Does Intel's FMA (Fast Memory Access) feature make a difference?

[Synomenon]

I'm trying to decide between two boards:

Asus P5Q-EM:
http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=2413&modelmenu=1

Asus P5QL-EM:
http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=2246&modelmenu=1


The P5Q uses Intel's G45 which supports up to 16GB of RAM and has the ICH10R + Intel's FMA (Fast Memory Access) feature.

The P5QL uses Intel's G43 which supports up to 8GB of RAM and has the ICH10. It doesn't have the FMA feature.

The P5QL also has an eSATA port, but the P5Q doesn't. I thought you needed the ICH10R to get the AHCI / hotswap feature that eSATA brings?

Also, with the P5Q having this FMA thing, will it far outperform the P5QL? I really won't be using the onboard video since I have a 9800GX2.

What makes the P5QL so attractive to me is that it has a superior SATA port layout (one that won't be blocked by the 9800GX2). I have a P5E-VM HDMI right now and it has the exact same SATA port layout as the P5Q. My 9800GX2 blocks four of the six ports and I need at least four of them. On the P5QL, the SATA ports are mounted on the edge of the board so they won't be blocked.

I don't know which board to get. Everything in my sig. will be transplanted to whichever of the above boards I get.

 

[Synomenon]

Anyone?

 

[NXIL]

The major new feature of the P965 would be its reworked MCH architecture with Intel Fast Memory Access (FMA) technology. FMA is another memory latency, access and bandwidth optimization built into the controller to help improve system performance, similar in concept to the Memory Pipeline Technology that is available on the 975X Express. However, there is some intelligence built into FMA such as Just In Time Command Scheduling and Opportunistic Writes, which monitors and optimizes all pending memory access to utilize idle cycles more efficiently and safely allow overlapping commands onto the memory bus. The MCH even supports Out of Order Execution for on-the-fly reordering of memory requests.

http://www.hardwarezone.com.au...view.php?cid=6&id=1956

Looks to be a feature from the 965 chipset, which I seem to recall had some buggy/driver issues.

http://www.google.com/search?q...n-US%3Aofficial&hs=oZT

Also, with the P5Q having this FMA thing, will it far outperform the P5QL?

No. From what I can tell (no info on it, basically) it's not a big deal. MAS: marketing acronym syndrome?

More important differences, HD output:

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=509

While Intel?s G45 Express chipset represents a higher-end integrated-graphics product, with its HD video processing and enhancement features, the G43 Express is an enterprise-class part (a kind way of saying ?low-end?) that omits the HD video processing entirely. It?s still got a DX10-capable Intel GMA X4500 integrated graphics core, however, which is important for another reason ? Intel?s low-end integrated-graphics chipsets have typically represented the low-end baseline for the entire integrated-graphics product category.

The GMA X4500 lacks the ?HD? designation of the core that?s packed into the Intel G45 Express northbridge, but it still offers Intel Clear Video technology, for post-processing of video playback to reduce jitter, smooth edges, and improve brightness and color saturation. It also supports multiple digital outputs, though you won?t see an HDMI connector hanging off a G43 Express motherboard at any point in the near future.

http://techgage.com/article/in...chipsets_g43_g45_p45/2

Hey, more replies here, but all off topic:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1032955394

Anyway, the G45 looks better because of its other enhanced capabilities. FMA looks sort of weak: even dual channel versus single channel does not make a huge difference....

The ambiguity in most of the benchmark results we saw today sends a very clear message: on today?s systems, the advantages of Dual Channel memory setups are negligible for average users.

http://www.tcmagazine.com/arti...8&perpage=1&pagenum=13

As for the layout issues: considering any brand other than Asus?

HTH

NXIL

 

[IntelUser2000]

The P5Q uses Intel's G45 which supports up to 16GB of RAM and has the ICH10R + Intel's FMA (Fast Memory Access) feature.

They both have FMA. Check it out at Intel site. Do not worry about it.

 

[NXIL]

They both have FMA. Check it out at Intel site.

QFT.

http://www.intel.com/Products/...s/G43/G43-overview.htm

Intel® Fast Memory Access Updated Graphics Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) backbone architecture that improves system performance by optimizing the use of available memory bandwidth and reducing the latency of the memory accesses.

Do not worry about it.

QFTA

By the way, if you are going to use the EVGA 9800GX2: why the IGP chipset?

HTH

NXIL

 

[Synomenon]

Thanks guys. I wonder why Asus doesn't show FMA on their site for the P5QL-EM. Anyway, I'm choosing b/w these two because they're the highest-end mATX boards I can find. I've seen that new DFI x-fire mATX board, but I don't like DFI and ppl. on other forums are already reporting dead ones.

I like smaller computers not those huge, behemoth towers.

 

[NXIL]

What case are you using?

NXIL

 

[Synomenon]

SilverStone SG03

 

[NXIL]

SilverStone SG03

mATX only.....

Got to cast a vote for the G45 Asus model....

GL

NXIL