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Performance

Since we're basically evaluating system performance here, it's critical to test these games under settings which will best show performance differences with various memory configurations (capacity and timing). However, at the same time, we want to use settings people ordinarily use when they're playing games - not something like 640 x 480. So, we settle for our usual test setup equipped with a reference clocked GeForce 7800GTX. This graphics card is system limited with this setup, so it will be perfect. In addition to that, we only test using a resolution of 1024 x 768, 32 bit - no AA, AF or any other settings are enabled that will make the games graphics limited. This means not enabling HDR on Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Serious Sam II, no Ultra Settings in Quake 4, or Soft Shadows in F.E.A.R. All other settings are maxed out - full detail.

We'd like to thank both Tagan and Kingston for supplying with the additional power supply and 1 GB memory modules for this article. A little side note: these KVRX40064C3A/1G with Hynix chips is quite good for their price - able to run at CAS Latency 2.5-3-3-7 with SPD settings on our motherboard. That's remarkable for a value oriented 1 GB module (though the official spec is CAS Latency 3)..

Our test setup
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ socket 939
2 x 256 MB Kingston KVR 3-3-3 PC3200 DDR-SDRAM
4 x 1024 MB Kingston KVR 3-3-3 PC3200 DDR-SDRAM
MSI K8N NForce 4 SLI motherboard
ASUS EN7800GTX TOP 256 MB GeForce 7800GTX graphics card
(running at reference clocks - 430/600 MHz)
Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus9 80 GBs Serial ATA 8 MB buffer
ASUS E-616 DVD-ROM
450 watts ATX power supply
Tagan TG530-U15 530 watts ATX/BTX power supply

Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 installed
NVIDIA Forceware 81.98 reference driver
NVIDIA NForce 4 6.70 reference driver
Creative SoundBlaster Live! 24 bit 5.12.1.512 driver.
DirectX 9.0c

Performance - Timing

The results:

These are raw test results and so variations between runs are expected. These variations range from 6 to 9 fps, but only for the minimum fps. Even with the variations, the frame rate is still high enough to play games comfortably, despite the rather large difference with average frame rates. That means no stuttering. Overall, we can see setting CAS Latency to 2 combined with Command Rate 1T is providing us the highest frame rates, although the difference in real life is not really significant (around 1 to 3 percent). Oddly enough, setting CAS Latency to 3 and Command Rate 1T gives us slightly slower results than with Command Rate 2T.


With these results, we see a more 'normal' story. Just like we expected, using lower timings and Command Rate does boost memory bandwidth. We gain something like 3 to 5 frames overall. As for stuttering, the minimum frame rates are pretty low, but they're still around the 30 fps mark, so you won't really notice it. Most stuttering issues with this game are hard disk related, so we won't accomplish much with just memory tweaks.


In Dungeon Siege II, we see very little differences between memory timings. Despite using the same engine, this sequel to Dungeon Siege uses a lot more objects so bandwidth and memory may have little to do with performance here. Stuttering does happen, but again they are mostly hard disk related and there's nothing we can do, memory wise. From experience, we know even with higher resolutions and AA / AF enabled, the results stay pretty much the same (with the GeForce 7800GTX). This game is definitely system limited by default and only a faster processor can push higher frame rates in this game.

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