Two similar computers but different FPS

E

-Ever-

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 27, 2002
Messages
218
Good afternoon all[H]

I built my computer a few years back. It's one of the typical used-to-run-World of Warcraft-well types and I've accepted that I simply won't be getting nice FPS until I upgrade.

My main concern is this. About two years ago I bought my girlfriend a "cheap" ~$600 Dell for simple WoW questing and internet use. The catch is is that now we have them set up side by side and the Dell is blowing my computer's graphics away in WoW. We raided 25m Naxx lastnight and I was averaging about 10fps while the Dell got 30fps. I just had our two characters stand side-by-side in Dalaran and I was looking at about 15 while it idled at 40.

The general specs are as follows:

Mine-
Core 2 Duo 6400 2.13ghz
2gig ram
GeForce 7600 GT (DDR..)

Other-
Core 2 Duo 4000 2.00ghz
1gig ram
GeForce 8600 GT (DDR3..)

So mine has a better CPU and more RAM and what seems to be an equal or better than GFX card besides the card's RAM type. Both have the same versions of DirectX and I've tinkered with numerous GFX drivers on mine, including the one that the other is currently using. Furthermore, this was done with WoW settings completely bottomed out on both computers so it was an apples to apples comparison. Furthermore, I poked around with CPU-Z on both. My computer seems to be better all around except in that the GFX memory types are different and the other show's 1188mhz "shaders" in the GFX clocks area. Also, the other's FSB:DRAM in general RAM is 3:5 and mine is 2:3 and the Cycle time is 15 clocks on the other's while mine is 5. (not sure what all this means, just figured I should include it!)

Any thoughts? What could it be that's causing such better FPS and overall beauty in WoW on the other machine? Is there any optimization that I need to manually do on my machine that might have already been done out of the factory on the other, perhaps in BIOS? Also, my HDD only has about 10gigs of free space if this could somehow affect it.

Thanks a bunch for any advice.
 
The 8600GT is faster than the 7600GT. In fact the 8600GT performs on par with the 7900GS in newer games. Since the 7900GS is faster than than the 7600GT, therefore the 8600GT is faster than the 7600GT.

Also are you sure that's DDR RAM with the 7600GT? The 7600GT only has GDDR3, same as the 8600GT. Are you sure that you have the 7600GT?

The FSB/RAM ratio doesn't matter that much.
 
CPU-Z shows the 7600GT with DDR and the 8600GT with DDR3, that's the only place I saw that.

So is the difference in GFX cards enough to bring that drastic of a difference, even with my computer having an extra gig of ram over the other?
 
-Ever- said:
So is the difference in GFX cards enough to bring that drastic of a difference, even with my computer having an extra gig of ram over the other?
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Yes. And I'm willing to bet that her FPS would go up a bit if she had 2GB of RAM.
 
Thanks for the assistance Danni. I went ahead and swapped out the GFX cards and that indeed does the trick! Beyond that, I was able to do some nice dust-cleaning in both while I was at it :p

EDIT: I take that back. After a few minutes of sitting at a record 40fps, things naturally dropped down to 10fps. Sigh...

So now that it's obviously not the graphics card, plan B? Another thing of probable unimportance is that I'm running SP3. and the other computer is SP2.

Very strange indeed though.
 
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Try running some system benchmarks and watch the individual scores (memory, cpu, etc.)
 
Any recommendations beyond the classic...hm, 3DMark?

I went ahead and tinkered with some mobo settings and things are looking better. Lets see if they hold. If so, I'll come on back and discuss what I did.
 
Unfortunately, i haven't done that in a while. 3D Mark really isn't ideal since it gives a general performance score based on an internal scoring rather than hard numbers.

PCMark maybe?

Any kind of benchmark would do since you're directly comparing two PC's against each other rather than just a general average.

Those gaming PC's are tweaked to the extreme so there's no point in me comparing scores with them even if my hardware specs are similar, but if i had both PC's in front of me to compare (and knowing how they're actually setup), any benchmark will do :)
 
Its the pr0n... your GF's Dell probably has none, while your system probably has a ton... delete some of it. :p I mean, try defragging your HDD. Also, SP3 would slow your system down a bit more.
 
the 7600GT only came with ddr2 and ddr3.. overall the 7600GT sucks and im surprised you are even getting frame rates that high unless you are running a crazy low resolution..

first off what card did you replace the 7600GT with?
 
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I have a E6400 with a abit P35-E motherboard running at 3.2 gig since 2007. You should try overclocking your 6400.
 
rpchip said:
I have a E6400 with a abit P35-E motherboard running at 3.2 gig since 2007. You should try overclocking your 6400.
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I'm using stock cooling more or less. Think those numbers are still attainable?

Furthermore, the game has been running great but I've noticed that BIOS isn't saving the settings changes. I have to actually open it up and change it each restart even if I F10 Save Changes, etc.

Any ideas?
 
-Ever- said:
I'm using stock cooling more or less. Think those numbers are still attainable?

Furthermore, the game has been running great but I've noticed that BIOS isn't saving the settings changes. I have to actually open it up and change it each restart even if I F10 Save Changes, etc.

Any ideas?
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3.2Ghz is doable with stock cooling as long as you don't mind the higher temps.

As for ur mobo not saving your changes, what mobo do you have?
 
Beauty, will do!

Edit: And regarding the BIOS not saving the settings? Perhaps the guide outlines this?
 
Why not just get a better video card? A nice 9800Gt or 4850 would only cost around $99 shipped.
 
Great guide, thanks Danni.

One of the first problems I'm encountering is with the multiplier. My 6400 should be at 8x but it keeps switching back down to 6x, as shown in CPUZ and when I go back into BIOS. Strange.
 
-Ever- said:
Great guide, thanks Danni.

One of the first problems I'm encountering is with the multiplier. My 6400 should be at 8x but it keeps switching back down to 6x, as shown in CPUZ and when I go back into BIOS. Strange.
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Its called EIST. ;) Turn that feature off while trying to find a stable OC. Though, IIRC, if you OC with that board (and subsequently raise the CPU voltage), you won't be able to turn it back on. :eek:
 
I'm not seeing EIST options in BIOS. I read about it and see that it could indeed be controlling my clock ratio, though I'm not sure how to disable it :p
 
Perhaps I need to update my BIOS. I'm not showing what's shown in that thread!

Thanks for the heads up.
 
-Ever- said:
Perhaps I need to update my BIOS. I'm not showing what's shown in that thread!

Thanks for the heads up.
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:( Sorry. Maybe Danny or someone else with the S3 version of that board can help. I had the DS3, so it was mostly the same as in Robert's guide.

BTW, EIST: Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology. -- in case that helps.
 
-Ever- said:
Perhaps I need to update my BIOS. I'm not showing what's shown in that thread!
Click to expand...
So you checked under Advanced BIOS Features for the "CPU EIST Function"? I've worked with the S3 before and I could have sworn I saw that option.
 
I did. Mine looks like this, where EIST looks like it should be between TM2/Virtualization:

CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2)
Virtualization Technology
 
Odd.

Well personally, I've OC'd with EIST turned on before and never had a problem overclocking. Then again I usually go for the quick and easy OCs.
 
The main reason we were discussing EIST is because it might be what's keeping me from chainging (well, saving) my CPU multiplier from 6x to 8x. I figure this is something that should indeed be enabled!

Also, it looks like my CPU temperature probes are cooky. Coretemp is showing -30c temps on both cores. Recommendations on how to fix this? :p

All the help is appreciated.
 
If your CPU multiplier is set to 8x, then thats what it is. EIST lowers it to 6x when the CPU isn't being used. This is done to save on power consumption and subsequently heat output. Less heat generally means longer life for the chip. Even if its on, just run a CPU intensive task to test your OC, like Prime95. This will force the chip back to 8x so that it runs at full speed. Having EIST enabled shouldn't hold back your OC at all.
 
enginurd said:
If your CPU multiplier is set to 8x, then thats what it is. EIST lowers it to 6x when the CPU isn't being used. This is done to save on power consumption and subsequently heat output. Less heat generally means longer life for the chip. Even if its on, just run a CPU intensive task to test your OC, like Prime95. This will force the chip back to 8x so that it runs at full speed. Having EIST enabled shouldn't hold back your OC at all.
Click to expand...

I hope I'm not running you too many circles :p

The thing is that I can actually change the multiplier to 8x, but when F10 Save/Reset and open up something like CPUZ, it shows the multiplier at 6x. If I then restart and DEL to check BIOS, it shows it back down at 6x. I'm just not sure if it's actually not saving or if it "floats" unnoticed as I run more intensive programs.

Thanks again!
 
Well, the restart with 6x in BIOS after a saved 8x is disturbing. Set everything to Default and see what your multiplier is again in windows/cpuz. If its 6x, run prime95 while viewing cpuz and see if it goes up. Report back.
 
I'm currently running Prime95. I'd love to also watch my CPU temps but I'm still having this problem where my readings are negative on both cores. Any idea how to fiddle with the probes?

Update: I'm only about five minutes into the torture test but I'm yet to see the multiplier float beyond 6x. Also, perhaps worth mentioning is that CPUZ is showing my core voltage at 1.280v while I'm positive it's set in BIOS to the CPU-standard 1.325...
 
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Something isn't right. Restore optimized defaults and check if your multiplier goes to 8x under prime small FFTs test. What are you using to check temps? Its best to use CoreTemp or Real Temp.
 
I'll go ahead and do that now and check back in a few minutes.

I'm currently using CoreTemp.
 
Selecting Restore Optimized Defaults actually doesn't change anything and I now recall this happening before. Fail Safe Defaults doesn't either, even when I F10 right after selecting it.
 
I thought I read that you updated your BIOS, but now I can't find it. So... try updating your BIOS if you haven't already.
 
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