USB 3.0 Backup

Our backup testing takes a typical set of user files – specifically just under 8000 files across 7.5 GB, some large files but mostly small.  For USB 3.0 testing, these files are copied from our SSD onto an OCZ Vertex3 which is connected via a SATA 6 Gbps to USB 3.0 device using the UASP protocol that the ASMedia controller on our test bed affords as well as the chipset driven Intel USB 3.0 under ASUS' Turbo mode.  The copy test is conducted using DiskBench, a copying tool with accurate copy timing.

USB 3.0 Copy Test, ASMedia + UASP

USB 3.0 Copy Test, ASMedia

USB 3.0 Copy Test, Intel + Turbo

USB 3.0 Copy Test, Intel Chipset

In the USB 3.0 testing, we find some interesting results:

USB 3.0 ASMedia + UASP: 2400 C11 is between 1600 C9 and 1866 C9
USB 3.0 ASMedia: 2400 C11 is between 1866 C9 and 2133 C9
USB 3.0 Intel + Turbo: 2400 C11 performs similar to 1600 C9
USB 3.0 Intel: 2x8 GB 2400 C11 is better than 4x4 GB 2400 C10

In most motherboards, the USB 3.0 Intel result will be the main point of the test (ASMedia and UASP are limited to ASUS at the minute), and it seems the Intel chipset likes denser modules for USB 3.0 testing.

Thunderbolt Backup

Similar to our USB 3.0 Backup test, Thunderbolt testing carries the same files directly through to our LittleBig Disk which contains two 120 GB Intel SSDs in RAID-0.  The copy test is conducted using DiskBench, a copying tool with accurate copy timing.

Thunderbolt Copy Test

Our 2400 C11 kit performs similar to the 2400 C10 and better than the 2133 C9, meaning that Thunderbolt is a big fan of memory MHz.

Gaming Tests: Portal 2, Batman AA, Overall IGP Conversion, Compression and Computation
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  • mmstick - Saturday, October 27, 2012 - link

    Actually, yes you can tell the difference depending on the applications you run. In fact, the distributed OpenCL GPU computing projects I use over at BOINC, the biological research, requires extreme frequencies. The higher the processor frequency, the higher your GPU load and ability to install more GPUs for the project becomes. If I run my RAM at 1333Mhz with my 7950, I need to run 8 work units in order to get that memory to get 80% efficiency. After overclocking my RAM to 1800Mhz I was able to get the efficiency up to 95%. With faster memory, I could run less work units, and install a second graphics cards, although I would likely need 2133Mhz quad channel memory in order to saturate two 7950s in the HCC project. In POEM, I would actually need 4266Mhz quad channel DDR3 in order to saturate a single 7950 more than likely.

    Another scenario is AMD APUs, where FPS almost scales linearly based on RAM frequency because it uses system RAM as VRAM. GPUs are very memory intense, which is why GPUs have 256-384 bit memory interfaces. With an APU, the GPU on the die is restricted to the lame 64 bit memory interface we have with our system RAM.

    RAM kits like these are sold to people who need them, if you don't need them, buy the lower frequency RAM.
  • mmstick - Saturday, October 27, 2012 - link

    "The higher the processor frequency" I meant "The higher the memory frequency"
  • mmstick - Saturday, October 27, 2012 - link

    "to get that memory to 80%" should be "to get GPU utilization to 80%"
  • Impulses - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link

    What's with the cost analysis of all these high speed $150 kits? Would you actually shell out that amount of money for a run of the mill gaming/enthusiast system when there's a ton of 1600 4x4GB or even 2x8GB kits on Newegg selling for $75-85?

    I've wishlisted like half a dozen G.Skill kits within that range AND with blue spreaders specifically... If I width the search there's tons more obviously, just hoping one of those goes on sale during Thanksgiving for like $50-60, even tho I'm in no dire need to upgrade from 8GB.

    (and yeah, looking at blue purely for aesthetic reasons obviously!)
  • mmstick - Saturday, October 27, 2012 - link

    I would because it would cut my research rate in half. I run OpenCL GPU projects on my systems, where if I had 2400Mhz memory I could output twice as many work units with my graphics cards per day in Help Conquer Cancer.
  • n0x1ous - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link

    Green PCB? Really? Yuk

    Black or Nothing
  • bigboxes - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link

    Do you ever look at your ram once you install it?
  • JonnyDough - Friday, October 26, 2012 - link

    That's how I feel. I used to care about the color of my computer case, etc but I realized that its more about longevity and ease of installation for me. It's nice to go with a color theme, but the extra cost each time I upgrade just isn't worth it. So now that I've matured a bit I've decided on mostly black boxes and hardware as its plentiful and price competitive.
  • saturn85 - Thursday, October 25, 2012 - link

    how about adding a folding on cpu benchmark?
  • valnar - Friday, October 26, 2012 - link

    Memory companies will continue to put out insanely spec'ed pieces so they get reviewed by Hardware sites, because it's the only way to get their name out there. Otherwise, memory as a whole is a pretty boring component. Why else do they also need to have interesting names and brightly colored heatsinks? Marketing at its best (or is it worst?)

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