Very slow memory bandwidth (457mb/s) on Vostro 1400

A Dell technician came to my house and replaced the motherboard due to a video error (this fixed the problem). But now, everything is so sluggish. I even reinstalled Vista to make sure that was not the cause. Here are the results of a benchmark. Results should be several times higher. What could be the cause?

SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 461 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 421 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Windows Experience Index
Current Chipset/Memory : 1.7
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Performance vs. Power
Chipset(s)/Memory Power : 9.8 W

Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 455 MB/s
Scaling : 449 MB/s
Addition : 470 MB/s
Triad : 471 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 7% (estimated)

Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 425 MB/s
Scaling : 407 MB/s
Addition : 423 MB/s
Triad : 430 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 7% (estimated)

Performance Test Status
Run ID : KING on Friday, 28 September 2007 at 11:39:29 a.m.
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86
Memory Used by Test : 512MB
NUMA Support : No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmark : No
Total Test Threads : 1
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0
System Timer : 14MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : Yes
SSE4.1 Technology : No
SSE4.2 Technology : No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology : No
SSE4A Technology : No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Revision : A13
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 6400MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Performance Acceleration Technology : No
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 10656MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Notice 5405 : System bandwidth appears FSB limited. Attempt to increase FSB.
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Warning 5400 : Low bandwidth efficiency (advanced). Check memory timings and settings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

 

64bit vista result(2X1GB Kingston PC5300):

Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3781 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3781 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Windows Experience Index
Current Chipset/Memory : 4.8
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Performance vs. Power
Chipset(s)/Memory Power : 15.3 W

Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 3724 MB/s
Scaling : 3710 MB/s
Addition : 3842 MB/s
Triad : 3848 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 59% (estimated)

Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 3729 MB/s
Scaling : 3664 MB/s
Addition : 3792 MB/s
Triad : 3942 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 59% (estimated)

Performance Test Status

Platform Compliance : Win64 x64
Memory Used by Test : 1019MB
NUMA Support : No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmark : No
Total Test Threads : 1
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0
System Timer : 14MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

 

You should call Dell and get it fixed again. Apparently, the difference is quite huge (3781 vs 461).

 

Wow! My Vostro 1400's Windows Experience Index for memory is 5.8. It got to be something wrong in your laptop.

 

billcsho,what's your CPU?

 

vostro1400user, can you post the complete results? Something on the chipset part interests me.

And of course there is a problem, both 7% Bandwidth Efficiency and numbers closer to 4,000MB/s would be expected.

billcsho, can you post yours?

Don't ask me because I have AMD 3900MB/s.

 

just gave another run:

Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3958 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3923 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Windows Experience Index
Current Chipset/Memory : 4.8
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Performance vs. Power
Chipset(s)/Memory Power : 15.3 W

Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 3844 MB/s
Scaling : 3842 MB/s
Addition : 4083 MB/s
Triad : 4065 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 62% (estimated)

Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 3840 MB/s
Scaling : 3838 MB/s
Addition : 3994 MB/s
Triad : 4020 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 61% (estimated)

Performance Test Status

Platform Compliance : Win64 x64
Memory Used by Test : 1019MB
NUMA Support : No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmark : No
Total Test Threads : 1
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0
System Timer : 14MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : Yes
SSE4.1 Technology : No
SSE4.2 Technology : No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology : No
SSE4A Technology : No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Revision : A13
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 6400MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Performance Acceleration Technology : No
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 10656MB/s (estimated)

 

You still have not provided the entire report!

 

powerpack,what else you want to know?!

 

T5470 with 2x1GB.

 

billcsho,with same CPU,how come your RAM could reach WEI 5.8, could you list a detailed test result?

 

it seems that X3100 caused the problem. billcsho, your video card is 8400 then?

 

Here comes Acer mini Desktop results, AMD 64x2 4000+ (2.1G) CPU, 2x1G PC5300 SODIMM laptop RAM(1G Samsung and 1G Acer) (each core of CPU is 100% load when testing while Intel 5470 only got one core 100% load, don't know why.)

Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 4471 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 4494 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Windows Experience Index
Current Chipset/Memory : 5.7
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.


Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 4592 MB/s
Scaling : 4527 MB/s
Addition : 4330 MB/s
Triad : 4437 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 46% (estimated)

Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 4642 MB/s
Scaling : 4523 MB/s
Addition : 4328 MB/s
Triad : 4485 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 47% (estimated)

Performance Test Status

Platform Compliance : Win64 x64
Memory Used by Test : 960MB
NUMA Support : No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmark : No
Total Test Threads : 2
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer : 25MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : No
SSE4.1 Technology : No
SSE4.2 Technology : No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology : Yes
SSE4A Technology : No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Athlon 64/Opteron HyperTransport Technology Configuration
Revision : A1
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 1005MHz (2010MHz data rate)
In/Out Width : 16-bit/16bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 8040MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 1GB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR2
Bank 1 : 1GB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR2
Channels : 1
Bank Interleave: 2-Way
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 301MHz (602MHz data rate)
Width : 128-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : Yes
Cores per Memory Controller: 2Unit(s)
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 9632MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Warning 5400 : Low bandwidth efficiency (advanced). Check memory timings and settings

 

although both machine utilized Dual Channel RAM, there is some difference here(only list a few of them):
AMD vs. Intel
Channels:1 Channels:2
Width:128-bit Width:64-bit
Total Test Threads : 2 Total Test Threads : 1
Memory Controller in Processor : Yes Memory Controller in Processor : No

 

The funny thing is I am not even using dual channel. I have one PC2-4300 1GB and one PC2-5300 1GB in my Vostro 1400 with 8600M GS. I am using Vista Ultimate and a 512MB flash drive for TurboBoost.

Here you go:
< Benchmark Results >
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwi:3825 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Band:3823 MB/s
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Windows Experience Index >
Current Chipset/Memory: 5.8
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Power >
Chipset(s)/Memory Power: 9.8 W

< Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth >
Assignment: 3740 MB/s
Scaling: 3753 MB/s
Addition: 3885 MB/s
Triad: 3923 MB/s
Data Item Size: 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used: Yes
Offset Displacement Used: Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency: 60% (estimated)

< Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth >
Assignment: 3766 MB/s
Scaling: 3740 MB/s
Addition: 3921 MB/s
Triad: 3868 MB/s
Data Item Size: 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used: Yes
Offset Displacement Used: Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency: 60% (estimated)

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: VOSTRO-1400 on Friday, September 28, 2007 at
11:55:16 AM
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
Memory Used by Test: 512MB
NUMA Support: No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmar:No
Total Test Threads: 1
Multi-Core Test: Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark:No
Processor Affinity: P0C0T0
System Timer: 14MHz
Page Size: 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages: No

< Features >
SSE Technology: Yes
SSE2 Technology: Yes
SSE3 Technology: Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology: Yes
SSE4.1 Technology: No
SSE4.2 Technology: No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology:No
SSE4A Technology: No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technolo:No

< Chipset 1 >
Model: Dell Computer Corp Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960
Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Revision: A13
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Width: 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth: 6400MB/s (estimated)

< Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks >
Bank 0: 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-12 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-
tRAS) CR1
Bank 1: 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-12 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-
tRAS) CR1
Bank 4: 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-12 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-
tRAS) CR1
Bank 5: 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-12 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-
tRAS) CR1
Channels: 2
Memory Bus Speed: 2x 266MHz (532MHz data rate)
Width: 64-bit
Performance Acceleration Techn:No
Memory Controller in Processor:No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth: 8512MB/s (estimated)

< Performance Tips >
Notice 5008: To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004: Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-
life' performance.
Notice 5006: Only compare the results with ones obtained
using the same version!
Tip 2: Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip
is selected for more information about the
tip.

 

your RAM transfer rate is lower while WEI is much higher, WEI is a joke~

 

My memory transfer rate is actually slightly better than your Vostro 1400. It would be very hard to compare two systems with different processors and chipsets as each has their only strength and weakness (for instance your desktop does not have supplemental SSE3). WEI is just trying to summarize all the parameters into one reading.
The configuration difference between my Vostro and your would be the OS and the total amount of RAM.
By the way, did you solve your WiFi catcher problem?

 

which item in your transfer rate is better than mine?(in my second test) we have same CPU, same amount of RAM, only different OS/video card(plus you got one slower RAM).

mine:
Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3958 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 3923 MB/s

yours:
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwi:3825 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Band:3823 MB/s

wifi catcher has no problem now even with flash cache enabled. the fan started run after 2 sec when light is on(better than previous Dell 1390 card since i upgraded to intel 3945, even tried intel 4965 but unfortunately i got a dead 4965 card)

 

Sorry that I did not see your second test. So yours use integrated graphic? That would explain the difference since the integrated graphic use shared RAM. Other than that I would say there is no difference in the RAM speed between yours and mine (smaller than the variation between test anyway).
I am using 1390 and the WiFi Catcher still only works after administrator account. I don't think that is a hardware issue as it always works if I shut down from administrator account.

 

with Dell 1390, fan starts running right after switching the button, while with intel 3945, fan makes noise after two or three seconds delay.

 

vostro1400user remember you are using a different OS (64) and the 64 bit version of SiSoft so you can not compare all to billcsho. Your test size is twice the 32 bit OS I have seen several. Also notice your power used is 15.3w and the others I've seen are 9.8w so really the only thing I would compare is bandwidth. Because yours is 64 they expect you to use more RAM, do you need it? I don't know, does it matter I don't know. I am still looking at about 8 different tests right now if I see anything interesting I'll post.

Edit: billcsho you are running dual channel, I no that but if you doubt in the results it says
channels:2
width:64 bit
2x64=128 bit which is dual channel.

 

My computer has been off for 10-15 hours. Remember, this is a new install of Windows Vista ultimate. Drivers have been installed, could a failed driver cause this?

I started my computer back up (it took about 2 minutes to start). The loading bar went away, then the screen was black for a long time, then finally the Vista logo popped up. I logged on, gave the laptop a couple minutes to finish starting up (there are no extra programs that start on bootup). Then ran the test.

All the timings, power wattage, FSB speeds are the same as the other people who has posted their results here....

So what could it be? Dell is closed until Monday so I can't call them yet.


SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 515 MB/s
Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth : 507 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Windows Experience Index
Current Chipset/Memory : 1.7
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.

Performance vs. Power
Chipset(s)/Memory Power : 9.8 W

Int Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 522 MB/s
Scaling : 495 MB/s
Addition : 535 MB/s
Triad : 511 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 8% (estimated)

Float Buff'd iSSE2 Memory Bandwidth
Assignment : 491 MB/s
Scaling : 494 MB/s
Addition : 518 MB/s
Triad : 525 MB/s
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : Yes
Offset Displacement Used : Yes
Bandwidth Efficiency : 8% (estimated)

Performance Test Status
Run ID : KING on Saturday, 29 September 2007 at 4:45:52 p.m.
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86
Memory Used by Test : 512MB
NUMA Support : No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmark : No
Total Test Threads : 1
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0
System Timer : 14MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : Yes
SSE4.1 Technology : No
SSE4.2 Technology : No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology : No
SSE4A Technology : No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Revision : A13
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 6400MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 333MHz (666MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Performance Acceleration Technology : No
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 10656MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Notice 5405 : System bandwidth appears FSB limited. Attempt to increase FSB.
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Warning 5400 : Low bandwidth efficiency (advanced). Check memory timings and settings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

 

You are in bad shape, something is wrong, I think?

Edit: Are you running a HDD scan or something else at the same time!

 

No, nothing else is running at the time, nor is there much HDD activity.

Here's some info (the information for slot #2 on the SPD tab is that same as slot #1):



I tried swapping the modules between the slots, using only one module (tried both) never saw speeds approaching what is expected (3800-4000mb/s).

 

This is beyound me, call Dell

 

I notice yours have no EMMX support running in your CPU. Mine has the same CPU and the EMMX is on. Did you install the chipset driver?

 

billcsho,your record shows:
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology:No

 

Haha... Definitely a lie!

The WEI is the same for DDR2 667... Be it desktop or mobile as it measures the memory transfer speeds. Unless you're running something faster than DDR2 667 and the V1400 isn't running DDR2 800 or anything higher than 667.

And since it only measures memory transfer speeds it will be the same for 32 and 64bit versions of Vista...

You're def. making that memory transfer speed up (that formed the WEI)... And no need to post a screenie of the Vista score screen as that is easily altered by altering the XML file.

 

rixth: your RAM manufacturing date is not correct:140/02, usually week<=52.mine 23/07.

 

The CD/DVD drive has now failed too... lights come on but it does not eject, nor it is visibile to Windows or BIOS.

I figure between this, the memory problem, and the video problem (which has now been fixed), I'm going to seek a replacement of the whole laptop.

Sad thing is, my laptop has an SEC screen, and I probably won't get one with that again.