Novabench logo

Benchmarks

Memory benchmark

The memory benchmark measures your system's RAM performance, specifically how quickly data moves between the processor and memory (bandwidth) and how long the processor waits for data to arrive (latency). These two metrics determine how efficiently your system handles data-intensive workloads.

What the memory test measures

The memory benchmark runs two tests that cover different aspects of RAM performance.

Transfer (bandwidth) test

The transfer test measures how quickly data can be read from and written to RAM in large sequential blocks. Novabench uses streaming (non-temporal) memory operations that bypass the CPU cache, measuring the raw bandwidth of the memory subsystem rather than cache speed. The test writes and reads large buffers repeatedly for a fixed duration and records the maximum throughput achieved across multiple passes.

Bandwidth determines how quickly your system can move large amounts of data. High bandwidth matters for tasks like video editing, large dataset processing, virtual machines, and any workload that moves significant data between the CPU and memory.

Latency test

The latency test measures how long the processor waits for data at different levels of the memory hierarchy. Novabench uses a pointer-chasing technique: a randomized linked structure is laid out across the test region, and the test follows each pointer to the next. Because each access depends on the result of the previous one, the CPU cannot hide latency through prefetching or out-of-order execution. By running this over progressively larger memory regions, the test profiles access times as the working set overflows each cache level into the next.

The latency profile reveals how your system performs at each level of the cache and memory hierarchy:

  • L1 cache: the fastest and smallest cache, built into each CPU core.
  • L2 cache: larger but slightly slower per-core cache.
  • L3 cache: shared cache across all cores. Access times are higher.
  • Main memory (RAM): the slowest tier, with access times typically ranging from 40 to 100+ nanoseconds depending on memory type and configuration.

Low latency means your processor spends less time waiting for data, which improves performance in latency-sensitive applications.

How the memory score is calculated

The memory score combines bandwidth, latency, and total system RAM into a single number. The formula weights heavily towards bandwidth and latency performance, with less (but measurable) impact given to systems with more installed memory.

Factors affecting memory scores

Memory speed and timings

RAM modules are rated at specific speeds (for example, DDR4-3200 or DDR5-6000). Higher-rated memory delivers more bandwidth. Memory timings (CAS latency, tRCD, tRP, tRAS) determine how many clock cycles the memory controller waits before data is available. Tighter timings reduce latency.

In practice, speed has a larger impact on bandwidth than timings do, but both contribute to the overall memory performance.

Platform impacts

  • Budget chipsets: some motherboard chipsets cap memory speed below the rated speed of installed modules
  • Laptop platforms: many laptops use soldered memory at fixed speeds determined by the manufacturer, with no option to upgrade or reconfigure

System conditions

  • Memory pressure: if your system is actively using most of its RAM when the benchmark runs, the operating system may page data to disk at significant performance impact. Close memory-heavy applications before benchmarking.
  • Background processes: processes that actively read and write large amounts of data (virtual machines, video rendering, database servers) compete for memory bandwidth during the test.

Understanding your memory results

After the benchmark completes, your memory results include:

  • Memory score: the combined score reflecting bandwidth and system RAM capacity
  • Transfer speed: measured read/write bandwidth in GB/s
  • Latency profile: access times across the memory hierarchy
  • Timing Optimization : on supported systems, Novabench will indicate if your memory is running at its highest available configuration profile (XMP/EXPO)

If your memory score is noticeably lower than expected for your hardware, check these items in order:

  1. Channel configuration: verify you are running in dual-channel mode. Consult your motherboard documentation for correct memory slots and BIOS settings.
  2. XMP/EXPO profile: on desktop systems, enable XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) in your BIOS to run memory at its rated speed. Many systems default to a lower speed until the profile is activated.
  3. Background load: close memory-heavy applications and re-run the benchmark