Win2000 and video performance (nvidia)

[HeatMiser]

I have searched all over the place to find an answer to this question with no luck. I have just upgraded from WinMe (yuck!) to Win2000 (SP3). In order to do an apples to apples comparison, I loaded the win2k equivalent 28.32 drivers (the same version as I was using in WinMe). Running 3dmark2001 (first edition), I got a score of 4624. Under WinMe, and using the exact same hardware (specs below), I got a score of 5893. That is a huge difference! I've checked a bunch of things...running the same version of DirectX - DX8.1, reloaded the drivers, all AA and AF turned off, etc. I've also tried to make sure I've disabled all the start up programs.

So, the question is, has anyone else seen this kind of degradation from switching from WinMe to Win2000? Any ideas for how to fix it, or maybe something that I've missed?

---------------
PIII 800 (overclocked from 600)
Tyan Trinity 400 / S1854 (VIA Apollo Pro 133)
256mb Crucial PC133 RAM (2x128)
80g Maxtor
30g Maxtor
Lite-On LTR-16102B (16x-12x-40x)
SB Live! 5.1 X-Gamer
NVIDIA GeForce4 4400 Ti (Gainward Ultra/700 XP Golden Sample)

 

[Rand]

Any chance you forgot the VIA 4in1 drivers?

That could easily account for the difference. There should be much more difference then 3DM2k1's margin of error as nVidia's drivers perform virtually identically between 9X/NT, and 3DMark has never favored either OS overly much.

 

[HeatMiser]

Rand -- thanks for the tip! I totally forgot about the VIA drivers when I loaded Win2k! (*kicks self*) Ran a few benchmarks tonight and now I hit 6051 3dmarks. Now to try out some new nvidia drivers...

 

[warrenpeace]

ok... glad you had that sorted out.

I went from ME to 2k a month or two ago, and I noiticed that while my 3dmark numbers were OK, a bit higher, that my unreal 2003 benchies were like 12% slower.

I installed service pack three, and now win2k is like 20% higher fps than ME was for the unreal bench.

The moral ? For others peaking in, make sure to upgrade your service pack !