Weird 8800GTS problemo

[Agentbolt]

When running my processor stock, I am getting scores of about 7600 in 3DMark06 with my rig (specs in sig). However, now that I've bumped up the FSB to 375 and gotten the processor running at 3.36 GHZ, I'm getting scores of roughly 3500!!

Stock: 7266 3DMarks
S.M. 2.0: 3357
S.M. 3.0: 3534
CPU: 1541

OCed to 375x9: 3648 3DMarks
S.M. 2.0: 1417
S.M. 3.0: 1274
CPU: 2794


I've tried everything I can think of. I've rolled back the drivers from 100.64 to 100.59, but nothing. I've tried locking the PCI-E speed to 100 MHZ, I've also tried running it at above 100 MHZ but I BSOD during the loading screen for Vista every time.

I thought newer boards had the PCI frequencies locked anyways? Since clearly OCing the processor is what's causing the issue, I'm assuming the frequency is all messed up?


I'm so stuck and frustrated. I haven't changed anything else I can think of. The power's hooked up, it's seated properly, and there's not much else I can do to tweak it in Vista Home Premium. If anyone could help me figure out this problem I would really, really, REALLY appreciate it.

 

[The Green Bean]

The OC is not stable and causing problems. Thats why your 3D mark is lower.

 

[mb]

Edit: nvm, I misunderstood your problem.

But I think The Green Bean got it right.

Have you tried using Orthos to stress test your machine? It might be just stable enough to run 3dmark06 and not crash, but it doesn't sound like your system is stable overall.

Edit2: But still, what's weird is that your CPU score goes up while the 3d score goes down. Maybe your PSU isn't strong enough to power the 8800GTS after OC'ing your CPU so high?

 

[tcG]

My first guess would be something has some awry with your PCI-E frequency - try a different motherboard BIOS.

Second would be the power supply.

 

[Agentbolt]

I'll try throwing some more voltage at the VCore to see if that helps anything, and if not, lower the FSB bus a bit to see if that helps.

I'll also try a new BIOS. My PSU has 36 Amps on the 12V Rail (18 on each rail) so I think I should be pretty decently powered though...

 

[myocardia]

I'm willing to bet you don't have 36A of 12v power. Which Rosewill 550 watt model do you have?

 

[Agentbolt]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182030

I know Rosewill PSUs are pretty universally despised, but for my setup this PSU really ought to be sufficient. Besides, if it is getting overloaded, why would my CPU score be so high but my GPU be scoring such crap numbers?

 

[tersome]

Your PSU has 35A on the 12v line (420 watts total). It's fine. If your graphics card is underpowered, the nvidia drivers pop up a warning message.

I don't know about that particular board, but it sounds to me like your PCIe link width got bumped down to 1x while you were messing around in the BIOS. Look for the PCIe link width setting and change it to 16x.

 

[Agentbolt]

See, that's what I think too. Trouble is, I can't find a utility that'll TELL me what my PCI Link is set to, and there's also no BIOS option to set the link width on my Motherboard.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: tersome
Your PSU has 35A on the 12v line (420 watts total). It's fine.

Not a chance. According to the specs that Rosewill lasts for that psu, it has 769 watts of power: link. 12v x 35A= 420 watts, + 5v x 50A= 250 watts, + 3.3v x 30A= 99 watts, which equals 769 watts. Do you believe that, also? It may have a total of 30A of 12v power, but most likely has about 27-28A continuous, which is all that counts.

edit: CPU-Z will tell you your link width.

 

[Agentbolt]

CPU-Z does say what my link width is set to. It's 16X when not OCed, but as soon as I up the FSB it drops to 1X.

I'll start playing with PCI-E frequencies and see if I can find one that'll make it behave.

 

[myocardia]

Start with 101 Mhz, that works for some people, but not most. I've heard of people needing to go up to 115-120 mhz, as crazy as that sounds.

 

[Agentbolt]

Got it!

3DMark06 score jumped to 8884 and CPU-Z is showing the proper link width. Had to set my PCI-E frequency to 120 MHZ but it's running fine now. You guys are seriously life savers, thanks so much.

I miss the old days of overclocking, when I just put an Athlon 2500+ in my motherboard and told it that it was a 3200+, and the motherboard went "Well okay then" and that was that.

 

[tcG]

Originally posted by: tcG
My first guess would be something has some awry with your PCI-E frequency

 

[Agentbolt]

Oh, trust me, I read that, and I did change the BIOS. I didn't realize till later how to check my PCI-E link width, is the thing.

Thanks for your help regardless