Memory
I debated whether to include memory benchmarks given that the ASRock NUC was supplied as a barebone unit. But I wanted to see the performance of its DDR5 RAM dual channel compared to DDR4 dual channel.
For the most part, RAM comes in two sizes: DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module), which is found in desktops and servers, and SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM), which is found in laptops and other small form factor computers. The Mini PCs use SO-DIMMS and the desktops use DIMMs. Having DIMMs and SO-DIMMs in a pair effectively doubles their bandwidth. DIMM and SO-DIMM are only different form factors for the same RAM standards.
Note that ASRock NUC can take dual channel DDR5 6400 MHz, but I tested some budget Crucial dual channel RAM running at 5600 MHz. So there’s scope to improve on the ASRock’s benchmarks below.
$ phoronix-test-suite benchmark ramspeed
RAMspeed tests the system memory (RAM) performance.
Both the 12th gen and the Intel NUC (i7-1360P) have DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz. The 10th gen desktop machine has slower DDR4 RAM (2666MHz). All machines have paired RAM with the exception of the N100.
$ phoronix-test-suite benchmark tinymembench
This benchmark also tests the system memory (RAM) performance. memcpy()
copies from one place to another. memset()
just sets all pieces of memory to the same value.
Out of the machines tested, only the ASRock NUC BOX-255H and the N100 haveĀ DDR5 RAM, but the N100’s is single channel and slow. The difference between the two is stark!
The other machines have dual channel DDR4 and put in a good performance except for the Intel 10th generation’s DDR4 2666 MT/s.
The performance improvement with the ASRock NUC’s dual channel DDR5 RAM is even more pronounced in this benchmark. It’s transfer rate is almost double that of the 10th generation Intel machine.
In the next article in this series I’ll examine the power consumption of the machine.
Pages in this article:
Page 1 – Introduction / Processor
Page 2 – Graphics
Page 3 – Memory
Complete list of articles in this series:
ASRock Industrial NUC BOX-255H | |
---|---|
Introduction | Introduction to the series and interrogation of the NUC BOX-255H |
Benchmarks | Benchmarking the NUC BOX-255H |