<Rant> Just finished my new build...but I'm not that impressed...(UPDATE)

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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Update - 2/25/05, 4:35PM
Welp, it damn sure was the chipset drivers!

Installed the latest VIA 4 in 1's (4.55), installed the 71.25 Forceware drivers, and now it's better than it was in the Dell. Temps are back to where they were as well, so I don't know if that's an issue w/ the beta forcewares that I had running last night (75.90).

Areas that were ~25-30fps last night are now 45-55fps, with even more settings enabled than with the Dell! Lovin it! :D

Just fyi: 1680x1050, 4xAA 4xAF in WoW

Thanks to EVERYONE for their help! :)
-Ben-

(Dell) Old Setup: P4 2.4B, 512MB DDR333, 160gb & 8mb cache IDE drives.
New Setup: AMD64 3200+ on an Asus K8V SE Deluxe(with cheese ;)), 1GB DDR400, 74gb Raptor, Antec Sonata

In the old machine I was using a BFG 6800GT OC, and brought it over to the new one (the one w/ the Blue LED 2-Fan cooler.)

The performance gains in Windows are definitely noticeable, but so is the increased noise over the Dell, and the increased Heat. The BFG seems to have ~5C higher idle temps(64-66), and that number approaches low 70s when the case is all closed up.

As I just mentioned, the noise is a little annoying as well - I guess I got too used to the Dell being silent - even w/ the BFG it was nowhere near as loud as the Sonata is now. It's the stock 120mm in the rear, the cooler on the BFG (which I read was crap for the most part), and whatever fan came on the 3200+ (Got that bundle from last November from AMD - might be a Tt fan?) Either way it's a bit too much.

In playing World of Warcraft, I've definitely noticed smoother Gryphon rides, but other than that FPS seem to have actually decreased. That might just be because I was using the 75.90 drivers that just came out, so I'm going to rollback on those later tonight and see if I get any improvements.

So - what do you guys think? Is it my fault in expecting too much, or the machines? :)

Thanks!
-Ben-

</Rant>
 

So the only thing you are unhappy with is the case fans making to much noise? They make silent case fans.
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: buck
So the only thing you are unhappy with is the case fans making to much noise? They make silent case fans.
Click to expand...

I suppose so, but then again I think that I was expecting a bit more graphical improvement, but we'll see when I change the drivers.

btw running games @ 1680x1050
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
Run 3D Mark 03/05 on both systems. That will tell you which is performing better when gaming.
AS for the noise, I find my rear case fan very quiet. I do hear the other 120mm fan (Thermaltake :( ) I installed, and the HD spinning up is fairly loud too.
Panaflo is supposed to make very quiet fans. If the noise really bother you, replace the case fan(s) with quieter ones, and consider replacing the PSU fan also. Even though the PSU is a single fan design, it's not exactly quiet.
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Fan == moving parts != silent.

Nit picking I know. You meant there are 'more efficient quieter fans'

And game frame rates are dependant mostly on the video card. Given how long you've been here and your post count, you should know that. :p
 
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imported_NoGodForMe

Senior member
May 3, 2004
452
0
0
Did you install the AGP drivers for the MB?

The thing about the graphics is that you are running the same card, so how can it improve besides getting more FPS?
I dunno, something isn't right. You should be getting a huge jump in FPS.
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: NoGodForMe
Did you install the AGP drivers for the MB?

The thing about the graphics is that you are running the same card, so how can it improve besides getting more FPS?
I dunno, something isn't right. You should be getting a huge jump in FPS.
Click to expand...

Yeah, FPS, that's what I'm talkin about ;)

They're actually a bit lower than where they were before. Could just be the drivers that I was using~

Edit: Not exactly sure on the AGP drivers either...got some VIA 4in1's that I didn't install...~ :confused:
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
I installed everything on mine and was disappointed also. I ran 3d Mark 03 and got 8500 which is way low. I then installed the latest NF3 chipset drivers and wow, what a change. 3D Mark went up to 11900. :)
Moral: Update all your drivers, especially the chipset drivers.
 
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Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
0
0
I think your first mistake was getting a Via based board. IIRC you also need to install the Via hyperion drivers to get any good 3D performance

You could also OC the CPU. The 3200+ has a lot of headroom. But again, IIRC you're limited to 220MHz on the Via board.
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: Amaroque
I think your first mistake was getting a Via based board. IIRC you also need to install the Via hyperion drivers to get any good 3D performance

You could also OC the CPU. The 3200+ has a lot of headroom. But again, IIRC you're limited to 220MHz on the Via board.
Click to expand...

Yeah it was one of those Hot Deals that I just kind of jumped into w/o reading too much into the specs of what I was actually getting, so in part it is my own fault. I'm going to see what I can do about the VIA drivers and my nvidia drivers, and hopefully I'll see a difference when I get those installed~
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Originally posted by: Amaroque

Via Hyperion
Click to expand...

Thanks - hopefully they help!

The only reason I didn't install the 4-1 drivers that came on the CD because I was leery about using them as I had problems w/ 4-1's in the past on my old Asus A7M266~
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
Originally posted by: Amaroque

Via Hyperion
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
This should help quite a bit.

As for the Via S939 boards, if you don't plan to OC, IMO they're just fine. If you do plan to OC, you will be limited by the board.
 
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Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
0
0
Originally posted by: thawolfman
I'm assuming that's the same for the S754 VIA boards, as amarogue mentioned?
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention, you need to select the chipset/platform driver. Here's the supported chipsets...

K7 chipsets: KT400, KT400A, KT600, KT880, KM400, KN400

K8 chipsets: K8T800, K8T800Pro, K8M800, K8T890, K8T890Pro

P4 chipsets: P4X400, P4X400A, PT800, PT880, PM800, PM880, PT894
Click to expand...
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Yeah, I got that all set to download. In my last post I was talking more about overclocking ability w/ the 754s vs the 939s
 
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jeffrey

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2000
1,790
0
0
Swap the 120mm fan for a Panaflo 120mm L1A.
Great air movement with little noise.
I have 3 of them and love them all!
 
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Alex

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 1999
6,995
0
0
Originally posted by: buck
So the only thing you are unhappy with is the case fans making to much noise? They make silent case fans.
Click to expand...

:roll:

wolfman try the same drivers... its totally impossible for frame rates to drop with the same card when you've upgraded everything else around it quite a bit.. UNLESS nvidia has a feature in their drivers similar to ATIs where the clock speed is dynamically increased or decreased depending on temps etc, so you mentioned the card is hotter so maybe it is runnign slower. i personally dont use nvidia video cards (go canada!!) so this could be a longshot...
my $0.02

-frang
 
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thawolfman

Lifer
Dec 9, 2001
11,107
0
76
Yeah, I'm really starting to feel that not installing those VIA 4in1s is making some sort of difference. In addition to that the latest beta drivers might have been an issue as well - I dropped to the 71.81's and my screen was like wrapped around, so I'm yet to change those drivers, but I will be later on tonight~
 
JBDan

JBDan

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2004
2,333
0
0
Originally posted by: Amaroque
I think your first mistake was getting a Via based board. IIRC you also need to install the Via hyperion drivers to get any good 3D performance

You could also OC the CPU. The 3200+ has a lot of headroom. But again, IIRC you're limited to 220MHz on the Via board.
Click to expand...

Newer Via based boards are just fine. Its his drivers, both chipset and GFX card that are giving him slower FPS performance. Use 4.55 (do NOT install VIA's agp driver if you have SP2 WinXP: untick in setup) for your chipset and use any WHQL Nvidia driver. 66.93 (Nov) is still up on Nvidia's website, but there are many newer WHQL'd drivers out now. Try fastwrites on and off. My VIA based 939 board oc's just dandy! As for the noise I just got some pannies and SilenX's and use speedfan 4.20 (PWM) to automatically adjust rpms at certain temps. Get a good 120mm for the rear (atleast ~60cfm), softmount it, and use either speedfan or a controller to reduce the noise. That cooler on your gfx card has been flamed often for its noise. For your HSF, an xp120 with a 120mm 1200 rpm'er is what I use and if ya got the funds and your mobo is compatible, then the thermalright solution is tops for low temps. (for air cooling) You can also use speedfan for your present HSF.
 
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