Guess The Bottleneck thread

[Harabecw]

Hello!
I've been running this comp for a while now and I can't figure out the bottleneck.

Linkage for 3dmark2001SE score. forget the score...I'm looking at mostly the car chase high detail. that is with everything set to performance...AA/AF off.

Specs:
Asus P4S533-VM sis651 chipset
P4 2.4B(at 2.4)
512MB DDR2100
Powercolor Radeon 9700NP(I flashed a new bios so it shows as a Pro. its a non-pro though).
WD 40GB HD
Integrated AC'97 audio.

now, the bench runs without audio, and messing with accelleration made no difference so thats not it.
the interesting bit is that SANDRA reported memory transfer rate of about 1670mb/sec, quite a lot below the 2000-2100 I'm *supposed* to get.
OC'ing FSB to 145 to get 2.6ghz cpu got a me a bit better result. memory transfer was, I think, about 1900 at that speed.

So, any suggestions on what to check? I'm not a 3dmark freak and I run games with FSAA+AF on as well as quality settings, but I want to get the most out of the system

 

[bgeh]

imo, its the mobo's memory controller and the RAM itself that is limiting you

 

[Harabecw]

does that chipset have any issues/particulary bad performance that you are aware of?
I could get 333ddr ram for this, but if 2100 performs like this I dont see how I would benefit :/
edit: also, what is bad about the memory controller? which motherboards have better ones?

 

[bgeh]

the mem controller is ok, but i'd take a i845pe over this anytime

 

[human2k]

Originally posted by: bgeh
imo, its the mobo's memory controller and the RAM itself that is limiting you

 

[bjc112]

Crank that FSB up and see how high you can push that memory... see if you can at least do 150+ or so..

 

[Harabecw]

system locks at ~145FSB...I'm guessing it is the memory.
problem is, the CPU temps rise to ridiculous levels if I do that.
its hot in here even with good cooling.

 

[Apotherix]

Yeah, It is definently the memory. You probably want at least pc2700 or even 3200. I'd get Kingston or Corsair, depending on your budget.

 

[Harabecw]

unlike before, the system locks when I load CPUcool. odd...I didn't change anything.

how are motherboard prices now? price in stores, not in newegg etc, since that is what I can get

what would you recommend for this P4?
I suppose I can get PC2700. we'll see...

 

[Harabecw]

updatish: the gigabyte 8IEXP looks like the best of the 845E mobos...think it would be nice?

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Harabecw
unlike before, the system locks when I load CPUcool. odd...I didn't change anything.

how are motherboard prices now? price in stores, not in newegg etc, since that is what I can get

what would you recommend for this P4?
I suppose I can get PC2700. we'll see...

Get some 3200... Might as well, its only a few dollars more, will give more headroom when overclocking and all around just faster.

 

[NokiaDude]

How fast is that WD hard drive? 5400 or 7200 rpms? ATA33/66/100?? 2mb or 8mb cache?

 

[Harabecw]

not sure about that...in SANDRA its a better faster than an ATA100 7.2k RPM 2mb cache HD.

 

[touchmyichi]

its the memory, get yourself a cheap intel PE board and some fast pc 3500 ddr from kingson for about 150 bucks total, that will do the trick.

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: touchmyichi
its the memory, get yourself a cheap intel PE board and some fast pc 3500 ddr from kingson for about 150 bucks total, that will do the trick.

i agree. you'll also need better ram(PC2700 and above)

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: Harabecw
system locks at ~145FSB...I'm guessing it is the memory.
problem is, the CPU temps rise to ridiculous levels if I do that.
its hot in here even with good cooling.

imo, it may be the lack of PCI lock on SIS boards doing that(if i remember correctly, SIS boards do not have PCI lock)

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Why do people buy SiS chipset motherboards?
Just to save them a couple dollars? I could never figure it out.

Anyway your memory is a safe bet on the limitations. I noticed you failed to mention a brand, and is probably running @ CAS 2.5 or 3 with relaxed timings.
If your going to get a budget 845 board. I would suggest a Abit BH7 or Albatron PX845PEV Pro.
Slap in some Kingston HyperX and you'll be very happy .

 

[Harabecw]

actually I can't find any mention of brand on the memory. only a stick that says its a stick of 256MB PC2100 RAM (2 of them).

Also, I got a sis chipset because I didn't know any better.
only after I got the new comp I ventured to places like anandtech whom I left a few years ago and got all the new info

 

[Harabecw]

I suppose I don't need a new thread for this...
I dont know which motherboards are available here, although I do know I can get all of gigabyte's.

So, for a P4 2.4B, which one would you recommend? price matters so no canterwoods

 

[bgeh]

i'd get the i865(springdale) or i845pe mobo

 

[Harabecw]

the 845PE chipset looks good.
the springdale isn't even listed on Intel's site yet
tomorrow I'll get some prices as well as available models.

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

Looks to me that there's a 4:3 memory ratio divider at work here. Does your system bios offer any such option? On my P4B533-VM, the 3:4 mem ratio would a yield a Sandra memory score of ~1600mb/s when the fsb was set to 133 (makes sense: 133fsb = 2100mb/s, 100fsb [effective] = 1600mb/s.)

Hope that helps.

 

[tapir]

isnt Sis 651 an integrated graphics chipset?
maybe make sure your integrated graphics in switched off in the BIOS, if it was enabled it would be causing those low low memory bandwidth scores.

i did not think that this chipset performed so low below theoretical bandwidth, seems like theres something else at work