Enough!!! We need benchmarks comparing CL2 with CL3 to stop this nonsense!

[LukFilm]

Ok guys, the more I read the threads here, the more I realize that most of you don't really realize that there is barely any noticable difference between CL2 and CL3. I remember seeing benchmarks showing about 2% difference (barely noticable) in Unreal (yeah, that was a while ago) and I believe people think it's more like 10% or something. I suggest that some performs benchmarks using CL2 and CL3 ratings, so we can all see that there is really no difference, only in our wallets. So what do you all think? Someone write Anand that we need a new review

LukFilm

 

[BigToque]

LukFilm,

I know that 2-3% doesnt seem like much, but it still is a factor in many peoples minds.

what is 3% of 1 GHz? 30 MHz. That extra 30 MHz, might give you .5 extra FPS in a game, but it can help your system seem to have a little more jump to it.

 

[LukFilm]

I don't know, to spend $20 more (at Crucial) for .5 fps increase when you are already getting 100 fps... I guess people have money to blow, so that's why they worry about it so much. Regardless, I would still like to see benchmarks, that would be interesting, don't you think?

LukFilm

 

[LXi]

Do a little bit research, nothing is hard to find. Reviews and guides are widely available, dont limit yourself just to Anandtech and the Anandtech forums, go out for a walk and you'll see a lot more new things.

FiringSquad Memory Performance Guide

 

[LukFilm]

Thanks for the sweet link, I see that nothing has changed since two years ago, there is still only 2% performance difference BTW, you could have been a little kinder poiting out that link, IMHO.

LukFilm

 

[LXi]

How much more kinder do you want me to be? Its the nth I've posted that link to a question about CAS2 and CAS3.

 

[ElFenix]

for us seti@home freaks the difference is enough that most of us would rather back off quite a few MHz to run 222 rather than 333. bumping the mem bus down 5 MHz, CPU down 40 MHz, just to run 222 makes up a lot of time on seti.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Crucial faq:

What is the performance difference between CL2 and CL3?


Description:

What is the performance difference between CL2 and CL3?

Solution:

CL2 parts process data a little quicker than CL3 parts in that you have to wait one less clock cycle for the initial data. However, after the first piece of data is processed, the rest of the data is processed at equal speeds. Latency only affects the initial burst of data. Once data starts flowing, there is no effect. Bear in mind, a clock cycle for a PC100 module is 10 nanoseconds so you probably won't notice a significant performance difference. Most systems will accept either latency part. However, there are some systems that require either CL2 or CL3 parts. These requirements are built into our Memory Selector.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Here is what I have gathered from reading several reviews an numerous forum posts:
CAS2 ram has about a 2-3% advantage when using ordinary applications
In highly memory intensive situations, the difference in the speed of CAS2 and CAS3 ram can be 25% or greater.
CAS2 ram is generally of higher quality that CAS3 ram.

Reasons people buy CAS2 ram:
They want to have the absolute fastest system availible
They run SETI (which benifits greatly from CAS2 ram)
They are buying generic ram, and the extra quality that CAS2 ram provides may make the difference between a stable system and one that isn't

and the only reason not to buy CAS2 ram is cost

 

[DaddyG]

This is more an issue with benhmarks in general. Unless you have an application the mimics the benchmark precisely, you will need about 25% improvement in the benchmark to see any real difference in an actual application. Anything less than 10% in the benchmark is pretty meaningless in the real world.

 

[Vegito]

Crucial review

in the crucial memory cas2 review, there are some benchmark between micron 133 3/2/2 vs crucial 133 2/2/2.. probably same brand memory chip but different pcb.. it's almost no difference but just a little.. dunno if it's worth the price you pay since sometime the price varies by 2 bucks and sometimes by 20 bucks..

so if u pay 2 bucks more for cl2, then it's worth it.. if you pay 20 bucks more.. then maybe not...

 

[NucleusWDS]

Sandra Pro 2001 memory bandwidth results:

Processor: AMD Duron 700 @ 950
Motherboard: Soltek SL-75KV+ (KT133)
Ram: as below ...
2 x 128Mb Micron (256Mb) PC133 CL3 (Interleave disabled) = 389/472
2 x 128Mb Micron (256Mb) PC133 CL2 with 4-Way Interleave enabled = 451/538

This will result in FASTER frame rates when playing UT/Q3

See for yourself HERE

 

[WetWilly]

I had run through the effects of the various memory options a while back with Sandra 2000. The difference between CL3 and CL2 was 4.3% ALU/2.8% FPU

 

[Hanpan]

Also generally a cas2 part will overclock higher than a cas3 part. NOT always but since cas2 parts generally use faster/higher quality chips the overclocking potential is greater and this is why most peopel pay teh extra cost. For example SKorpion1g in the fs/ft forum is selling mosel ram guaranteed at 160 cas 2. Since ram generally goes higher cas3 than 2 one can only imagine how high this ram can go. NO too shabby i'd say and definatly worth a few bucks extra.