Performance - DDR3 Memory read | write

Memory Read test

Obviously we also had to peek at memory bandwidth performance. Now, obviously Intel Bloomfield based Core i7 processors have an advantage here, triple-channel memory. This explains the tremendous amount of read performance for the Core i7 platform. Lynnfield has only two channels available (dual-channel) but being based on the Nehalem design, they are freakishly fast compared to anything with an FSB.

We test at reference 1333 MHz CAS 9:9:9:24 1T for the default test, yet with the system overclocked we ran the memory at 1600 MHz CAS 8:9:9:24 1T, and while this will differ per memory kit / choice .. we even got the dense 4x 2GB kit towards over 1800 CAS8. 

But have a look at memory performance and bear in mind that this is a dual-channel setup.

Memory Write test

The same can be said for the memory write tests. Of course Intel dominates here considering we used 1333 JEDEC timed memory on both platforms. Triple channel performance on Nehalem is just frighteningly good really.

We test at reference 1333 MHz CAS 9:9:9:24 1T for the default test, yet with the system overclocked we ran the memory at 1600 MHz CAS 8:8:8:24 1T.  Dual-channel performance is very strong on this platform.