POLL: Dual-channel in AM2 make a big difference?

[bluemax]

Real-world benchmarks showed the 939 platform perform almost as well in single-channel RAM mode, as it did in dual-channel.

Does AM2 work the same way?

I have TWO Dell E521 machines, each with 2x1GB DDR2 533. Apparently Dell machines CAN be a little fussy about what RAM goes in them, so rather than trading away 2x1GB for a Dell user, I could pull one stick out and trade it for a video card (or use it in the main system... who knows?) Then I would have one machine with either 2x1GB or 3x1GB and one machine with just 1x1GB.

NOTE: This is a non-overclocked X2 3800+! NO overclocking is possible!

I'm hoping the AM2 platform will do just as well with single-channel RAM, since this would be the easiest shuffle - though I'd rather trade that RAM for a video card any day.

 

[Twsmit]

Current AM2 perform 99% the same as 939, I would assume since revision F is a revision E+DD2 that dual channel would make little difference.

 

[bluemax]

Bump - added a poll - please participate!

Thanks AT

 

[bluemax]

So far a resounding, NO.

 

[EBH]

I just built two amd systems one 939 and one AM2 that make use of dual channle
I have noticed a difference, I haven't run any benchmarks to prove it though. 8P
1 gig Corsair pc2100DDR in the 939 machine and 2 gig patriot 667DDR2 in the am2 machine
at default settings i dont notice much, if i overclock i start to notice a diffrence

 

[bluemax]

What would be a good, free, real-world benchmark? 3DMark?

 

[Duvie]

superpi will show results from DC and so will 3dmark.....However are we putting too much stock in synthetic benches? OI dont know...i think gaming is one of the few aspects, and perhaps winrar that really like the added bandwidth...tha gaming may be less then 5% though....I haen't tested it thoroughly...tested it in CAD rendering and video encoding and it made no real difference...

My C2D system makes no real difference as well running DC or SC....It isn't bandwidth limited either...the last truly bandwidth limited cpu was the pentium 4's....

 

[zephyrprime]

I would think the difference between single and dual channel would be less with am2 since ddr2 would have more bandwidth to begin with than ddr1. In theory, ddr2-800 has as much bandwidth as dual ddr1-400.

 

[Arcanedeath]

w/ 939 it was aprox a 5% diff on avearge about 1 speed grade slower for your cpu, so in truth not really noticeable except in benchmarks

 

[wazzledoozle]

You will notice the difference between 64 bit and 128 bit when switching between large apps (CSS and dvd ripping anyone?)

 

[bluemax]

Wow... I may need to get some benchmark numbers happening.

I'll try ripping out one of the 1GB sticks and bringing my main machine up to 3GB and see what happens with everyday stuff. The additional memory will probably more than make up for any small loss in speed though.

 

[bluemax]

Ach... never mind. It's all acedemic now... Dell is taking back the second system.