1T vs 2T real world performance differences?

[afireinside]

Is there a REAL difference between 1T and 2T in gaming? I have 512*2 PC3200 cheapo in my gaming rig now and I want to throw a 1 gig stick in so I have 2 gigs of ram. It's NF3 so only 3 DIMMs and single channel. Will it be THAT much slower than 1T?

[mnewxcv]

i have a nforce 3 system with 4 sticks....with 3 sticks for u, doesnt that mean no dual channel? if so, noticable performance hit.

[SlackeR]

i have a nforce 3 system with 4 sticks....with 3 sticks for u, doesnt that mean no dual channel? if so, noticable performance hit.


Well, if it is s754 it's never been DC ;)
i would not take the hit. but i dunno if it is just because i hate loosening timings :p:

[ncsa]

'Real World' Apps will not show a big difference .. I did a study of this a while back here were my findings at the time...

.....

This is how I tested ....

A64 3000+ Venice
DFI nF4 DR-SLi (7/04-3)
2 x 6600GT SLI

Memory Timings were kept loose to allow for minimal changes across the DDR range and the actual value of each score is not important here but the differences between each. By keeping these changes between each run to a minimum we are reducing the influences of any other memory tuning.

CAS 2.5-4-4-7

Of the changes made between the individual runs; were the DDR ranging from 200-300 at 1:1 ration and the CPU on x9 multi. A full re-run of the tests were then made changing the Command Rate from 1T to 2T.

The Benchmark Apps used were:

SiSoftware Memory Bandwidth
Everest Home Bandwidth
Aquamark3
3D Mark2001 SE
SuperPi 1M


The Bandwidth tools (Everest & SiSoft) show a significant difference between running 1T vs 2T Command Rate - upwards of 25%, however, the Benchmark tools did not reflect such a large gap and there seems to be about a 2-3% performance hit when running 2T. It would appear that the Bandwidth Tools use some test process which is not reflective of the real world situation and as a result people quote these figures as being the reason not to use 2T timing...

Now if you look across the DDR scale you will see that if you are able to increase DDR by 7-10% this will have effectively reclaimed the 2-3% performance hit of the 2T setting. This is something to consider when trying to get that high OC where maybe 2T is stable but 1T just isn't, while still maintaining that all important higher CPU speed.

[iboomalot]

going off his data Yes T2 knocks your ram down 8-10% thus knocking down applications 2%. Ram is only part of the computer you have to consider benchmarks like Spi and AM or 3D tax the CPU or video card thus a 10% loss on ram isn't going to translate to a 10% loss doing 3dmark05.

I would suggest only going to T1 if you can achieve a 25mhz increase in OC to compensate for losses. If you gain little OC over T1 stick to T1 when possible

other charts for refference too

http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=163&page=3

[afireinside]

Intresting... I guess I'll go for the 2 gigs :D

[xs64]

IMO , 2T and 1T real performance you can not realize , i have 4x512Mbs UTT running 2T and they are just sweet like hell :hehe:

[Vapor]

Also remember that if you run 4xDS (typically) with Bank Interleave enabled, you will regain some of the performance lost.

[Lidocaine]

If this 4x512mb 2T configuration bandwidth isn't enough............take up basket weaving.

HTT285x9 4x512 2T @1:1 (http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/251/251420/folders/199156/1636745HTT285x9with4x512.JPG) :D

[dnottis]

http://www.3dxtreme.net/other/ontap/2gb/1tvs2t.jpg

[SVTSnake]

Great chart comparison! :clap:

[brandinb]

looks like 2-5% to me its about the same difference between running cas 2-2-2 and 2.5-3-3 is about 2-5% too

[dnottis]

Great chart comparison! :clap:

For an upcoming review on 3DXtreme.net of the OCZ PC 4000 2 GB (2 x 1024MB) kit. Wanted to show TCCD, UTT and the new sets 1t vs 2t, etc.

Tight timings with 2T are not as bad as many people think they are.

[Xchus]

Dont tell me this, I spent 235$ on a pair of 512MB PC4800 sticks. Looking at this makes me think I should have gone with 2GB instead of 1GB

[ettis]

Nothing wrong with 4x512 except prehaps more tweaking required, but that's just fun :)

[afireinside]

Thanks Dnottis :)

This is for my gaming computer. And its NF3 754, single channel no interleaving. I use 2*256 BH5 for benching :D Need to snatch a gig soon...