X2 4800+ Performance

[cgalavis]

Hi,

I just put together a new gaming computer with the following specs:

AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+
K8N Neo4 Platimum SLI
2x1Gb OCZ Gold PC-4000
EVGA nVidia 6800GT
Western Digital Raptor SATA 74Gb 10k

I have all the motherboard settings in their default values and the machine is running a newly installed version of Windows XP Professional (32bit).

I downloaded the Sandra 2005 benchmark utility which has preset values of different processors and other hardware to compare to. I run the CPU and FTP tests, and my machine performed much worst than the data included in the software for the same processor (less than half the speed).

Does anyone have an idea why this may be?

Thanks,

 

[rise]

you installed the x2 drivers?

 

[Geomagick]

Use CPUz and find out exactly what your system is running at. It may be that your system has downgraded itself to a 'safe mode' for CPU speed. Also check that your RAM is running as dual channel and you haven't installed it wrong - it's always a possibility I've done it before.

 

[Markfw]

What are your scores ? I don't trust sandra. Post your scores, and we will let you know how it is working. And welcome to the forums.

 

[cgalavis]

Thanks for your replay. I am at work right now and have no access to the computer, but I will post the information as soon as I get home.

 

[evilharp]

Synthetic benchmarks can be misleading, but they can point out problems. So, have you:

1) Installed the X2 Drivers (as suggested by Rise4310)? If not, you are probably only using 1 core as WinXP doesn't have native support for X2 processors (verify with task manager, do you see 2 cpu usage charts?)
2) Checked to make sure WinXP is set up correctly (see Device Manger, the "Computer" should list as a "ACPI Multiprocessor PC" and you should see 2 X2 processors listed under "Processors")
3) Have you installed the hotfix (see: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...tid=28&threadid=1707814&enterthread=y))

If you can say yes to 1,2,3 you may have another problem. Check 1,2,3 first, then report back.

Edit: fixed hotfix thread link... Also, Duvie (next post) identified another problem, the BIOS

 

[Duvie]

common problem may be not a dual core accepted bios for that mobo or that you did not do a fresh intsall of winxp and it is not identifying the dual cores...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I have the same board, shipped with an old 03/05 bios that didn't have X2 support. Update to latest, then install X2 driver and you should be able to avoid a reinstall, I did.

 

[cgalavis]

Ok, I did not have the X2 driver installed so I installed it, I also installed the hotfix, and guess what, the results are right on. THANKS!!!

The task manager is still showing only one CPU, but the Device Manager/Computer does show "ACPI Multiprocessor PC". I also see the two processors listed under "Processors", are you sure it is suppose to show them in the Task Manager?

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[Ronnie]

cgalavis

When your in task manager hit view and change it to show both cores.

 

[Markfw]

Take a picture of your task manager performance tab. the cpu usage graph should be divided by a small lime in the middle. Post the pic if you still think it doesn;t show.

 

[Markbnj]

In Task Manager, hit View | CPU History, and select One Graph per CPU. That _might_ be the problem, since Device Manager seems to be telling you both cores are running.

 

[cgalavis]

There is still something wrong, the scond core is not showing in the Device Manager anymore and the performance went back to what it was. Reinstalling the driver did not help. I'm guessing there is something in the BIOS that is not set right. I updated the BIOS already, but I'll have to look arround to see if I can find a setting that controls which cores are enabled.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Since you updated to the latest bios and installed the driver, and it still isn't properly identifying both cores, then a reinstall of XP may be the solution. But first you could try rebooting in safe-mode and uninstall the X2 driver, then reboot and see if it detects the X2 correctly.

 

[cgalavis]

I think I fixed the problem. I disabled Cool and Quite, reinstalled BIOS update and turned off dynamic overclocking and it has not happend again. Before the two cores will show up for a little while and then one of them will simply disappear, the only way to get it to show up again was to go to be BIOS and save (without actually having to change anything). I noticed that my processor is running hot (arround 56c) that is why I dissabled dynamic overclocking and reset all parameters to their factory defaults. Even now I have trouble keeping the CPU going under 50c.

I think my problem is heat, I got the mobo+CPU in a combo and it came with a heatsink/fan from CoolJag (I never even heard about this brand before) I think this is the model, and it looks like the bare minimum to me.

Anyhow, I think I need to get better cooling, and I am not sure I want to go all the way to liquit cooling just yet, so I have some homework to do.

Again thanks guys for all your help.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Yeah, you can't use C&Q when overclocking on this board.

For cooling, the Big Typhoon is a beast.

If not wanting to spen quite that much, The XP-90 is a very good price-performer IMO.

 

[cgalavis]

What do you think about the Thermaltake SilentTower (CL-P0025)? I found it in a local store so I don't have to wait for it. I have a pretty big case (Thermaltake Va8000) so I should be able to fit in no problem.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'm not familiar with it, but it is almost an absolute certainty it'll be better than what you have now, and I presume you can always return it if disappointed. Instant gratification is a bitch, eh? :laugh: