Doom3 Timedemo fps

[GamerAT240]

Hi, I know this is another Doom3 thread, but hopefully you guru's can give me some advice which would be great.

I've just built this system

Athlon 2800+XP
512 (2x256)MB Geil Ram [in Dual Channel Mode]
Maxtor 80GB 7200 HD
Galaxy GeForce 6800 GT
Abit NF7 nForce2 Mobo

This is my first ever PC I've built myself so I know nothing of voltages, timings etc, I just set the complete setup to "Optimal" in the BIOS.

In Doom3 at 1024x768 2xAA - High Detail , I get 57fps. Now I know I am limited by my RAM, I really needa get 1024 which I will, but I ran it a few times to take out any judders to make sure the HardDrive wasn't whirling away.
Do you think this is an OK mark for the setup ?

The only thing I've done since installing WinXP is install the GF drivers and the NForce2 drivers, nothing else (and Doom3 obviously).

If this is standard considering the RAM (and possibly/probably CPU) then I'm happy. Just flustrates me if with this setup I'm not getting enough.

If I'm CPU limited, would OCing to a 3200+ help any? (Though I imagine another 512 ram will help the most).

Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers.

 

[Actaeon]

You are CPU Limited, OC it if you can.

Crank the resolution up! I have mine at 1600x1200, 2xAA, High Detail. With the 65.76s, I was pushing 55.2fps in the time demo.

I have a rig similar to yours, except I have alittle faster cpu and more memory. I'm sure you could crank it to 1600x1200 and manage at least 50fps at the time demo.

 

[PrayForDeath]

I've heard a 6800GT doesn't perform well on 1600x1200 on an Athlon XP coupled with slow RAM, which means you will have to OC your CPU to get the most out of your video card, and what are your RAM speeds and timings? You could set your timings to atleast: 5-2-2-2.5 just like mine, since we have somehow similar systems.

 

[BW86]

i wish i had a 6800gt well i guess i get good fps on high at 1024 with a 9800pro (53.6)

 

[rumptis]

I have noticed that Doom 3 uses alot of memory I have 512 and could use more.

 

[Terranboy]

Actually AnandT did a article about that. 1gb shows no better performance than 512mb

 

[Todd33]

Dual channel on AMD was a waste, 256MB DIMM are not too useful.

 

[Corporate Thug]

more ram

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks for the info guys,

The RAM is Geil 2x256 DDR400, but since the CPU is an Athlon 2800+ with 333Mhz FSB I can't get the most out of the ram.
I don't know what the timings are because I've never fiddled with them before, the BIOS is doing everything on "Auto" mode. In fact the ratio of RAM speed to FSB is also on "Auto" so I don't know if its running them both at 333, or doing a 5:6 ratio and running the RAM faster.

I have a ThermalTake TR2 M4 CPU cooler so I could probably OC the CPU a decent bit.

I don't think more RAM will boost the timedemo mark because I ran it a few times and there were no judders the 2nd and 3rd times, but there are "new room judders" while playing the actual game on High settings, and when I drop it to medium they go away.

For example
1024x768 - High Detail - All Effects on [except VSync] - AAx2 = Judders walking into new room.
1600x1200 - Medium Detail - All Effects on [except VSync] - AAx8 = Smooth as a pancake

So I presume that more RAM will help this specfic issue, though not the TimeDemo fps.

And I should OC the CPU to get the Timedemo up a bit then ?



Also : Funny thing is I can't find an AGP speed setting in the BIOS, there is AGP frequency, AGP voltage, speed band (I think or something like it) but nothing refering to x4 or x8, so I presume it's running at x8.

 

[PrayForDeath]

You can also check it from your SMARTGART settings, in the ATI control panel.
And since you've got a good cooler for your CPU, you should be able to overclock to atleast 3200+, and set the CPU/RAM ratio to 1:1 because you get the most performance when the CPU and RAM are synchronized. That should help you alot with your timedemo.
And as for your your "new room judders" problem, I think more RAM will solve that, it also help in other games, FarCry for example was like night and day between 512bm and 1024Mb on very high quality textures.

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks, I'll see can I get another 512 Geil stick. I've been told by the mobo supplier that if I add another 512 stick to DIMM1 (where the 2 256 chips are in 2+3) that it should still run in DualChannel mode.

As for the SmartGart, since I have a nVidia I don't have it, is there an nVidia equivalent or a 3rd party program. Maybe I should check the Galaxy CD because it had a few OC tools etc.

 

[kamranziadar]

trade that 6800GT With Me.