Unsatisfactory Results with benchmarking

[xxh3llfirexx]

Hi, I recently upgraded to a Radeon Hd 4850 @ stock settings. However, I feel that performance is not quite as good as it could be, and I am guessing that it is because of my CPU (AMD 5600+ X2). Is it possible that it could be bottlenecking my performance?
Such results include:
3dmark06 - 9900 3dmarks
COD4- 60-90 FPS in the mission All Ghillied Up, max settings @ 1440x900
L4D- average FPS around 70-80, lowest- 35 ish
My CPU is stock clocked, btw.
So yeah, can anyone confirm this and possibly explain to me why it is like that? I know other people are getting higher results with the same VCard, so idk.
Thanks in advance

 

[RallyMaster]

That CPU is most definitely a bottleneck for the HD4850. I would pair the HD4850 with nothing short of a Core 2 Quad at 3GHz.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

C2Q at 3GHz? Surely you jest. Is your motherboard AM2+? If so, it might be time for an upgrade.

 

[RallyMaster]

I do not. By moving the HD4850 from a 3.16GHz C2D system to a 3GHz C2Q system saw minimum frame rates go up by almost 15 fps. Quad cores are also much more useful now with games finally utilizing all four cores.

 

[videogames101]

C2D is fine, quad definitely not required.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
That CPU is most definitely a bottleneck for the HD4850. I would pair the HD4850 with nothing short of a Core 2 Quad at 3GHz.

I would say that a C2Q (or Phenom II X4) is an optimal mate for a 4850, but the "nothing short" is a bit much. A Phenom II X3 or C2D e7x00/e8x00 would also be very good matches.

xxh3llfirexx, your 3DMark score is appropriate for your configuration. 3DMark is a synthetic benchmark, and as such is not truly representative of true gaming performance. It also includes a "CPU" score that can have undue influence over the overall score. For example, most games perform identically with a 3 Ghz dual core or a 3 Ghz quad. However, 3DMark will assign a higher score to the quad simply because it's a higher performing chip.

As BlueAcolyte says, if you have an AM2+ motherboard you could upgrade to a Phenom II for fairly cheap, and get a big boost in measured performance. However, if you are getting a minimum fps of at least 30 with your setup now, you are in good shape and not in dire need of an upgrade.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

I get 9900 in 3DMark06 with my setup, and my L4D framerates are comparable to yours. Only in some rare extreme cases do I see my L4D framerate drop below 40, so I'm pretty sure your CPU is holding you back in this game. As for CoD4, I can only comment on the demo. For me, the demo does not see the framerates you are getting with your HD4850, so obviously the CPU isn't a deal breaker in this game. But for 3DMark and L4D, I would definitely say it is holding you back.

 

[xxh3llfirexx]

I think that COD4 is more GPU intensive, so i'm getting higher frame rates than you. The mission that I tested in (All Ghillied Up) is the one that tests the graphics more than any other map, more than it tests CPU.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: xxh3llfirexx
I think that COD4 is more GPU intensive, so i'm getting higher frame rates than you. The mission that I tested in (All Ghillied Up) is the one that tests the graphics more than any other map, more than it tests CPU.

60-90 FPS @ max detail is pretty good depending upon your minimums I'm jealous.

Download and install CPUz.

If your X2 5600 is a 'Windsor' it will be clocked at 2.8GHz and your RAMs will be running 800MHz.

If your X2 5600 is a 'Brisbane' it will be clocked at 2.9GHz and your RAMs will be running at 725MHz.

It is rather simple to increase the AMD base clock on a Brisbane from 200MHz to 220MHz. This will bring your cpu clock to 3.2GHz and your RAMs will be running at spec 800MHz.


And LOLOLOLOL at the FanBoy who sez nothing short of a ""...Core 2 Quad at 3GHz...""

 

[xxh3llfirexx]

When i bought it, it didn't say Windsor or Brisbane on it or anything like that, but it was clocked at 2.8ghz. that's about all i know

 

[LoneNinja]

Originally posted by: xxh3llfirexx
Hi, I recently upgraded to a Radeon Hd 4850 @ stock settings. However, I feel that performance is not quite as good as it could be, and I am guessing that it is because of my CPU (AMD 5600+ X2). Is it possible that it could be bottlenecking my performance?
Such results include:
3dmark06 - 9900 3dmarks
COD4- 60-90 FPS in the mission All Ghillied Up, max settings @ 1440x900
L4D- average FPS around 70-80, lowest- 35 ish
My CPU is stock clocked, btw.
So yeah, can anyone confirm this and possibly explain to me why it is like that? I know other people are getting higher results with the same VCard, so idk.
Thanks in advance

I would say your cpu is your bottle neck, I just ran through No Mercy, The Apartments max settings @ 1440x900. I've got the Athlon X2 7750 @ 2.8Ghz and an ATI Radeon 4670 and averaged 60-70 fps. I managed as high as 136 and the absolute low I hit( I shot the car and set the alarm off) was 37 fps. I also score about 7500 in 3DMark06

 

[JASTECH]

I get 10,492 3DMark06 with my setup stock. I too would like to OC it if anyone can give me a walk through?

Or is does my system have a bottleneck somewhere?

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: JASTECH
I get 10,492 with my setup stock. I too would like to OC it if anyone can give me a walk through?

Or is does my system have a bottleneck somewhere?

Thanks, JASTECH

Here you go:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2057083&enterthread=y

 

[Rhoxed]

I have a 4850 in a 9850BE @ 3.33 scoring 14,686 in 3mark06

FWIW, the 4850 in a phenom 9550 @ 2.8 it scored 13,000

 

[JASTECH]

Flipped Gazelle, Thanks! I will have to give a a try as the other OC I copied off a forum made my system boot and shut down so I am back to Optimized settings for each page. I also took my SONY G520 off the desk and set a Planar PX2611W and out of the box I can say WOW! This monitor
is very nice indeed.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[Eddie313]

I went from amd 6000+ with 8800GTS g92 sli 3dmark06 score 13,900
To E8400 With ONE 8800GTS G92 3dmark score 14,500 added the other one for sli and overclocked the intel e8400 to 4.2 hit 18,900 3dmark score

The am2 x2 do very much bottle neck the crap out of that video card.
Would say the 9950 phenom and up or e8400 and up will do great.

 

[Rick James]

Processor is KILLING you.

Single 4470 - 14K
Xfire - 24K

 

[fffblackmage]

perhaps a good time to overclock and see if that'll increase framerates/score? then you'll know =D

 

[Munky]

3dmock is a useless POS that in no way represents actual gaming performance, I don't see why anyone would care what score it gives you. Besides, 60-90 fps at max settings is perfectly normal and playable, not sure why anyone would care about bottlenecking with those results or think they should be getting noticeably higher fps with a 4850.