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Memory Bandwidth To test memory bandwidth, we are going to look at the Read, Write, and Copy values as tested by Everest. Higher numbers are better:
The Everest Memory Bandwidth benchmark is an interesting test, as we get to look at the direct benefits of the DDR3 memory controller. The overclocked X4 955, with the BEMP memory profile loaded, yields the best results in the entire field for both Copy and Read speeds. The x3360 still gives us the best memory Write performance overall. At stock speeds the X4 955 is a bit more mediocre, which is a bit of a surprise, given that the DDR3 is being run at the same speed and timings. I am actually a bit surprised that it has taken so long for AMD to bring the X4 945 and X4 955 to market. While the X4 940 was obviously the flagship of the Deneb line until now, it was strictly limited to AM2+ setups, leaving the AM3 market a little bit out in the cold, with only the X3 720 BE and the X4 810 to keep it warm. Finally, this has changed, as there are now two worthy flagship quads for the AM3 market. In terms of overclockability, the new AM3 Black Edition quads hold slight improvements over the AM2+ predecessor. The voltage scaling appeared to be improved, and we got an extra 100 MHz at much lower voltage. I am not convinced that 3.9GHz is out of my reach, it's just a matter of time before I find the root cause of the limitation. OverDrive 3 also has some major improvements as well, that effectively change the overclocking game. In terms of value, the X4 955 is very well priced. At stock speeds, it manhandles the more expensive x3360, even though the x3360 is more clock efficient. When both chips are overclocked, the end result is directly related to which test you care about, and the top max clocks you expect to hit. Pros:
Cons:
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