3DMark 2001 SE Pro Score is low, why?

[QTPie]

3DMARK 2001 score is 3488
Other systems are around 5,000. I wonder why my system is too low.
Is this test for graphic card only or CPU and memory too?
Can anyone please help?

My system config:

T-Bird 1.2G (133 FSB)
Iwill KK-266 (Via KT133A, no RAID)
768MB PC 133
Visiontek GF2 GTS 32MB OEM (Core/Mem = 175/286)
9.1GB U2W SCSI

WinXP with DirectX 8.1
Detonator 29.42
Via 4in1 version 4.38

V-Sync, FSAA were off
Mipmappis: Best Performance

 

[Utterman]

The reason your score is lower is most likely your SDRAM. DDR ram will increase the bandwith available, so your scores will increase. I'm in the same boat as you. I have an A7V133 (KT133a) with a Geforce4 TI 4400, and it only gets up to about 7700 3dmarks. There are other people are able to break 11,000 with the same card.

 

[Rand]

Graphics card.
3DMark 2001 loves almost anything that supports DX8 features in hardware.

Not to mention, DX7 and prior cards are not allowed to run the Nature scene which considerably penializes their score.

Personally, I wouldnt worry about it. 3DM2001 is hardly the best indicator of real world performance.

 

[QTPie]

My GF2 GTS with DirectX 8.1 couldn't run Nature scene. How sad!

 

[jaeger66]

Having DX 8.1 installed does not mean your card will support it's features. Only GF3 and up will run the Nature scene.

 

[bjc112]

the only way for u too see the nature scene is by running it in software mode!....


Bite the bullet, get yourself a nice Radeon for 99$!!!

 

[QTPie]

Thank you all for the inputs. I just wondered. Since I'm not a gamer , there's no need for me to buy another video card.

Personally, I never liked ATI video cards. They are too lazy to release new drivers. I had bad experience with their Rage 128 card drivers after the release of Win2k. I had to wait for more than 6 months to get my AIW Rage 128 as well as other Expert 2000 (Rage 128 chip) to work properly in Win2K (majority of PCs at my company used ATI video cards)

I've enjoyed the performance and good drivers from Nvidia ever since I bought a RivaTNT card, then TNT2 Ultra and a GF2 GTS.

However, I'll build a system for a friend very soon. I'm looking forward to buying a good performance but cheap video card (< $100) that can do occasionally video editting, watching DVD (to be used with Win Fast 2000xp w.TV in & out). I'm thinking about Radeon 7000 or 7500, but I don't know if they're improving their driver supports. Your opinions are greatly appreciated!

 

[SteelCityFan]

Originally posted by: QTPie
Personally, I never liked ATI video cards. They are too lazy to release new drivers.

Your're right. Base an opinion about ATI's current driver issues on a Rage 128 card. Where have you been? ATI has been releasing a new driver for their Radeon cards every 3-4 weeks. Those drivers are putting the 8500 right up there with the GeForce4 line.

I am more than pleased with my Radeon 8500.

 

[Alex]

Originally posted by: SteelCityFan

Originally posted by: QTPie
Personally, I never liked ATI video cards. They are too lazy to release new drivers.

Your're right. Base an opinion about ATI's current driver issues on a Rage 128 card. Where have you been? ATI has been releasing a new driver for their Radeon cards every 3-4 weeks. Those drivers are putting the 8500 right up there with the GeForce4 line.

I am more than pleased with my Radeon 8500.

exactly!! i was just about to flame him myself... :|
unless you've been living in a cave for the past 6 months you'd know that there are ATI driver updates every 2-3 weeks roughly and recently there's been the awesome new catalysts ...

and answering your question: altho its a graphics test, anything from ram to HD to processor will affect the score and sdr -> ddr is a big leap

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: franguinho

Originally posted by: SteelCityFan

Originally posted by: QTPie
Personally, I never liked ATI video cards. They are too lazy to release new drivers.

Your're right. Base an opinion about ATI's current driver issues on a Rage 128 card. Where have you been? ATI has been releasing a new driver for their Radeon cards every 3-4 weeks. Those drivers are putting the 8500 right up there with the GeForce4 line.

I am more than pleased with my Radeon 8500.

exactly!! i was just about to flame him myself... :|
unless you've been living in a cave for the past 6 months you'd know that there are ATI driver updates every 2-3 weeks roughly and recently there's been the awesome new catalysts ...

and answering your question: altho its a graphics test, anything from ram to HD to processor will affect the score and sdr -> ddr is a big leap

Now if ATi would just release decent laptop drivers instead of relying on the laptop mfg, I'd be happy. You can use Detonator drivers on *any* nVidia part, even the GFGo series. My current Mobility Radeon drivers are almost a year old.

 

[QTPie]

Dudes, stop flaming me, I'm burned.
Nevertheless, they still have crappy drivers for my AIW 128 and Expert 2000 cards.
I don't have any Radeon card, that's why I don't care about it.
All I care is those detonators!