Nehalem 8 core 2.93 or Westmere 3.33

[Delta Music Belgium]

Originally Posted by skyko

BTW to get maximum memory speeds both machines need 3 or 6 slots filled (and not 4 or 8) with identical RAM. Thus 12/24/48GB is ideal and not 16 or 32GB!

I did a test today with Xbench, I wanted to know the difference in memory speed between 32 GB RAM (4 x 8 GB) and 24 GB RAM (3 x 8 GB) in my Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz. These are the results:

Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz - 32 GB RAM (4 slots filled = maximum):

Memory Test: 508.09

System: 639.96

Allocate: 2190.44 - 8.04 Malloc/sec
Fill: 390.04 - 18964.44 MB/sec
Copy: 599.73 - 12387.20 MB/sec

Stream: 421.28

Copy: 409.96 - 8467.46 MB/sec
Scale: 406.42 - 8396.48 MB/sec
Add: 438.81 - 9347.51 MB/sec
Triad: 431.76 - 9236.44 MB/sec

Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz - 24 GB RAM (3 slots filled):

Memory Test: 542.54

System: 641.75

Allocate: 2231.49 - 8.19 Malloc/sec
Fill: 390.36 - 18980.14 MB/sec
Copy: 600.67 - 12406.57 MB/sec

Stream: 469.90

Copy: 474.53 - 9801.21 MB/sec
Scale: 450.28 - 9302.59 MB/sec
Add: 486.89 - 10371.78 MB/sec
Triad: 469.40 - 10041.73 MB/sec

So yes, there is a difference: 24 GB RAM (3 slots filled) is on average 7% faster then 32 GB RAM (4 slots filled).

In my case, with PT HD and a chassis filled with cards, I will go for the slower 32 GB RAM.

For Pro Tools Native I would definitly choose for the faster 24 GB RAM

EDIT: I decided to use 24 GB RAM instead of 32 GB RAM, the additional 8 GB RAM have no real use, so I just go for the highest speed possible

[glennaudio]

I keep coming across little postings everywhere that the 3.33 is a better machine for Pro Tools. Fortunately for myself, I didn't pay $6k for my 12-core machine. If I didn't get such a great deal, I would've gone for the 3.33 GHz machine too.

[drumster]

Originally Posted by Delta Music Belgium

I did a test today with Xbench, I wanted to know the difference in memory speed between 32 GB RAM (4 x 8 GB) and 24 GB RAM (3 x 8 GB) in my Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz. These are the results:

Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz - 32 GB RAM (4 slots filled = maximum):

Memory Test: 508.09

System: 639.96

Allocate: 2190.44 - 8.04 Malloc/sec
Fill: 390.04 - 18964.44 MB/sec
Copy: 599.73 - 12387.20 MB/sec

Stream: 421.28

Copy: 409.96 - 8467.46 MB/sec
Scale: 406.42 - 8396.48 MB/sec
Add: 438.81 - 9347.51 MB/sec
Triad: 431.76 - 9236.44 MB/sec

Westmere 6-core 3.33 GHz - 24 GB RAM (3 slots filled):


Memory Test: 542.54

System: 641.75

Allocate: 2231.49 - 8.19 Malloc/sec
Fill: 390.36 - 18980.14 MB/sec
Copy: 600.67 - 12406.57 MB/sec

Stream: 469.90

Copy: 474.53 - 9801.21 MB/sec
Scale: 450.28 - 9302.59 MB/sec
Add: 486.89 - 10371.78 MB/sec
Triad: 469.40 - 10041.73 MB/sec

So yes, there is a difference: 24 GB RAM (3 slots filled) is on average 7% faster then 32 GB RAM (4 slots filled).

In my case, with PT HD and a chassis filled with cards, I will go for the slower 32 GB RAM.

For Pro Tools Native I would definitly choose for the faster 24 GB RAM

Great news! This confirms what I heard from others before making my decision to go with 24 GB's of RAM in my new 6 Core Westmere.