Poor Dual Channel DDR performance

[Tessio]

Hi,
I'm using an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe board with 2 Corsair 3200LL sticks, and, using the Memory Bandwidth Benchmark in SiSoft Sandra 2003 I can't notice any difference between placing the sticks in banks 1&2 (single channel), 1&3 or 2&3 (dual channel). Is this normal? Should I use another benchmark?
Thanks.

 

[jiffylube1024]

You should be able to detect a difference there. It will be minute, but still there. What scores are you getting with both (single/dual channel)? Also, try pulling out one memory stick and see if it's any slower.

 

[Tessio]

Thanks for your answer. Now, this is what I consider "no difference":
Dual Channel (1&3):__2436/2259 MB/s(Integer/Float)
Dual Channel (2&3):__2356/2209
Single Channel (1&2):_2394/2196
Single Stick (1):______2392/2206

I'm using an Athlon XP 1800+ @ 166 * 9,5 with 3-2-2-2 timings. All tests were made in equivalent conditions, and repeated to assure some consistency, wich I only could obtain in the dual channel configurations. When using the single channel configuration and the single stick, values from different tests vary up to 30 MB/s. Still the lowest value was obtained using Dual Channel with banks 2&3. The difference between the best Dual Channel configuration(1&3) and Single Channel is less than 2%.

 

[Tessio]

Are these values normal?

 

[LastRide]

Is 2&3 dual channel on your asus?.I know on my 8RDA+ dimm 1 must be used for dual channel and either dimm 2 or 3 for the second stick.

 

[Killrose]

Originally posted by: LastRide
Is 2&3 dual channel on your asus?.I know on my 8RDA+ dimm 1 must be used for dual channel and either dimm 2 or 3 for the second stick.

Yes this is true. I think it is an nForce2 spec, and not individual manufacture option.

 

[wicktron]

The difference in a synthetic benchmark is minimal, go do some real world tests, you will see the difference there.

 

[przero]

I think they are low, why 166@9.5? Will it run at 166@11.0?

 

[Tessio]

So 1&2 is Dual Channel?
The ASUS manual states:

To enhace system performance, utilize dual -channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. You may install the DIMMs in the following sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or Sockets 2 and 3 or Sockets 1 2 and 3

so I assumed you have to use DIMM Socket 3 to get dual-channel in the ASUS.

@przero:
166*11?? thats 1826!!! :Q I was trying to get some stability with 200Mhz FSB first, but it'd be a good performance boost if possible. I'll try it.

 

[mechBgon]

I see a tip here: LostCircuits review of Abit nForce2 board Disable buffering and your memory tests will show more of a difference.

 

[przero]

Tessio - I am rock solid at 166@11.0