SiSoft Sandra 2004

SiSoft Sandra 2004 SP2

Notes

Because the 3.8GHz processor employs the older 800MHz front side bus, it’s limited to 6.4 GBps of front side bus throughput, despite the fact that it operates on a platform that pushes DDR2-533 memory with an 8.5 GBps ceiling. As such, it’s no surprise that the 3.8GHz processor hovers right around the other 800MHz front side bus chips in the Sandra 2004 memory benchmark.

When all of Intel’s processors transition to a 1066MHz fronts side bus, the 3.46GHz Extreme Edition clearly shows that effective bandwidth will improve significantly as the front side and memory buses sync up.

Granted, even at 1066MHz, Intel’s off-die memory controller can’t keep up with the efficiency of AMD’s integrated controller, which manages to push more than 6.1 GBps of real-world throughput – 95 percent of its 6.4 GBps theoretical ceiling.