple CHANNEL, 1333, 7-7-7-20, L3 cache at 2.6GHz.
Power director 7: 13min 3 sec
Cinebench (8 threads): 58 sec


3.2GHz, turbo mode off. triple CHANNEL, 1600, 8-8-8-20, L3 cache at 3.2GHz.
Power director 7: 13min 05sec
Cinebench (8 threads): 56 sec

this is a new gen chip that connects directly to the memory, and it doesn't make any significant differences. Centrino platform still uses the older FSB interconnect, so really, just forget about the number of memory channel you should utilize, and throw in all the sticks you have. you want to have more memory available. not more memory channel. unless, of course, you are running virtual machines.

[Motoman]

...your kung-fu is the best.