[Gator]

Do any of the Everest editions include memory (and/or system) performance benchmarks based on the Dell Precision M50, M60 and/or M70 mobile workstations?

If not, then in slightly more generic terms, are there any benchmarks for comparable systems based on the Intel 915PM chipset with a Pentium® M Processor (e.g. 760, 2.00GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533FSB) and/or 2GB DDR2 PC4200 RAM?

Similarly, are there graphics performance benchmarks based on the nVidia Quadro FX Go 1400 (PCI Express, 256MB) or any comparable workstation-class graphics cards?

If so, which Everest editions include these benchmarks?

Thanks!

[Fiery]

The next version of EVEREST will include benchmark result for an Acer TM4150 config: Pentium M 730J, i915PM, Dual Channel DDR2-400 at 3-3-3-8 memory timing settings.

BTW, the results are:

Memory Read = 2880 MB/s
Memory Write = 780 MB/s
Memory Latency = 101.9 ns


Regards,
Fiery

[Gator]

Thanks Fiery. I have some follow-up questions for you... please bear with me as I'll try to provide sufficient background information in order to get your best recommendations.

I just purchased this rather expensive Dell M70 notebook system for mobile engineering work (i.e. CAD/CAE applications) including AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, etc. I bought it with the minimum memory configuration (256MB) from Dell on the advice of others in order to save a significant amount of money by purchasing 2GB of RAM elsewhere.

I was going to buy from Crucial or Corsair, but I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I had a weak moment and tried to save a few more bucks by going to a relatively unknown (to me) online retailer! The outfit I purchased from seems to be reputable (?)

I was a bit surprised when I received two Super Talent brand modules, P/N T533SB1G, which are 1GB DDR2 200-pin SO-DIMM's. On the retailer's website, they state that they're 533MHz PC2-4200 modules. However, the actual modules don't seem to be labeled correctly; they're marked as "PC2-4300". Is "4300" an industry-recognized designation? I became concerned about the speed & performance of this memory and the affects it might have on my applications, which will include some pretty intensive 3D solid modeling work.

So I started to do some research on memory timing, CAS latencies, etc. When I went to Super Talent's website, this P/N is listed as "PC4300", but I could not find a data sheet like they have for their other products. I sent them a request for the data sheet and have been getting a bit of an run around... "Sending it as soon as we have engineering's approval". So I'm inclined to return it for a refund and buy the RAM elsewhere.

But before I go through all of that hassle, I wanted to get your opinion. Do you think I should install it anyway and run Everest before deciding to return it? If so, what would I compare the results to if there's not an appropriate benchmark for my configuration in the current version of Everest?

BTW, specs for the Dell M70 are:
Architecture - Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed - 533MHz
Memory Bandwidth - 8.5 GB/s with 533MHz DDR2

If I go elsewhere, whom would you recommend as a manufacturer? I was a bit surprised to learn that there's not a whole lot more info available on the well-known vendor websites for my specific RAM. Crucial only gives the CAS as CL=4 and Corsair doesn't provide anything with respect to latency and timings.

What specific features of the RAM should I be the most concerned about with respect to getting a reliable and great performing system, without going back to Dell for more memory?!

Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

[Fiery]

The confusion around DDR2-533 (PC4200 vs PC4300) is simple: PC rating for DDR2 modules can be calculated by multiplying the clock by 8. That would result in PC4264 for DDR2-533 memory -- which could be rounded either down to PC4200 or up to PC4300

So even if you get PC4200 memory, make sure to give it a try: install both modules into your notebook, and run MemTest86 for at least 12 hours. It's available at:

http://www.memtest86.com

Also, it would be quite helpful for us if you could copy-paste the content of the Computer / Summary page into this topic, whenever the notebook is up and running with either the old or new memory modules. If you feel those information are private, please just let us know what "Motherboard Model" EVEREST displays on the Computer / Summary page.

---

And as for a personal note, we at Lavalys prefer Corsair memory modules in either notebooks or desktop systems. We have quite a few modules from them, and they all works solid and perform nice.

This of course does not mean that I'm talking against Super Talent modules at all. Give it a try, and you'll see if it works properly and performs fine.


Regards,
Fiery

[Gator]

Fiery,

Thanks again! The PC2-4200 versus PC2-4300 explanation makes perfect sense. I’m assuming that the “2” in “PC2” designates second generation DDR RAM, synonymous with “DDR2”. Is this correct?

I’m planning to take your advice and run both tests (Everest Home Edition and MemTest86). Would it be worthwhile to test both configurations, i.e. factory-supplied Dell 256MB (single stick) versus two sticks of SuperTalent 1GB? Can anything be learned from that comparison?

BTW, I received the data sheet from SuperTalent. The PDF file is too large to attach, but I’ve copied some of the info below. Please let me know if you see something that stands out (good or bad) or if there are any glaring omissions. Thanks.

SuperTalent™
200-PIN Unbuffered DDR2 533MHz SO-DIMM
T533SC512 – 512MB (1 rank)
T533SB1G – 1GB (2 rank)

DESCRIPTION:
64M x 64-bit 512MB and 128M x 64-bit 1GB DDR2-533 CL4 SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) unbuffered memory modules. The components on these modules include eight 64M x 8-bit (512MB – 1 rank), sixteen 64M x 8-bit (1GB – 2 rank) DDR2-533 SDRAM in FBGA packages. These 200-pin SO-DIMMs use gold contact fingers and require +1.8V.

FEATURES:
• JEDEC standard 1.8V ± 0.1V Power Supply
• VDDQ = 1.8V ± 0.1V
• 267MHz fCK for 533Mb/sec/pin
• 1 and 2 Bank
• Posted CAS
• Programmable CAS Latency: 4
• Write Latency(WL) = Read Latency(RL) -1
• Burst Length: 4, 8 (Interleave/nibble sequential)
• Programmable Sequential / Interleave Burst Mode
• Bi-directional Differential Data-Strobe (Single-ended data-strobe is an optional feature)
• Off-Chip Driver(OCD) Impedance Adjustment
• On Die Termination
• Average Refresh Period 7.8us at lower then TCASE 85×C, 3.9us at 85×C < TCASE < 95 ×C
• Serial presence detect with EEPROM

[Fiery]

Thanks again!  The PC2-4200 versus PC2-4300 explanation makes perfect sense.      I’m assuming that the “2” in “PC2” designates second generation DDR RAM, synonymous with “DDR2”.  Is this correct?

Yes, it's correct.

I’m planning to take your advice and run both tests (Everest Home Edition and MemTest86).  Would it be worthwhile to test both configurations, i.e. factory-supplied Dell 256MB (single stick) versus two sticks of SuperTalent 1GB?  Can anything be learned from that comparison? 

Not really. You should just test the new modules using MemTest86, to see if your Dell system fully supports it.

BTW, I received the data sheet from SuperTalent.  The PDF file is too large to attach, but I’ve copied some of the info below.  Please let me know if you see something that stands out (good or bad) or if there are any glaring omissions.  Thanks.

It's just an everyday DDR2-533 module, nothing good and nothing bad Go for it, but make sure to ask the retailer about your system, ie. if it would be compatible with it.


Regards,
Fiery

[Gator]

Hi Fiery,

I'm attaching the results for MemTest86 to this reply... there were no errors reported with either the original or new modules installed.

Attached File(s)

•  MemTest86_Results_for_Dell_M70.txt (855bytes)
  Number of downloads: 70

[Gator]

Fiery,

This time I'm uploading a portion of the Everest report showing the pertinent results with 2GB's of SuperTalent memory installed (2 x 1GB modules).

Could you give me a brief explanation as to why the CPU FSB is 133 MHz versus memory bus is 266 MHz (2X) versus memory modules being "rated" for 533MHz (4X)?


Also, could you shed a little light on the difference between these two areas?

Under Chipset Properties, the Memory Timings are listed as:
4-4-4-11 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Under SPD Memory Modules, the two DIMM's are listed as:
(5.0-4-4-11 @ 266 MHz) (4.0-4-4-11 @ 266 MHz) (3.0-3-3-8 @ 200 MHz)

And in the latter one, I'm wondering why are there two different CAS Latencies shown for the same frequency?

Thanks.

Attached File(s)

•  Everest_Report_Dell_M70_with_SuperTalent_2GB.txt (22.25K)
  Number of downloads: 63

[Gator]

Fiery,

And finally, at least for now , here's the portion of the report for my system vs. the benchmarks in Everest. With respect to the read and write rates, does the Dell Precision M70 stack up about where it should be based on the fact that the SuperTalent memory installed has a relatively high latency?

How much better do you think it would do in terms of benchmarking (and real world performance) if I could obtain Corsair modules with better timings? In your opinion, is it worth pursuing or should I be happy with what I've got?

Thanks again!

Attached File(s)

•  Everest_Report_Dell_M70_vs_System_Benchmarks.txt (23.5K)
  Number of downloads: 68

[Fiery]

Thanks for the reports. It performs quite well, you should keep those modules. Corsair might perform slightly better in memory benchmarks, but during real world usage it would not provide you any more performance than +1 or +2%.


Regards,
Fiery