Corsair’s TWIN2X2048-6400C3 Page 4

By SimHQ on June 12, 2006 in _technology2, hide

SimHQ also decided to throw somewhat more extensive multitasking testing into the mix to see how these dual core architectures differentiate themselves. Futuremark’s PCMark05 multithreaded tests runs run multiple processes simultaneously, with Test3 running four separate threads (file compression and encryption, a virus scan, and a memory latency test), making it a rather strenuous multitasking scenario. The recorded score for each processor is the geometric mean of the separate scores run for each category, with a higher number representing a better result.

The various tests show an approximate 5% gain across the board with the faster Corsair DIMMs. Of the real-world testing conducted for this article, only Chaos Theory showed a similar performance delta between the two sets of DIMMs.

In addition to the CPU tests, SimHQ also ran the synthetic suite’s memory tests to see how well the various test systems performed against one another. Each category is comprised of four tests that stress L1 and L2 cache and main memory performance. The following scores are the geometric mean of each category’s four tests.

The memory tests, running all four separate jobs, have a somewhat reduced differentiation due to the performance similarities of the small tests, which stress the installed CPU’s L1 and L2 caches rather than main memory. Yet Corsair’s faster memory still showed gains of roughly 5% in each memory test. In the future, SimHQ will most likely break these categories down to allow more granularity in the different test scores.

Conclusions

The TWIN2X2048-6400C3 currently sells for over $400, which for 2GB of main memory, even DDR2, is rather expensive. In contrast, Corsair’s 6400C4 memory can be found for $270 online in pairs of 1GB sticks, which sets the C3 memory at a 50% higher price premium. Corsair uses Micron’s rev. D RAM modules with this set, which is highly binned and therefore accounts for the higher costs of the memory sticks. Yet whether or not the performance gains wrought by the faster memory justify the added cost is up to the individual to decide for themselves. At this point in game and simulation development, the home builder is probably better served spending the extra money on a faster graphics card.

Final Score: 7