I need some opinions...

gt123 · Aug 29, 2004, 06:08 PM

I have way more threads in here than i have a right to...but if you all help me on this one, it should be the last for awhile, till something else goes wrong. I've fixed everything on my computer that was wrong i think...and i just installed a new PSU because i thought a 250W generic pushing a 350W+ system would drag the performance down. I got a 400W fortron, but i haven't seen any improvements at all. I still get around 39-40k in aquamark3, and i havent noticed anything running better than it was before.

My specs:
Dell 4600 2.6ghz HT, 800mhz fsb
512mb dual ch PC3200 RAM 400mhz 1:1
ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128, CAT 4.7
Audigy 2
80gb SATA hd
Fortron 400W PSU
stock mobo/bios, and apparently PAT(?) is unavailable for the RAM

I've done just about every tweak there is it seems like, BIOS options, stuff like tune XP, reinstalled WinXP & reformatted, and a lot more...

So does that seem right to you guys? I guess its a decent system, but it seems like it should be getting more than 40k, even, in AM3. So my question is: Is this as good as my system can do, no overclocking?

Im goin to flash the BIOS and update the chipset drivers when i get around to it, but any ideas on anything i missed, or something i can do to bump performance up?

Thanks, and please, anything would help, i just need to get to the bottom of this.

Zelig · Aug 29, 2004, 06:28 PM

A better PSU won't get you better performance, it will just aleviate any stability problems you might have with an inadequate one.

That score seems about right for AM3...

Zardon · Aug 29, 2004, 06:40 PM

really to be honest I wouldnt be relying on AM3 for a sole test of your system performance, its heavily flawed with regards to hacking/cheating and the benchmark as a whole tends to favour nvidia so you really cant get a comparible comparison.

If you really want to compare results in a syntethic benchmark run pcmark04, 3dmark01se and 3dmark03. between those three you get a decent set of results for a rough indication of performance.

3dmark01se is dated but it gives a decent representation of system performance CPU/FSB/RAM with your GFX adding to the final score. 3dmark03 is almost basically a GFX test with much less emphasis on the CPU/FSB/RAM compared to its older sibling. Pcmark04 is a decent overall system test and you can see how your PC will compare to others with similar hardware. Just make sure you run all the above with the latest patches.

Of course you could ignore all of the above, get yourself a copy of fraps and fire up some games like farcry to see how it all handles in real world gaming situations.

Sandok · Aug 29, 2004, 06:55 PM

Dude, so that ur happy, before my PC went conkers, I was gettin only 44k in AM3... That with a 3ghz CPU so yeah... And the drivers were 4.3 or sumthing

(same card)

GutterPunk · Aug 29, 2004, 08:21 PM

i agree w/ zarond try those benchies, those are what i use

gt123 · Aug 30, 2004, 12:33 AM

alright well i might try those other benches, but if that score seems right for my comp, then thats all i need. Im just tryin to get the most out it. Zardon, i didn't realize that about AM3...the main reason i was concerned is because people with the same specs (& no OCing) were getting several K higher, but i guess that could be due to things that aren't listed in the specs on their site. So, just to be sure, you all agree that that score is what i should be getting?

Zardon · Aug 30, 2004, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt123

alright well i might try those other benches, but if that score seems right for my comp, then thats all i need. Im just tryin to get the most out it. Zardon, i didn't realize that about AM3...the main reason i was concerned is because people with the same specs (& no OCing) were getting several K higher, but i guess that could be due to things that aren't listed in the specs on their site. So, just to be sure, you all agree that that score is what i should be getting?

Its a fairly well known benchmark people cheat in. certain NV drivers with some "tricks" allow for massive scores. AM3 is only good to use yourself for testing between various setups or changes to one system, but the online database is pretty much a joke.

ill give you an example, a friend of mine has a 5950 and with a specific driver and a little cheat setup he can hit over 70k well over a 25k boost over the correct result.

Nonetheless AM3 isnt a bad test and if you posted your scores in here you would get a better response among our more honest userbase to compare with. Always best to run several benchmark programs and test various parts of a system rather than concentrating on one.

gt123 · Aug 30, 2004, 02:44 AM

Well that would explain a lot...and i did post on the benchmark forum, and pretty much everyone says "that's about right". So, i'll have to take your word for it. Im not concerned with it enough anymore to do all those benchmarks right now, I get a headache just looking for and DL all these programs, and i trust you guys. Thanks a lot for the help, i guess im finally done with all my computer issues for awhile...God, this feels good...

Gutter, i can't thank you enough...amazing help, Zardon should make you a moderator or somethin. same goes for Twisted, and Zardon...if your site hasn't gotten any awards yet, it needs to, tons of em. Best staff i've ever seen. thanks again

GutterPunk · Aug 30, 2004, 03:14 AM

GT123 Im not even on the staff, I dont need moderator, I am happy just being a part of the forum its most enjoyable to help every1 kinda get the fuzzy feeling in my tummy, especially when i get such a kind and sincere thanks like what you did. Like I said Im glad to have helped you and would do it all over again if i had to

drakesteakn · Aug 30, 2004, 04:45 AM

hey this is why forums are around. not all have such friendly people on htem. but Driverheaven is the best forum for helping people.

pr0digal jenius · Aug 30, 2004, 09:49 PM

indeed it is....and as for your AM3 score that appears to be right on the money. I hit about 43k stock, but can drag out almost 45k if I tinker with radlinker and my process threading priorities a bit

so essentially what AM3 is testing on my rig is a 3.26GHz CPU (624 FSB), SATA RAID 0, 2 GBs PC2700 RAM, and a Radeon 9800 Pro 256 that I bench at about 390/350.....so you can do the math and see you're quite close to my score, with slightly less spec(althoough your Pentium 4 will outbench my Xeons in gaming benchmarks so it's closer then it would otherwise be)

Aug 29, 2004, 06:08 PM	#1
gt123 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0	I need some opinions... I have way more threads in here than i have a right to...but if you all help me on this one, it should be the last for awhile, till something else goes wrong. I've fixed everything on my computer that was wrong i think...and i just installed a new PSU because i thought a 250W generic pushing a 350W+ system would drag the performance down. I got a 400W fortron, but i haven't seen any improvements at all. I still get around 39-40k in aquamark3, and i havent noticed anything running better than it was before. My specs: Dell 4600 2.6ghz HT, 800mhz fsb 512mb dual ch PC3200 RAM 400mhz 1:1 ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128, CAT 4.7 Audigy 2 80gb SATA hd Fortron 400W PSU stock mobo/bios, and apparently PAT(?) is unavailable for the RAM I've done just about every tweak there is it seems like, BIOS options, stuff like tune XP, reinstalled WinXP & reformatted, and a lot more... So does that seem right to you guys? I guess its a decent system, but it seems like it should be getting more than 40k, even, in AM3. So my question is: Is this as good as my system can do, no overclocking? Im goin to flash the BIOS and update the chipset drivers when i get around to it, but any ideas on anything i missed, or something i can do to bump performance up? Thanks, and please, anything would help, i just need to get to the bottom of this.

Aug 29, 2004, 08:21 PM	#5
GutterPunk I = Greatest Dood Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,949 Rep Power: 70	i agree w/ zarond try those benchies, those are what i use __________________ Rock On \m/ Thank you Mousey for the Sig! --------------- Intel Core2Duo E6660 (3.4GHZ) ~ Tuniq Tower 120 ~ Enermax Galaxy 1000W ~ Corsair Dominator @ 1090MHZ 5-5-5-15 (OCZ XTC Modded Cooler)~ EVGA 8800GTX W/ HR-03 Plus 120MM ~ Asus DVD-RW LiteScribe ~ LG DVD-RW ~ Corsair Voyager 2GB ReadyBoost Drive ~ Vantec Nexus Fan Controller ~ ThermalTake Armor 25CM fan ~ Personal Finance Blog: Dent Your Debt

Aug 30, 2004, 03:14 AM	#9
GutterPunk I = Greatest Dood Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,949 Rep Power: 70	GT123 Im not even on the staff, I dont need moderator, I am happy just being a part of the forum its most enjoyable to help every1 kinda get the fuzzy feeling in my tummy, especially when i get such a kind and sincere thanks like what you did. Like I said Im glad to have helped you and would do it all over again if i had to __________________ Rock On \m/ Thank you Mousey for the Sig! --------------- Intel Core2Duo E6660 (3.4GHZ) ~ Tuniq Tower 120 ~ Enermax Galaxy 1000W ~ Corsair Dominator @ 1090MHZ 5-5-5-15 (OCZ XTC Modded Cooler)~ EVGA 8800GTX W/ HR-03 Plus 120MM ~ Asus DVD-RW LiteScribe ~ LG DVD-RW ~ Corsair Voyager 2GB ReadyBoost Drive ~ Vantec Nexus Fan Controller ~ ThermalTake Armor 25CM fan ~ Personal Finance Blog: Dent Your Debt

Aug 30, 2004, 04:45 AM	#10
drakesteakn boo!!!! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Ft. Meyers, FL Posts: 2,041 Rep Power: 57	hey this is why forums are around. not all have such friendly people on htem. but Driverheaven is the best forum for helping people. __________________

Aug 29, 2004, 06:28 PM	#2
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 69 System Specs	A better PSU won't get you better performance, it will just aleviate any stability problems you might have with an inadequate one. That score seems about right for AM3...

Aug 29, 2004, 06:40 PM	#3
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	really to be honest I wouldnt be relying on AM3 for a sole test of your system performance, its heavily flawed with regards to hacking/cheating and the benchmark as a whole tends to favour nvidia so you really cant get a comparible comparison. If you really want to compare results in a syntethic benchmark run pcmark04, 3dmark01se and 3dmark03. between those three you get a decent set of results for a rough indication of performance. 3dmark01se is dated but it gives a decent representation of system performance CPU/FSB/RAM with your GFX adding to the final score. 3dmark03 is almost basically a GFX test with much less emphasis on the CPU/FSB/RAM compared to its older sibling. Pcmark04 is a decent overall system test and you can see how your PC will compare to others with similar hardware. Just make sure you run all the above with the latest patches. Of course you could ignore all of the above, get yourself a copy of fraps and fire up some games like farcry to see how it all handles in real world gaming situations.

Aug 29, 2004, 06:55 PM	#4
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 66	Dude, so that ur happy, before my PC went conkers, I was gettin only 44k in AM3... That with a 3ghz CPU so yeah... And the drivers were 4.3 or sumthing (same card)

Aug 30, 2004, 12:33 AM	Thread Starter #6
gt123 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0	alright well i might try those other benches, but if that score seems right for my comp, then thats all i need. Im just tryin to get the most out it. Zardon, i didn't realize that about AM3...the main reason i was concerned is because people with the same specs (& no OCing) were getting several K higher, but i guess that could be due to things that aren't listed in the specs on their site. So, just to be sure, you all agree that that score is what i should be getting?

Aug 30, 2004, 02:44 AM	Thread Starter #8
gt123 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0	Well that would explain a lot...and i did post on the benchmark forum, and pretty much everyone says "that's about right". So, i'll have to take your word for it. Im not concerned with it enough anymore to do all those benchmarks right now, I get a headache just looking for and DL all these programs, and i trust you guys. Thanks a lot for the help, i guess im finally done with all my computer issues for awhile...God, this feels good... Gutter, i can't thank you enough...amazing help, Zardon should make you a moderator or somethin. same goes for Twisted, and Zardon...if your site hasn't gotten any awards yet, it needs to, tons of em. Best staff i've ever seen. thanks again

Aug 30, 2004, 09:49 PM	#11
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	indeed it is....and as for your AM3 score that appears to be right on the money. I hit about 43k stock, but can drag out almost 45k if I tinker with radlinker and my process threading priorities a bit so essentially what AM3 is testing on my rig is a 3.26GHz CPU (624 FSB), SATA RAID 0, 2 GBs PC2700 RAM, and a Radeon 9800 Pro 256 that I bench at about 390/350.....so you can do the math and see you're quite close to my score, with slightly less spec(althoough your Pentium 4 will outbench my Xeons in gaming benchmarks so it's closer then it would otherwise be)