SoB: Is this not enough RAM?

[CaseTragedy]

I'm running a P4-3.2 HT but don't seem to be getting comparable performance to other members with the same cpu.
Does RAM make that much of a difference?

I have 256megs PC2100 (not even dual chann)--getting about 400k cEM/sec total (with 2 services optimized for HT).
Other people seem to be getting 600-700k cEM/sec. Should I invest in more RAM or faster RAM?
Would I notice a significant increase if I threw in another 256megs to make it dual chann at least?

 

[RemyCanad]

Yes you will see it jump a lot if you make it dual channel. (Or so I think) SoB is memory bandwith limited so the more the better.

 

[ericlp]

Download SiSoftware and do a Memory Bandwidth test... Should see somthing like below... Trash your PC2100 and go buy some 2 sticks of DDR400 256... Should see 16-17 WU per day.



SiSoftware Sandra

Int Buff iSSE2 (Integer STREAM) Results Breakdown
Assignment : 4442MB/s
Scaling : 4447MB/s
Addition : 4588MB/s
Triad : 4580MB/s
Data Item Size : 16-bytes
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 141% (estimated)

Float Buff iSSE2 (Float STREAM) Results Breakdown
Assignment : 4429MB/s
Scaling : 4413MB/s
Addition : 4538MB/s
Triad : 4540MB/s
Data Item Size : 16-bytes
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 140% (estimated)

 

[Confused]

The extra amount of memory probably won't help that much in itself, however going to dual channel will help quite a bit. SoB is very memory bandwidth intensive, so the more bandwidth you give it, the better. You will probably get about the same peformance if you ditch that PC2100 and get a nice stick of PC3200/3500, and run it in single channel than if you get another stick of PC2100!


Garry