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New computer built... low 3dmark scores

1

187 LS1

n00b
Joined
Apr 21, 2004
Messages
3
First off, hello. This is my first post here and I have been reading a bit since I got my new machine built and have learned alot (still learning so please bear with me here, hehe). If this is in the wrong forum then I aplogize, also I am not in front of my machine ATM so I could be missing some stuff :) On to the good (bad) stuff...

I just built the following machine:

AMD64 3400+ - with Thermaltake Venus 12
MSI K8T Neo-FIS2R
1 gig Corsair XMS3200 DDR SDRAM
ATI 9800 Pro 128 RAM - with VGA cooler (display at 1600x1200 32bit)
SB Audigy 2
Seagate 7200 120 gig SATA HDD
Antec True power 430w PSU
Liteon CD/RW
Liteon DVD
Windows XP Pro

OK, so I get all the hardware installed and XP Pro installed with no problems. I updated every single security update, DX 9.0b and other MS goodies along with every other hardware driver (latest Catalyst and SB sound card drivers). The only other software on there currently is anti virus, Kerio, Far Cry and Silent Storm.

I overclocked my video card to 425/355 and my CPU to a 215MHz FSB (it's currently at 2368MHz I think), I left the vcore untouched. Everything is running very cool, the CPU never excedes 47* under full load and the board runs even cooler.

The one thing I changed in my BIOS, besides the 215MHz FSB was the memory to DDR400... for some reason it was at DDR266, which I thought was odd, but I changed it to DDR400; should I have not changed this?

I downloaded 3DMark03 and 3DMark 2001 SE. For 3DMark03 I got a 3100 score, where Tech Report got a 6100 and they almost have the same machine as I have. For 3DMark 2001 SE I got a 13600, where Toms Hardware got a 19500. These tests were all run using the software defaults.

Is there something I should change in my BIOS or a video card setting I am missing? All the settings in Far Cry are completely turned up and it runs very well with no hiccups, so my guess is I am just being a picky bitch ;) Thank you for any help :)
 
Have you installed the via chipset drivers yet? I have a similar setup and were getting the same type of scores until I installed the drivers from the CD. My 3dmark scores made a huge jump once I had the drivers installed.
 
Do you have AA & AF turned off for the tests. Having them on or forced on in the drivers will dramatically lower your score. Also check to make sure vsync is disabled. Those are the main obvious things I can think of right now to check for.
 
1.) Most scores obtained are with no AA, no AF, 1024x768 res I think. Oh yeah, and Vsync OFF.
2.) Update chipset and video drivers.
3.) No one cares about 3DMark.
 
Well when I built the machine I made sure I installed everything from the CD... except I forgot to run the MSI live update utility. There was a newer BIOS version out there. Also yes I had AA and AF on as well. I turned it off and it made a very nice improvement.

It's always the small stuff with me. I get in a rush to make the machine and I overlook the obvious. Thank you all for the replies, it is appreciated :)
 
never install of the cd. always get the newest drivers.

my guess is you have aa and af turned on.
 
Get the newest drivers off the manufacturers' websites. The drivers you usually get on the CDs are old. They can be anywhere from a couple of months old to a year old.

If you don't already have the proper drivers downloaded before you put the machine together, it's probably fine to install the drivers off the CD to get the machine up and running decent. But always go get newer drivers. It's almost guaranteed that your machine with perform better with newer drivers. Sometimes, the newest drivers may have some bugs in them and actually slow your system down, but it's rare compared to what's on the CD.
 
Originally posted by BillLeeLee
1.) Most scores obtained are with no AA, no AF, 1024x768 res I think. Oh yeah, and Vsync OFF.
2.) Update chipset and video drivers.
3.) No one cares about 3DMark.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the res he is running at is pretty high, so the scores are never going to be brilliant.
 
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