Low 3DM 05 score w/ X800 XT

[OvErHeAtInG]

OK, so I got the X800 XT last summer and stuck it in my 2.8GHz Northwood rig. It got about 5800 IIRC in 3DM05. Since then I upgraded to the dual-core opteron, and then my score was about 3000-3100. That was with the 5.12 drivers (or thereabouts); something was clearly wrong. Since then I fiddled with the A64 drivers, the Windows DC hotfix, to no avail. Upgraded to 6.1 drivers, and viola, my score is now ~3900-4000. Weird?

I realize I haven't tried everything - AGP aperture? Fastwrites? Maybe the fact that my memory's only running at 2T? AGP implementation on the ASRock? but I thought I'd just throw this out there. I realize it's only 3DMark and it doesn't matter, but since then I started to get suspicious of my gaming performance - should Dod:Source be that choppy? etc.

Thanks

Oh and I don't remember if this is normal, but the CPU test gets a pretty consistent "0" FPS, with the Proxycon test occasionally hitting a blistering 1 fps. I seem to think my P4 got at least a few FPS in those tests.

 

[zizo]

you should get more than 5000 with x800xt. I get 6500 overclocked!

 

[imported_mystery]

There's definitely something wrong with your setup as I get 6447 in 3DMark05 with my card.

Be sure you install the AGP drivers for the motherboard, then install video drivers, then DirectX.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: zizo
you should get more than 5000 with x800xt. I get 6500 overclocked!

That's what I'm saying.

Mystery: thanks for the tips, I heard you should install DirectX before the drivers? Or does it matter so much?

Also, does anyone know if the CPU test performance factors in the score?

 

[buzzsaw13]

What cooling do you have on your x800xt? It might be ATI's overdrive throttling your card down.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
Mystery: thanks for the tips, I heard you should install DirectX before the drivers? Or does it matter so much?

Also, does anyone know if the CPU test performance factors in the score?

You don't need to run the CPU test to get a 3Dmark05 score. However, you should not be getting "0" FPS for your CPU tests. Considering you have a 2.4 GHz dual core opty you should be getting CPU scores in the 6000-6500 range (essentially same as X2 4800+). For CPU Test 1, ~ 3 FPS is normal, and for CPU Test 2, ~5-6 FPS is normal.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Thanks DarkSharigan. That clears up that question - sounds like I'm haivng the gaming performance issue with X2's, except for the fact I don't have the symptoms of it (random hitching = no). Buzzsaw - stock cooling, stock clocks. Overdrive is disabled (I think - don't have ATi CP installed). I didn't know it would actually reduce the clocks! Temps are OK, haven't measured load temp lately - 39C ATM.

Edit: Do most people with these cards enable fastwrites?

 

[Munky]

Fastwrites are increase performance in certain situations, so leave them on unless you determine that it's causing problems.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Well I tried setting my CPU to stock clocks. My score jumped a few hundred to 4174. Then I tried underclocking and -volting. At 1.60 MHz and with 1.325 volts, I got a score of 4572. Tried undervolting osme more to 1.30, but the score held steady. I also tried underclocking the video card to XT levels, but the score dropped.

While this could be a motherboard related problem, it most likely is the PSU not having enough juice (t's rated for 20A on the 12v). The only thing wierding me out with that theory is that the CPU test still runs abnormally slow. I'm rather pissed that I fried my nice Enermax while doing my case swap 2 nights ago. Oh well I could probably find another PSU to test it with....

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Well I just upgraded my PSU to the dual-rail Seasonic. No avail; my 3DM05 score is still 4000. It's about 2000 short

 

[Powermoloch]

lol better check what ur cpu is doing, check the task manager if I were u. there is a similar instance with another guy w/ HL2 on a dual core 64.

here's the link:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1809486&enterthread=y

 

[SpeedZealot369]

I would just reinstall everything from scratch, reformat windows etc..

 

[selfbuilt]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
... Overdrive is disabled (I think - don't have ATi CP installed) ...

You might want to re-install the CCC, and verify you are running at 8X AGP without AA/AF forced. Most people run 3Mark with everything adjusted to performance settings, to boost their score (the default setting is balanced). You can always choose not to load CCC at startup if you don't like it (I don't either - just disable it through msconfig.exe's startup group).

3DMark05 is extremely GPU sensitive, so all the cpu settings, etc, should not really matter - it's likely your video settings.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: selfbuilt

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
... Overdrive is disabled (I think - don't have ATi CP installed) ...

You might want to re-install the CCC, and verify you are running at 8X AGP without AA/AF forced. Most people run 3Mark with everything adjusted to performance settings, to boost their score (the default setting is balanced). You can always choose not to load CCC at startup if you don't like it (I don't either - just disable it through msconfig.exe's startup group).

3DMark05 is extremely GPU sensitive, so all the cpu settings, etc, should not really matter - it's likely your video settings.

I don't run CCC, I run just the drivers with ATi Tray Tool. Everything is at the default; even at default I should be getting around 6500. Like I said, this card pulled 6000 with everything default on a northwood with single-channle and AGP 4x.

Hmmm, didn't know you could disable CCC at startup. Maybe I'll install it, if I ever install .NET for some other reason first

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
I would just reinstall everything from scratch, reformat windows etc..

Yeah I may try that... on a spare HDD. The thing is that I remember the AGP driver not installing on this MB unless I jumped through some weird hoops. (It says it's installed right now).

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Powermoloch
lol better check what ur cpu is doing, check the task manager if I were u. there is a similar instance with another guy w/ HL2 on a dual core 64.

here's the link:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1809486&enterthread=y

Good idea. I get full CPU on core0 and nothing on Core1 (like you would expect). I'll try doing that (setting affinity), don't know why I didn't htink of that.....

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Setting affinity did nothing for it. I finally uninstalled 3dm05, uninstalled the 6.1 drivers, ran driver cleaner pro, uninstalled the agp driver, reinstalled the agp driver, reinstalled the 6.1 catalyst, reinstalled 3dm05, ran it and got a score of 6368. WOO HOO!!! Like someone suggested I tried setting textures and mipmaps to low detail, an dgot a score of 6552. Definitely more along the lines of what I should be getting.

Many thanks to everyone who posted in this thread, and especially to mystery who suggested the obvious, which I only tried last :disgust: :beer:

Edit - games run smoother too..... it's so satisfying when stuff finally works right...