Haswell And 1.35 V Memory: Three DDR3 SO-DIMM Kits, Tested

Features
By
published

When it comes to memory, most of our focus is on the desktop and its replaceable CPUs. The mobile side typically moves slower. But Intel's Haswell architecture imposes interesting changes, and we saw fit to test SO-DIMMs down at their new 1.35 V ceiling.

Results: 3DMark

Though the same memory serves on-die graphics, 3DMark 11 actually suggests that CPU-heavy tasks gain most from increased DRAM data rates.

I began 3DMark Professional Edition testing with the app's low-end Ice Storm test, only to have a "what the...?" moment after switching over to integrated graphics. Looking for performance differences attributable to memory, I was stunned to see just how badly Intel gimped the GPU on its LGA 1150-based processor compared to the embedded version. We told Intel this before Haswell launched, but I believe the company underestimated the market for a socketed processor with Iris Pro graphics 5200.

Cloud Gate pulls the Core i7-4770K's HD Graphics 4600 into the low 20s, while the embedded CPU's Iris Pro graphics 5200 engine cruises through unscathed. Again we see only minor performance differences attributable to memory data rate.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Jaroslav Jandek
    It'll be more difficult to explain why the -4770R saw so much less benefit from higher data rates than the -4770K.
    The R version has 128MB of L4 cache. At 1280x720, it is large enough for all index and vertex buffers and most textures. That is why main memory speed doesn't significantly affect Iris Pro 5200...
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Having 128MB L4 cache certainly skews things around for IGP performance, no surprise there.
    Reply
  • mouse24
    Huh, fairly surprised I didn't know about the 1.35v requirement. What happens if you pop in 1.5v in there? Is this just a power savings thing or did intel really mess with their memory controller for laptops?
    Reply
  • masmotors
    i wonder how those 1866 would do on a newish amd apus 6800k
    Reply
  • Isaiah4110
    Wow! I know this article is about memory, but the game benchmark data for Iris Pro actually impresses me quite a bit!
    Reply
  • airplanegeek
    Intel really should've made socketed cpus with Iris Pro
    Reply
  • spartan117x2
    so dimm..much intel..wow speed
    Reply
  • Crashman
    12435372 said:
    Intel really should've made socketed cpus with Iris Pro
    Tell one of these companies that makes upgrade processors to solder the 4770R on an 1150 adapter :)

    Reply
  • zodiacfml
    AMD must have been very envious with this Iris Pro having embedded 128MB of fast memory....which should be plenty useful for their AMD's APUs.
    Reply
  • de5_Roy
    12436339 said:
    AMD must have been very envious with this Iris Pro having embedded 128MB of fast memory....which should be plenty useful for their AMD's APUs.
    intel claims that the edram costs around $80. that'd jack the a10 6800k price over $200 only to benefit the igpu (possibly the same with gddr5). imo, the weaker cpu cores wouldn't benefit much, if at all. that'd make the apus of poor value and people will argue against the apus claiming you can have a faster configuration under $200 (e.g. core i3 4110/fx6300 + radeon 7770/7750) without requiring the edram. as for core i7 4770R (and other R skus) - it's way too expensive. afaik, brix pro is barebones, the whole pc might cost near $800-1000 fully configured.
    Reply