What's your memory assessment speed?

Swimaf said:

If you install two RAM modules of the same size and speed in a dual-channel configuration (it gets enabled automatically by 90% of motherboards), then you effectively double the available bandwidth from your memory controller to the RAM modules themselves

CPU-Z tells me that the two modules actually work in dual channel, however I do not double my score with 4Gb DC instead of 2Gb SC.. Could it be a problem or is it normal as cabal06ca said?

Ok, so as I suspected it is working in dual-channel after adding the second module. It won't double your actual access speeds, computer hardware is limited by the slowest relative component; therefore if the physical memory modules are capable of processing memory only slightly faster than the available bandwidth allows, dual-channel won't make much of a difference. If the physical memory modules (more noticable with high RAM speeds and / or tighter timings) can process much faster than bandwidth allows, dual- or even tri-channel will make a more noticable difference.

It's not a 'problem' as such with any components, it's more to do with each individual component's own limitations and capabilities. At the end of the day, it comes down to how well each component works along side the next.

Swimaf said:

However I found it when I was reading the wiki link you gave me:

Tom's Hardware found little significant difference between single-channel and dual-channel configurations in synthetic and gaming benchmarks (using a "modern" system setup). In their tests, dual channel gave at best a 5% speed increase in memory-intensive tasks.

Hopefully for me the gain is quite higher than 5%! I know there is nothing else to do for now but I cannot be 100% satisfied with my score...
I've also read (I have got big ears) that the difference between the performance you can get with DDR2 and DDR3 are very small but wheither it is wrong, means that DRR3 would be much more efficient than its old brother, then I'd understand certain values some people here manage to get with their 8Gb DDR3 modules.

I must admit that can be true in certain situations, however (as I mentioned above), it depends on many different components in your build. Certain combinations of components simply work better together than others...

As a prime example, here's a post of DDR3 RAM not performing at it's peak (link), and two examples of DDR2 clearly outperforming the DDR3, first with overclocking (link) and also without (link). Makes you wonder, doesn't it..

Edit: By the way Swimaf, I like your GPU... When I first went looking for an 8800GTS or GT I wanted the 512mb G92, and when it arrived I realised it was only the 320mb G80. You got yourself a nice card there... :)

1.) performance boost with more RAM and single- vs. dual-channel always depends on what you're testing and how you're testing it. For example, if Tom's Hardware used Futuremark's 3D Mark and PC Mark ("synthetic and gaming benchmarks") you have to keep in mind that those benchmarks test overall system performance so you can expect the results to reflect something like this (exemplary)
- GPU performance 35%
- CPU performance 30%
- RAM performance 20%
- chipset, HDD and everything else 15%
So even if you boost your RAM performance significantly it will not show that much impact on the overall score since other components determine most of the scores.

2.) DDR2 vs. DDR3: until today, the performance difference between modules with the same speed (DDR2-1066 vs. DDR3-1066) is marginal, you can see that when you compare the results in this thread. However, also here you'll see significant differences in dual- vs. triple-channel mode. That DDR3 works more efficiently simply means that it works with lower voltages and therefore consumes less power and produces less heat for the same performance.
bottom line: at the moment you will hardly feel a difference in every-day-usage - and even in gaming experience - between DDR2 and DDR3 but this will change in the future with more demanding software and games, so it's still ok to invest in good DDR2 RAM until the time has come to go for a totally new system (mainboard + CPU + RAM) which in my case will not happen for the next two years and by then DDR2 will be a thing of the past anyways.

3.) the same applies to 4GB vs. 8GB: basically right now there is no point in having 8GB of RAM unless you do some hardcore video and graphics editing. I actually only got the extra 4GB for my system because I got it dirt-cheap on ebay and hope that it will get me through the next two years without any further upgrades.

EDIT: wow, you guys are quick! (or I'm too slow)
Just wanted to add that you should burn the MemTest86+ image on a CD if you have the chance, I don't think it's supposed to run from floppy.

maybe this the teacher's syndrome in my case: Does a student have high language skills if he gets an A+ in an English vocabulary test?

thanks for the tool.

mine is 49secs on my win7 laptop and 55sec on my vista laptop


edit: please delete post, I thought it was for the reboot VB script

@pacinitaly: even though you hit the wrong thread, those results are still impressive, especially on a laptop!