The fact of the matter is simple, the DDR memory standard simply cannot
provide enough memory bandwidth to a dual core Athlon64 X2 or FX processor,
that's why AMD needed to turn to DDR-2 RAM.
Here's an example, the dual core Athlon64 FX-62 can use up to 12.8GB/s worth
of bandwidth, while DDR400 memory can provide just 6.4
GB/s bandwidth when running in a dual channel configuration. With the CPU
industry moving towards parallelism, giving the processing cores enough memory
bandwidth will be a key issue in improving performance.
Dual core Socket AM2 Athlon64's are compatible with DDR2-400, DDR2-533,
DDR2-667 and DDR2-800 memory. Wouldn't you know it, two DDR2-800 DIMMs running
in dual channel configuration can provide a dual core Athlon64 X2 or FX
processor with as much memory bandwidth as it needs. Single core Socket AM2
Athlon64's support memory up to DDR2-667, more than what a single core processor
requires.
The
socket AM2 Athlon64 processor platform should go a long way to stimulating
the DDR-2 memory industry, because key to the AM2's survival will be access
to low latency DDR-2 parts. Up until now that's been something of an oxymoron...
companies like Corsair, Patriot Memory, OCZ, and Buffalo Technology
have already begun releasing quick low latency DDR-2, much of it
currently based on Micron Rev.E DRAM.
This will prevent some confusion for consumers, because while PC2-6400 DDR-2
with timings of 5-5-5-15 has been just dandy for Intel Pentum D processors,
the integrated memory controller of the socket AM2 Athlon64 processor is much
more picky. A starting place to begin is PC2-8500 or PC2-6400 DDR-2 that
can run with CAS latency timings of 4-4-4-12. Judging from what we've seen
of the socket AM2 in benchmarks, memory with these latency timings will
have a much greater impact on overall performance than bumping up memory speed.
DDR-2 and nForce 500 Series EPP Memory
Enhanced Performance Profiles take over where JEDEC's SPD
leaves off, and as the name implies, adds performance profiles to the memory in
addition to the conservative compatibility settings programmed in the SPD. EPP
compliant memory is dubbed "SLI Ready" (great marketing on nVIDIA's part) and
allows the system to automatically tighten up memory timings and increase
voltages for more performance on compatible chipsets - currently anything in the nForce
500 series. Corsair and nVIDIA have developed the open standard, but there is
nothing to prevent SIS or even VIA from adopting Enhanced Performance Profiles.
Whether you're a novice or experienced computer user, the
benefits of EPP memory are immediate. Corsair is the initial memory manufacturer
out the door with this new feature, and it looks like OCZ
has already jumped on the trend with its own set of EPP-based
DDR-2 memory parts. I'd expect most enthusiast memory brands to follow suit.
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