Notes on the Complexity of Measuring True
Performance Differences with DAW Stress Tests
©AGRONOVA/Anders Fahlén
18.01.2006 Version 1.0
Figure 6. Influence of memory timings & bandwidth (1T vs. 2T command rate) on average number of Magneto plugins able to play (1 st test run without reload) as a function of latency settings. Input data based on user reports submitted to the Nuendo Hardware forum.
One of the conclusions made from the graphs presented (figures 4 and 6) is that memory timings and bandwidth have a comparatively larger influence on performance in low latency DAW work than in most other software usages. This indicates that in cases where the CPU-memory sub-systems are stressed there is a real-world advantage of being able to tweak memory performance and using memory modules capable of tight memory settings. Among adjustable parameters influencing memory timings and bandwidth, the command rate (or clock per cycle, CPC), which regulates how system clocks are allocating timings of a command to the system, is likely to have the greatest partial impact (disregarding the potential impacts of NUMA and 32-bit/64-bit NUMA OS support with Opteron CPUs). Users with AMD 64/X2/Opteron CPUs having high-demands on performance at low latencies may want to verify if their combination of memory, BIOS and mainboard is capable of running at 1T command rate instead of the default value (2T). Such a tweak must though be verified to run stable over time.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Andrew K (“Thonex”) who developed the Thonex original and Thonex II stress tests for Cubase/Nuendo, Vin Curigliano (“Tafkat”) who developed and conducted the Blofelds DSP40 DAW stress test, Scott Reams who developed the Sonar 3 stress test, and ADK Pro Audio (“jschild”) who has publicly submitted numerous DAW stress test results. Likewise, without users publicly giving feedback and details on public forum about their DAW stress test results the audio community would be weaker in knowledge than presently found. Kudos to all involved!
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