Benchmark Disappointment

[nuocmam23]

Just built a new rig and here are its specs:

AMD 3800+
1 gig OCZ PC3700 EB Ram
6800 Ultra
Asus A8V Mobo
120 Seagate SATA HDD

Aquamark scored: 23,500 (Not exact but its around that...)
CPU = 4400
GPU = 4500

Final Fantasy 11: 4500

Im running the latest bios from Asus (1005.xx) and Nvidia Driver 63.xx. Compared to some of the other benchmarks listed on these forums and Anandtech themselves, this seems terribly sub par. Is there something I'm missing? A setting I'm overlooking? Possibly incompatibility with hardware? To say I'm a bit disappointed in these benchmarks is an understatement. Overall, the systems is still fast, but it isn't as fast as expected according to the benchmarks.... Sharkyextreme ranked this setup to bench over 8000 in Final Fantasy, and a 40,000 Aquamark 3 score.

Any help would be greately appreciated.

Thanks!

Nuocmam

 

[Sideswipe001]

Did you install the VIA drivers?

 

[NeonFlak]

Just for a comparison, this is my current rig using winxp sp1.

A64 3000
ak86-l
2x512mb pc3200 (running ddr266)
9500 pro

With everything at stock:
Aquamark: 31,593
3dMark03: 3830
Final Fantasy: 4836 (that score is coming from memory)

 

[nuocmam23]

Yea, I'm really not sure why my system is benching so low. I'm running Windows XP Sp1 as well. I left all my settings at stock. The memory was reading fine as far as I can tell. I'm not quite sure what the CAS readings were since I'm at work and I can update with what they are reading if thats the problem..

I will try and install the VIA drivers, how vital is that Sideswipe001? Has anybody else had issues benching their system and was able to correct it in some form? If so please post the resolution, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Nuocmam

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001
Did you install the VIA drivers?

Yeah. Get the updated 4 and 1 drivers. http://www.viaarena.com/

"VIA Hyperion drivers"

 

[aphex]

I just tried aquamark;

A64 3200+
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
512 PC2100
Radeon 9700

AquaMark Score: 32681 (CPU: 6703, GFX: 4320)

 

[NeonFlak]

Is this a whole new pc or was it an upgrade? Have you tried a fresh install of xp? I would see what happens after you install the latest via's.

 

[nuocmam23]

This is a completely new system. Everything is new including, well everything ;P. I will try the VIA and see how that goes. Is there anything else I need to be looking at? I did enable the Cool and Quiet feature, and it seems to be working properly...1000Mhz and 2200Mhz under load. Idle Temp is 38 C, and Under load about 55 C or lower 50's.

The 6800 Ultra is from PNY, its reporting temps of about 61 C and under load I'm not sure. The default threshold temp was 111 C. I don't think it is the graphics card being limited. I did set the Nvidia image quality from Quality High back to Performance High and it didn't make much of a difference.

The interesting thing is that running the FF11 benchmark on low only yielded a 4700ish bench score while on High it was only 4500. You'd think it would leap going to low....

**Edit: Nevermind found the 4-1 Hyperion Driver you were mentioning will have to download it after work.

Nuocmam

 

[nuocmam23]

If this doesnt work, anybody got any other ideas I could try out?

Thanks for all your help thus far folks, I do appreciate it!

 

[Regs]

are you sure you're not forcing AA or AF?

 

[Mullzy]

Exactly what Regs said: Make sure AA and AF aren't being forced by your drivers. Set them to Application Preference and do your benchmarks again.

EDIT: Oh and make sure you aren't underclocking. Maybe your FSB is set to 266!

 

[Raspewtin]

I have a FX-53, some Corsair XMS Memory 1Gb , and A8V with a much worse graphics card than you (Radeon 9700 Pro) and a Raptor . It's pretty close to your setup although not as good overall. I get 44k on Aquamark clean install, 40k after a bunch of crap installed. You have nice Temps. Apparently the order you install the drivers, etc can have an effect. If it were me I'd do a clean install, SP1, then chipset drivers, then graphics driver, then the pci drivers. There are other things that can effect it. On the ATI if the card has to resize something on the DVI, it takes a big hit; not sure about the Geforce. BTW do you use on-board sound or something else? Just curious

I am worried about the 4k I lost in Aquamark and am trying to get it back. It is surprising how much of an effect configs have on performance

edit: Aquamark 3 I am talking about if that matters.

 

[Zebo]

Dude that's hella low. You should be scoring 63,000 aqua marks with that setup.

My felling is your processor in underclcoked in half. Post screenshots of CPU-Z and CPU-ID.


For comparison I get 53,000 with a FX5900 and $100 mobile barton.

 

[nuocmam23]

I'm currently using the Creative ZS 2 Audigy card for sound. Also I do recall that the graphics card settings was set and left at default to leave AA and AF to be application controlled rather then forced.

You guys mentioned underclocked. Still kinda new as to setting up a new PC, putting it all together is one thing, optimizing is another so please bear with me when I ask certain questions. Hehehe. Anyway, checking the FSB is done I'm assuming from the BIOS, all I remember seeing was my Hypertransport being set to...1000Mhz. If this is not what you are talking about I can verify, assuming I can find out where to view that setting. Also, Where can I view the CPU-Z and CPU-ID? Is that off a mobo utility?

Raspewtin, I will try this VIA update, if that doesn't work maybe I will try the order that you are mentioning and see if that works (Bah I gotta redownload the 1.5 hour FF11 Patch ;P).

Zebo, I totally agree, I'm utterly frustrated, although the PC is usable, I just can't believe its underperforming so much. In all honesty, can I go ahead and rule out hardware/processor failure and it possibly being a setting problem? At least then I can go ahead and RMA stuff out...

 

[aphex]

You can get CPU-Z right here; http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-123.zip

 

[Zebo]

Don't RMA anything until you post some screens. My processor booted at 600Mhz the first time now it's at 2700. I'm alomst positive you bios settings are underclcoking your system. Another alternative is a virus or malware is hogging all your CPU cycles while your benching..was this a fresh install? off any network?. Again post those screens along with task manager.

http://www.cpuid.com/

 

[Mullzy]

I'm not and AMD guy... but I'm pretty sure your motherboard should have set all the bus speeds appropriately. It's possible though that your bus speeds are low and therefore you are not running your chip (and memory) at full speed.

CPU-Z and CPU-ID are little apps that display this sort of information, so you can make sure your CPU & memory are all what they should be.

Regardless, I believe an AMD 3800+ should run at 2.4Ghz - so find any application that will display that information for you and make sure you aren't lower than that.

 

[nuocmam23]

Brand spanking new install, processes running as of last night was 28. I will take the SS and check it out tonite, maybe then you guys can help determine the problem. I appreciate all the posts guys, thanks for the advice, can't say it enough, I appreciate it.

 

[Mullzy]

Good point Zebo! You could have background processes or a virus taking up CPU cycles. The last install of XP I did, I had a virus before I could finish downloading all the OS patches.

EDIT: Oh and nuocmam23, it's not so much how many process are running, but how much CPU they are taking up. Before starting any benchmarking tool, open up Task Manager and sort the process by CPU. System Idle Process should be your top process hovering around 98%-99% (task manager itself will steal some cycles). If some other process is taking even 5-10% of your CPU it will hamper your FPS in any game or benchmark.

 

[Zebo]

The last install of XP I did, I had a virus before I could finish downloading all the OS patches.

Before even connecting a network cable there are four things that need to be done.

1) Use a HOSTS file and keep it updated! http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

2) Add SpywareBlaster which blocks Resricted malware sites in IE restricted zone...

3) Install an Antivirus program Like Free AVG

4) Be Behind a firewall

 

[Sideswipe001]

Originally posted by: nuocmam23

I will try and install the VIA drivers, how vital is that Sideswipe001?

Nuocmam

Very. I personally believe that the VIA drivers are your only problem. If you don't install them, then you don't install an AGP driver - which means that your video card gets neutered. It will cut your performance MAJORLY in anything that requires your video card.

Besides that, it installs other more optimized drivers for your motherboard's operation.

Like I said - unless one of the other guys is right, and your processor isn't set to run at full speed (unlikely), I think simply installing the VIA Hyperion drivers will solve your problems.

 

[nuocmam23]

Correction:

The Cool n' Quiet feature is actually reporting 2.4 and not 2.2, sorry about that.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001

Originally posted by: nuocmam23

I will try and install the VIA drivers, how vital is that Sideswipe001?

Nuocmam

Very. I personally believe that the VIA drivers are your only problem. If you don't install them, then you don't install an AGP driver - which means that your video card gets neutered. It will cut your performance MAJORLY in anything that requires your video card.

Besides that, it installs other more optimized drivers for your motherboard's operation.

Like I said - unless one of the other guys is right, and your processor isn't set to run at full speed (unlikely), I think simply installing the VIA Hyperion drivers will solve your problems.

We was'nt trying to trump your good advice...just offering other alternatives when he gets home.

One thing for sure he did'nt read the motherboard manual where it says clear as day~

in this order

1. Install OS
2. Install Service packs
3. Install Via 4 in 1
4. Install device drivers such as AGP, Sound etc
etc etc etc

 

[Sideswipe001]

Originally posted by: Zebo

We was'nt trying to trump your good advice...just offering other alternatives when he gets home.

One thing for sure he did'nt read the motherboard manual where it says clear as day~

in this order

1. Install OS
2. Install Service packs
3. Install Via 4 in 1
4. Install device drivers such as AGP, Sound etc
etc etc etc

It's okay. I just felt like he didn't believe me, so I decided to be more specific.

A lot of things could degrade performance, you are right, and everyone should give as many ideas as they can (until he can get home and test them out).

 

[nuocmam23]

Hmm.. I will re-look at that again. I was sure that I went through the manual carefully as I was installing. May have overlooked it by accident as I'm sure everyone has done before. I'm only human!!! ;P
I spent forever prior to installing the OS trying to get the SATA drivers to load when installing XP >.<

Looks to be that the VIA driver is my problem. I'll give an update once the VIA update is installed. Should I just remove the graphics card including drivers and install the VIA update and then reinstall the graphics card? Or would I need to reinstall the OS, and go from there?

Thanks!

PS: Sideswipe - No way man, I trusted your advice, as well as everyone else who posted 110%. I wanted other ideas so I could go ahead and test additional areas in case the VIA update didn't help. I wanted to be fully armed with various trouble shooting thoughts instead of having to revist later on tonite and wait for these additional ideas to be posted. So far this msg board has been a big help.