Smoking Onions: 3D Mark scores on new Dell

[Bear196]

Just bought a new PC (dudes, I got a dell) and am amazed at the 3D Marks its posting.

Amazed at how low they are that is!

System specs:

P4 2.25 Intel 512 cache
Maxtor 40gig, 7200RPM
Intel 850E chipset
Ti2100 64mb
512 mb Samsung RDRAM

With everything stock and OCing the Geforce 3 to 225/480 my 3DMark 2001 is 8140, compared to Mad Onion's database average of over 8200 for systems using the Ti 200. Running the bench several times (including reboots) verified this is about all the juice my Dell's got.

My processor, memory (RDRAM 40ns, CL2), chipset (850E) and bus (533FSB) are about as fast as they make 'em right now. My processor is within 5-10% of the best, and I'm overclocking at roughly the type of levels I see posted on Anandtech.

My question: is my rig getting smoked 'cos I'm running a stock system when everyone else in osting using tricked up systems, or is the DBSM guy for 3D Mark smoking onions?

PS: Don't flame me for getting a Dell. My IQ is as low as my spare time.

 

[Lvis]

Got the latest drivers? Just a thought.

 

[Bear196]

Yes, using the just released detonators 2.9.4.2 for the Ti200.

The old drivers were pushing around 7,100. Hope Nvidia pays these guys a lot of money...that's as much diffrence as spending $200 bucks with Intel!

 

[Vrangel]

You probably have a ton of software installed on it
and running on a background. Disable all you can.

Better yet reformat HD and install only what you need.
Back when I was buying new systems from Dell
thats what I did to get performance.

 

[Ryan]

As a good suggestion, on all prebuild computers, I would reformat the hard drive and do a clean install of the OS. It'll remove TONS of clutter that DELL put on your system,

 

[bjc112]

8100 isn't too bad at all, 9000 would be a decent range, lots of things that can affect that...

Hey, its smokin... 3dmark means notttttttaaa...

Enjoy your rig...

 

[MrCodeDude]

There are a few ways too boost your score. I turned off my USB ports in BIOS and it added 400 points to my score. Turn off V-Sync and AA. Get RivaTuner or some proggie like that and it will be your new best friend
-- mrcodedude

 

[nortexoid]

what the?

what is the point of disabling your ports, etc. to get a higher 3dmark score?...that is too funny.
i suppose some get carried away.

but anyway, did u run 3dmark at its default 1024 @ 16-bit (or is it 32-bit?)...

also, i wouldn't be too concerned...most people's scores are run off tricked out systems...

 

[Bear196]

My scores wre for 32-bit color.

With office and all the Dell "extras", I'm already up to 8GB disk usage and I've got peripherals hanging off 5 USB ports.

Thanks guys for the great feedback - I was worried I'll have to fry my video card and refrigerate my box to get "average" 3DMarks!!!

 

[EdipisReks]

dude, that is not a score to be worried about you have a nice system, and i'm sure it runs all of your programs beautifully. don't get hung up on 3dmark, and just enjoy your system.

 

[Bear196]

Actually, the reason I was worried was that morrowind runs at 30FPS, a bit faster now that i have the no CD crack and turned down some settings.

Despite shelling out clams a few weeks ago for it, I think I'm going to stop playing this game. Getting around the game world is seriously painful! Life is too short to play Breton fighter that runs like my grandmother

 

[etalns]

Bear196, one of the reasons that it is posting lower scores also is because of the fact it using lower-end parts in comparison to most self built systems. The only companies out there which offer computers with high end parts pre-built, are Alienware etc, which cost an arm and a leg.

I wouldn't be concerned though.

Now, this is not to say that all Dells parts are low-end before people bite me in the backside.

They just pop in lower-end power supplies, they dont have as much cooling in order to keep the computer as silent as possible, and their mobos are probably their biggest problem.

 

[Bear196]

I'm really curious if Dell shaves costs by using cheap parts. I'm no expert, so any feedback on evidence of this would give me food for thought on my next purchase:

The following is what Dell put under the hood of my 8200 Dimension ($1500):

Processor and motherboard: Intel P4 (2.26GHz) and i850E
Hard Disk: Maxtor 6L040J2, 40GB ATA100 7200RPM
Videocard : Microstar MSI Ti200
Soundcard: Creative Soundblaster Live! (Value)
Memory: Samsung PC800, 40ns CL2
Network: 3Com 3C905C-TX Fast Etherlink
Modem: Conexant HSF V92 56K Data Fax PCI (not used)

Dell is not a performance brand like Alienware, and part of my decision to go with Dell recognised there would be a tradeoff between convenience and relaibility against performance. This is OK but getting a crippled system is less cool

Opinions welcome: I?m happy (and hope to stay so) but has Dell pinched too many of my pennies?

PS: Anadtech review of the MSI Ti200 put it in the same oveclock range as the Gainward CardExpert at 250/515 (See http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1495&p=1)

 

[LarryJoe]

I am getting 8900 on my rig (see sig). I am running a stock GF3 at 220/520. In my opinion, that is a good score you have there. Enjoy the new rig and play some games and stop worrying about 3dmark. DELL makes great boxes at unbeatable prices. Everytime someone asks me to build them a system, I send them to DELL and make them put the support 800 number on their speed dial

 

[Bear196]

Larry Joe

Thanks dude.

Advice taken.. Jedi Knight rocks!

 

[LarryJoe]

No prob, and welcome to Anandtech

 

[Rectalfier]

Yeah Dood. That score looks good to me. You are only 60 points off the average. That is a very small difference, and is likely due to the fact that the other people who submitted their score are running at 500Mhz memory.

 

[Booster]

Your score is slightly lower b/c of the mainboard - it most likely doesn't have any tweak options. I used to be a speed zealot myself, but having run into several issues that sucked my time away to solve I went with Intel moboards and I felt like I was breathing fresh air, all my troubles and headaches were gone forever. It's my third Intel moboard, and nothing will ever make me get an ASUS or an Epox or whatever. No way.