Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?

From	David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com>
Newsgroups	linux.debian.user
Subject	Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?
Date	2020-04-11 05:10 +0200
Message-ID	<zUeGS-7q8-11@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
References	<zTK65-5i3-5@gated-at.bofh.it> <zTVkR-3Pg-7@gated-at.bofh.it>
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On 2020-04-09 23:26, dalios wrote:
> Thank you to both of you for your answers. I am grateful for your time.
> 
> My PC is a desktop PC, see hardware details at the end of this email.
> 
> 
> Here is more info, answering your questions:
> 
> * I purchased a single 8 GB module and currently the PC has a 4 GB
>    module. 

Get an anti-static wrist strap and practice static-safe techniques 
whenever handling memory modules, motherboards, etc..


Also, never touch electrical contacts -- the acid in your skin oil will 
corrode them.


Manufacturer and part number of the 4 GB module?


> My original plan was to buy two identical 8 GB modules but I
>    decided to buy an 8 GB module now and the second later. I am aware
>    that since the two modules (8+4) are not identical there is a
>    possibility that they would not perform at their maximum speed.
>    However I believe that 8+4 is better than 4 or 8 GB, am I right on
>    this?
> * The 8 GB module that I purchased is this:
>    <https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr3/ct102464bd160b/ct8815800>

Crucial 8GB DDR3L-1600 UDIMM
CT102464BD160B


How did you select this particular part?


> * The computer is used for basic office tasks and the usual internet
>    browsing (sometimes with many firefox tabs open). I am not using any
>    particularly heavy programs like scientific computing, video rendering
>    etc. However I am experimenting sometimes with virtual machines
>    (usually with qemu-kvm). Not something professional, just as a hobby
>    (I am trying to teach my self things by performing tasks that I
>    wouldn't normally try on my main system).
> * With the 4 GB RAM that I now have available, I have noticed my PC
>    becoming slow and the memory usage going quite high. After booting,
>    with just Gnome running, I see conky reporting that memory usage goes
>    to something like 800 MB. Firefox adds ~800MB more and Thunderbird
>    adds up to a total of more than 2 or maybe 2,5 GB! After launching
>    Transmission (bit torrent client) I see that I have to restart Firefox
>    quite often in order for the PC to be usable (especially after
>    browsing a little and having many tabs open or even after some tabs
>    have been closed). I have noticed that things got worst after
>    upgrading to Stable (I was on oldstable until recently).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirth%27s_law


My laptop is maxed out at 2 GB.  If I open more than a few browser 
windows with heavy JavaScript, the computer slows to a snail's pace.


> * I haven't been checking on swap usage a lot so I don't know how is
>    that used.

top(1) displays swap statistics.


I use Xfce.  The System Load Monitor panel plug-in provides a real-time 
bargraph display.


> * I have two HDD hard drives installed in the system.

Manufacturers and part numbers?


> * Up to now I have only been using Memtest86+ to check the memory's
>    integrity but I didn't know that it can be used to see other
>    performance metrics. I will check that now.
> * I will also the dbench (which I haven't heard of before) as well as
>    use the apt-cache command you suggested. If the information I give in
>    this message helps you to suggest something specific please do, as
>    hardware in general and especially benchmarks is not something I am
>    particularly familiar with.

Save dbench and the others for later.


> 
> David Christensen wrote:
>> [...]
>> Tripling your memory for $40
>> should be a worthwhile upgrade.  You should notice it when you run a
>> graphical desktop and open a lot of applications/ tabs.
> 
> That sounds encouraging and that is exactly what I am after but I
> thought I could ask here for benchmark software suggestion to see if I
> can get something measurable. (and hopefully learns something on the way).
> 
> 
> Thanks again,
> Dalios
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------
> 
> Motherboard
>      Manufacturer: Pegatron
>      Form factor: uATX - 19.3x18.0 cm (7.6x7.1 in)
>      Chipset: Intel H81
>      Memory sockets: 2 x DDR3
>      Processor socket: LGA 1150

Pegatron appears to be an OEM manufacturer.  I cannot find 
specifications given the above information.  What is the part number on 
the motherboard?  Was the computer assembled from parts, or bought as a 
system?  If the latter, what is the make and model number on the system 
case?


> 
> Processor
> Intel Core i3-4170
>      CPU speed: 3.7 GHz
>      CPU cores: 2
>      CPU Cache: 3 MB
>      TDP: 54 W
>      Socket: LGA 1150

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/77490/intel-core-i3-4170-processor-3m-cache-3-70-ghz.html


That processor should be more than adequate for Debian graphical desktop 
use.


Comparing the processor Memory Specifications against the Crucial 8 GB 
Product Specifications, that memory module is probably okay.  But, the 
motherboard specifications would be more authoritative.


That processor supports VT-x and VT-x with EPT, but not VT-d.  It should 
be adequate for virtual machines that are not I/O heavy.


> 
> Memory
>      Amount: 4 GB
>      Speed: PC3-12800 MB/s
>      Type: DDR3-1600
> 
> Video Graphics
> Intel HD Integrated Graphics

Intel® HD Graphics 4400


That should be adequate for desktop use.


Because memory is shared between the processor and graphics, higher 
graphics resolutions and/or refresh rates will show down the processor.


> Hard Drive
>      Size: 1 TB
>      Interface: SATA
>      Rotational Speed: 7200 rpm
> 


David

Thread

New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? dalios <dalios@eumx.net> - 2020-04-09 20:30 +0200
  Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2020-04-09 20:40 +0200
  Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2020-04-09 23:20 +0200
  Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? dalios <dalios@eumx.net> - 2020-04-10 08:30 +0200
    Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? Marco Möller <talby@debianlists.mobilxpress.net> - 2020-04-10 12:40 +0200
    Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2020-04-10 14:40 +0200
    xpdf woes, was Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2020-04-10 17:20 +0200
    Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2020-04-11 05:10 +0200
      Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? Tixy <tixy@yxit.co.uk> - 2020-04-11 11:50 +0200
        Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed (was: Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?) rhkramer@gmail.com - 2020-04-11 15:10 +0200
          Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed (was: Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?) deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2020-04-11 15:40 +0200
            Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed (was: Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?) rhkramer@gmail.com - 2020-04-11 16:20 +0200
              Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-11 17:30 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2020-04-11 21:10 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-12 01:30 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2020-04-11 22:30 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-12 01:50 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2020-04-12 09:40 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-12 20:40 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed "007@caiway.net" <007@caiway.net> - 2020-04-12 00:20 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed Celejar <celejar@gmail.com> - 2020-04-13 15:30 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-13 17:50 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed Celejar <celejar@gmail.com> - 2020-04-13 18:30 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed John Hasler <jhasler@newsguy.com> - 2020-04-13 19:10 +0200
                Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2020-04-13 20:20 +0200
              Re: Improving performance: RAM or CPU speed (was: Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark?) deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2020-04-11 21:20 +0200
        Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2020-04-12 00:30 +0200
          Re: New RAM, does Debian has a tool to benchmark? deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2020-04-12 10:40 +0200

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