Slow memory with nVidia Chipsets?

[tjjscott]

I need some help as I have been pulling my hair out over the last several years and I have come to the conclusion that an non Intel chip set Motherboard has lower memory performance than a board with an Intel Chip set. Background: I bought an ASUS P5NE-SLI Motherboard to run dual 8600GTS Video Cards about three years or so ago. Well the 650 Chipset does not support 16X per PCI-Express Slot, so I was not seeing what I had expected from the Video Card Performance via 3D Mark or from PC-Pitstop. But, what really stuck out was how slow the memory was in comparison to my Intel based systems. (9958 MB/Sec) versus (18149 MB/Sec) for my Intel X38. So, as the 680I has dropped significantly in price, I picked up an XFX 680I LT SLI, and am seeing even slower memory speeds, and still poor over-all Video Performance. Memory performance dropped to (5881 MB/Sec) using the same memory, and no matter what I do, it remains slow. I validated this runninng the PassMark Performance tests, and then compared this to other systems in their database, and it seems that all 680I chipset Motherboards have slow memory performance. I even tried various CPU's, including an E6400 and an E4600. All three of my non nVidia Systems have better memory performance per PC-Pitstop, even my old Pentium-D 920 System on an aging ASUS P5VD2-MX SE motherboard with a VIA Chipset. I have tried default settings and also optimized settings via various online articles, and have validated the FSB and Memory Speeds are correct using CPU-Z, and have tweaked with the OC Parameters which only slightly improve performance. The 650I ASUS P5NE-SLI Motherboard that I just pulled out had the same issues, and I had it overclocked and it still had bad memory performance. Question: Is this a known issue with nVidia based boards that they just do not have the memory performance that the Intel Boards do? The system is: 1. XFX 680I LT SLI with latest P08 Bios. 2. Currently: Intel E4600 CPU 3. Dual 8600GTS Asus Video Cards in SLI Mode. 4. 2 Gig Patriot Memory (DDR2 - PC2-6400) 5. And a Seagate 7200.11 160 Gig SATA Drive Thanks!

 

[spinny]

I recommend re-typing this with judicious use of the 'enter' key. I can't even bring myself to read it.

 

[jitpublisher]

Your speed does seem a little slow, you are running in dual channel mode, right?

But, baring that problem, the general rule of thumb to go by is that motherboards with nVidia chipsets simply suck. They have lackluster performance(compared to their Intel and AMD counterparts), and tend to be "flakey" acting. That is why nVidia decided, or were forced, to get out of the chipset business. But if you just have to have SLI, that used to be the only choice you had. Memory speed doesn't play that big a role to a gamer anyway. (though a lot of people seem to think so)

Moral of the story, don't buy a motherboard with an nVidia chipset. I know that is not what all the SLI users want to hear. nVidia makes some great GPU's, but fact is, the best choice for SLI today is running it on the i7 platform with the Intel X58 chipset.

 

[tjjscott]

Thanks for the response.

I even tried last night filling all four memory slots with the same sticks (Patriot PDC22G6400LLK DDR2-800) and will all slots and banks filled and evenly matched, the performance is still the same, hence rulling out that it is only running in single channel mode.

Thank You for Your Help!

 

[hundredislandsboy]

It's an interesting question about the difference in memory performance between and Intel chipset motherboard and an Nvidia chipset. I think jtpublisher hit the nail on the head in that it all comes down to expectations. Most enthusiasts buy the SLI capable board for the SLI feature knowing the Nvidia chipset isn't known for any awesome speed in everyday non-gaming applications.

 

[OvrClkr]

Bah, I have used both and they work flawless, it all comes down to your budget and how much speed you really need. I build with all types of chipsets, yea the Nvdia chipset of course cannot compete with an Intel chipset but the price is substantially higher too. For example : I wanted to use dual Nvdia cards but did not want to deal with Intel for my mid-range PC. So I opted for a 780a board, and to this date I have not had 1 issue with the board. Even though I cannot run 8Gb at 1066MHZ, I really dont see the need since I am using a 32 bit OS anyways....

Now, I do agree that AMD(SB750) and Intel(X58) have better chipsets, but in the end its a matter of taste and budget.... You guys make it seem like it will be a night n day difference (Ram-wise) if we compare for example a UDP4 vs. a M4N82 Deluxe and this is not the case....In order to see a real difference you would have to go with any board using DDR2 and compare it to a newer board that runs DDR3. Its as simple as that....