dual channel vs non-dual channel on Athlon XP platform

[bmillerd]

I know that the performance differences on A64 systems are negligible, but does the same hold for XP based builds?

 

[OrangeParktech]

About 3% increase in 3dmark03 with dual channel. Not sure if that helps, but its been awhile since i had my Mobile barton system. thats all i remember.

 

[ts3433]

It's the same or less benefit with an AXP compared to the benefit on an A64, unless you're using the integrated graphics of the NF2 IGP. Here, the extra bandwidth that the AXP's FSB can't use goes to graphics, and performance is dramatically improved.

 

[Tweakin]

I thought all xp based boards are single channel?

 

[DaNorthface]

Originally posted by: Tweakin
I thought all xp based boards are single channel?

no, many of them are dual.. like the nf7-s

 

[tracerbullet]

I had the same board for about a year (recently died on me) and played with that a bit - I can believe the 3% mentioned. I never calculated how much improvement there was, but it did show up on the benchmarks as a "slight" improvement".

If it's just a BIOS setting for you, give it a shot. if you're thinking about buying new memory or something to do it, or anything else that costs money to get you there, then I'd say don't bother.

 

[Duvie]

IMO from my testing it is a little more benficial in the A64's then the xps. In either cases the cpu are not bandwidth hungry like p4s so it really is overkill in the xp boards and somewhat on the a64's....apps depending ofcourse

pc2100 with 266fsb chips. pc2700 with 333fsb chips and pc3200 with 400fsb chips are already a perfect match of bandwidth produced and delivered by the pcu and ram...that is why also running ram asynch on xp systems make little difference casue the added bandwidth by the ram cannot be used.

the reason for that slight gain(3%) is test pc3200 ram and at stock it will get like 3000's or so...add the second stick and it is really just filling in the extra 200 to match the cpus 400fsb which can handle 3.2gb/s of bandwidth. Sandra will give it like 4000 or so but that is theoretcial bandwidth and not actually what the cpu can or will use.