Why aren't my gaming scores as high as they should be?

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AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
I just put my new computer together yesterday and now I'm going through and installing all my programs and decided to run 3DMark2k1 and 2k3.

Here is what I'm running on:

Asus P4P800 Deluxe
Pentium 4 2.8C with Hyperthreading and 800mhz FSB
ATI Radeon 9800 128MB (non pro)
2x 256MB Corsair XMS Series
Antec True Power PSU 380W
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Well, for one thing, you're probably using DX9, which in my experience, causes you to lose some points in 3dmark01. Test it out in 3dmark03, you should manage about 6000 or 6800.

I have the same setup as you, but w/ the 3.0C, and 1GB of the same ram. I also have a GF4 ti4400 128mb though. So I can score 14000 in 3dmark01... but if you compare to people w/ the same system, and DX8.1, they'll win by like 800 points. In 3dmark03 though, my score is thrashed by my vid card, I get like a 3700.

So yeah, you should use 3dmark03, report back w/ that score. Then I can tell you to download the latest drivers (sound, video, intel chipset), update your bios (which is an ABSOLUTE bitch on this motherboard), and uh.... that's all I can really think of. Well, you're on 512mb of ram, so you might try to optimize windows a bit so it doesn't take up a lot of memory. That's all I got for ya. Oh, and get yourself an audigy 2, in case you're using the onboard sound. Not because of a performance hit, just because the onboard sound sucks.
 
S

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
15k in 3dMark03 is not bad at all. It's just a little bit higher than MY score. LOL

Seriously, 2k01 is a combo of several factors. That is a bit low, even if all of your settings are default. If you optimize your o/c of the 9800 (I use Rage3D Tweak) you'll soon find yourself in the 20k range where you should be. As far as the slightly lower result, I'm guessing once you optimize your RAM and CPU settings it should bring you back to Godl-like status.

EDIT: Try 2-3-3-6-4 for memory timings at 1.75V VDIMM. Set your AGP/PCI to 66/33, memory frequency to 400, turn on memory enhancement and turn off turbo (performance mode), and FSB to 200 (manual o/c). Try Rage 3dTweak settings of 360/330 to start, then tweak your way up until you see interference with other components in a combined benchmark like SisSoftware Sandra or anomalies in 3dMark2k3. I run 371/339, and I don't think anyone runs less than 360/330. That should work as a starting point for o/c'ing your way to 3dMark2k1 God status ;).
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Woah there... so Performance Mode is bad? Why? I don't know crap about my motherboard... how Do I change these memory timings? Is this safe to do? Does it make a big performance difference? How do you optimize your CPU? How do you change your AGP/PCI frequency?
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Slammy1
15k in 3dMark03 is not bad at all. It's just a little bit higher than MY score. LOL

Seriously, 2k01 is a combo of several factors. That is a bit low, even if all of your settings are default. If you optimize your o/c of the 9800 (I use Rage3D Tweak) you'll soon find yourself in the 20k range where you should be. As far as the slightly lower result, I'm guessing once you optimize your RAM and CPU settings it should bring you back to Godl-like status.

EDIT: Try 2-3-3-6-4 for memory timings at 1.75V VDIMM. Set your AGP/PCI to 66/33, memory frequency to 400, turn on memory enhancement and turn off turbo (performance mode), and FSB to 200 (manual o/c). Try Rage 3dTweak settings of 360/330 to start, then tweak your way up until you see interference with other components in a combined benchmark like SisSoftware Sandra or anomalies in 3dMark2k3. I run 371/339, and I don't think anyone runs less than 360/330. That should work as a starting point for o/c'ing your way to 3dMark2k1 God status ;).
Click to expand...

First, I don't OC and I just setup my memory to that. I also disblaed a few programs and such and now I score 15,800 or so. What else should I change? I was expecting a 17,000 or 18,000 score with it. Also, what is the AGP aperature size? Its currently at 64MB....
 
C

Corporate Thug

Lifer
Apr 17, 2003
37,622
0
76
Originally posted by: Nebor
Well, for one thing, you're probably using DX9, which in my experience, causes you to lose some points in 3dmark01. Test it out in 3dmark03, you should manage about 6000 or 6800.

I have the same setup as you, but w/ the 3.0C, and 1GB of the same ram. I also have a GF4 ti4400 128mb though. So I can score 14000 in 3dmark01... but if you compare to people w/ the same system, and DX8.1, they'll win by like 800 points. In 3dmark03 though, my score is thrashed by my vid card, I get like a 3700.

So yeah, you should use 3dmark03, report back w/ that score. Then I can tell you to download the latest drivers (sound, video, intel chipset), update your bios (which is an ABSOLUTE bitch on this motherboard), and uh.... that's all I can really think of. Well, you're on 512mb of ram, so you might try to optimize windows a bit so it doesn't take up a lot of memory. That's all I got for ya. Oh, and get yourself an audigy 2, in case you're using the onboard sound. Not because of a performance hit, just because the onboard sound sucks.
Click to expand...

i agree with that. i lost about 500 points in 3dmark2001 se when i went from DX8 to DX9
 
S

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
I run 128MB aperture (1/4 my memory). Just making sure about the o/c. I run an o/c to 3.12GHz on my 2.4 and I get about 18.300 on 3dMark01 (with no anomalies or instabilities). Even at a 220MHz FSB (2.65GHz) I ran 16,500. You can mess with your memory setting for tweaking. For example, changing my meory refresh rate to 15.6us gained me 200 points. The thing about 3dMark03 is it's more a real indicator of 3d performance, but it's nice to see the system influence with the 3dMark01 in some ways. It's more of a standard in my experience.
 
S

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
Originally posted by: Nebor
Woah there... so Performance Mode is bad? Why? I don't know crap about my motherboard... how Do I change these memory timings? Is this safe to do? Does it make a big performance difference? How do you optimize your CPU? How do you change your AGP/PCI frequency?
Click to expand...

You're running the P4C instead of the P4P, so I'm not really qualified to make any statements. It's just been my experience with this MoBo, and talking to others they've had similar experience with other memory combos.

 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: merlocka
More importantly, how do actual games run?
Click to expand...

Well, I haven't had much time to run them yet but I figure if I can improve my 3DMark scores, then some other scores are bound to go up in actual games. Lets not turn this into a 3dmark or no 3dmark war here.... I just want to see if I'm missing something.
 
BFG10K

BFG10K

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
22,709
3,001
126
Make sure you install the latest BIOS and chipset drivers (Intel INF update) onto your system.
 
S

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
Do you have the secondary power connector attached to the 9800?

I get a little over 6000. Something definitely not right there.

EDIT: What Catalyst are you running? Have you d/l'd the 3.5?
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: BFG10K
Make sure you install the latest BIOS and chipset drivers (Intel INF update) onto your system.
Click to expand...

I'll check for that, actually, the ASUS site doesn't seem to have the new 1008 bios for download even though its been listed for a day or two. I'll check what bios I have first and go from there.

As for the chispet drivers, where can I get those?
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Slammy1
Do you have the secondary power connector attached to the 9800?

I get a little over 6000. Something definitely not right there.

EDIT: What Catalyst are you running? Have you d/l'd the 3.5?
Click to expand...

Yes I have the secondary power connector and I'm running the 3.5's.
 
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