BFG 6800GT OC

[druthelen]

I got my shiny new system

AMD64 3500+
BFG 6800GT OC
MSI Neo2 Platinum S939 motherboard
2Gb kingston value ram (DDR400 in dual channel, in slots dimm1 & dimm2)
...all at stock speeds. rock stable.
I think this can be considered as a balanced system (cpu vs gpu); once fully configured; I plan to keep it like that for 2 years at least.

The CPU test (SiSoft Sandra) runs correctly, and the integer performance outperform a P4 3.4... so, no problem there. memtest86 flawless.
Clean WinXP Pro SP2 install, nvidia video+mobo (nforce) drivers are up to date. BIOS settings for memory/AGP/voltages are all to [Auto]/[Default]

But in 3dmark05 ... i think a comparable system would be over 4500
i got:
3dmark05: 3700
3dmark03: 10800
aquamark: 59000
doom3 timedemo1 HQ 1024: 69fps

While this is not bad... from what I can gather, I think the results are 5-15% lower than comparable systems (running at stock speed too).

Any advide on how I can find the culprit in the slowdown? (if, slowdown there is)
Are there good tools for that?

 

[302efi]

I know every system is different, my combo consit of:

MSi K7N2 Delta L
2200 XP @stock speeds
2x256 dual channel Kingston value ram
EVGA 6800 Ultra Astock speeds
550w MadDog PSU....Nice Power supply!

..in 3DMark05 I toped out at a best of 5125

What kinda PSUyou using ??

 

[druthelen]

It's a Antec Sonata case, with 380W true power. Should be enough. (300W is the requirement for the 6800GT)

If the PS was not enough or the power cable badly connected; I would have stability issues I think (?)

 

[302efi]

Originally posted by: druthelen

If the PS was not enough or the power cable badly connected; I would have stability issues I think (?)

Yeah you should have stability issues if the PSU was a problem...how many programs are running in the back round ?

 

[druthelen]

No process in background or "bloatware" installed, it's a clean XP Pro install. (well, maybe MSN messenger was running... but that would'nt count for much. )

 

[druthelen]

And... by seeing you have Kingston value ram also .... and a pretty high score. I then dont think the problem is my "mainstream" ram. Yeah, my top score should be lower than a 6800 ultra; but still...

 

[BentValve]

Do you have the latest Forceware drivers installed from Guru3D ? If not then this is your problem.

 

[tbird911]

I bought this card based on reviews and research . . .
I have amd 3200+, 1 gig ram, true power 430 watt p/s , ASUS KV8 Deluxe. . .
I have had no compatibility. minute freezes, or compatibility issues of any kind. I went from and ATI 9700pro and have been super impressed with this card. Mine has the factory "custom" cooler and I get @62 idle up to @80 after hours of play. Autodetect gives core and memory of 418/1.02. Most of the people that have problems with this model of card, have other issues with their set-up and tend to point fingers at the card.

3dmark2003 = 12189

 

[druthelen]

Ah... forceware = beta drivers more performant?

I am using the default drivers downloaded from the nvidia website.


If so... this may be it; i'll try it ASAP this evening.

Excuse then my performance-newbie question

 

[druthelen]

About the BFG I got... I received the one with the "reference" cooler; even if I bought it last week. Maybe BFG went back to the reference cooler?

The idle temperature is 57 (it tells a ambient temperature of 37 ).
I didnt yet measure the max temperature; after a 3dmark run; it was at 59...

 

[302efi]

Your temps are right on the money. I'm using the beta 61.88 drivers in mine and I anit came across a problem yet.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Hrm.....I think I got close to 5,000 with my rig with the 61.77's. Make sure you have DX9.0c installed. Run CPU-Z to double-check that all components are operating at correct speed. Check AGP settings? Lastly, try some intensive games like Far Cry/D3. If you experience less that spectacular results there, then you might have a problem.
Otherwise, write it off as 3DMark being worthless as usual.

 

[imported_Harbinger]

It sure has to be driver. With 61.77 less than 4k is not that wrong. you should be close to 5k range with 66.81 or similar new drivers.

 

[druthelen]

Thanks all, I check that ASAP and will report my conclusions.

 

[druthelen]

Ok! The forceware drivers helped a lot.

3dmark05 = 4600 (were 3700 with non-beta nvidia drivers)
3dmark03 = 11200 (were 10900)

I think these are very normal results for a stock speed system like mine ( AMD3500+ , GF 6800 OC)

Doom 3 is more explicit: (No AA)
demo1 1024x768 HQ = 88.4 fps
demo1 1600x1200 HQ = 66 fps

These results are clearly 15% _higher_ than the results from the doom3 tomshardware article.


So... I'm pretty happy with all that. Everything is running fine. Thanks for the advices