New system doesnt perform as expected

Ward · 10-February-06, 10:58 AM

I bought another stick of memory last night to complete my system upgrade, but it's still not performing as well as I had hoped. I would like to see what it can do stock, before I overclock anything. Running the quake4 demo at 1024x768, all advanced fx on, 2xaa, it's playable, but not perfect. I ran 3dMark '05, and only scored in the 2600's. I'm not sure what else could be holding it back, but I might reinstall windows, or get 64-bit edition. I'm hoping someone else here has a similar system, and can tell me their 3dmark 05 scores.

Here are the current specs:
Processor:
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ @ 2.0Ghz
Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939
Memory:
1GB PC3200 (2 OCZ 512MB sticks, matching, running dual channel, SKU#OCZ400512P3)
Using 2.5-4-4-8 Timings, as printed on memory
Video:
ATI Radeon 9800XT (flashed 9800 pro)
Hard Drives:
Western Digital 40GB ATA100 WD40BB 7200RPM (fresh defragged)
Maxtor 250GB (storage only, not used for OS or gaming)

Any suggestions? Does 2600 sound about right for this setup?

FoeHammer · 10-February-06, 11:40 AM

Hate to say it, but that does seem to be about where you should be.

The biggest limiting factor in your system is your video card. The 9800 series is just out of its depth in 3DMark05, and god forbid you try '06.

That's not to say that you won't be able to play games well, but they just won't be run at the same quality as the newer cards out there.

Dex · 10-February-06, 11:53 AM

Sorry, but who buys a AMD X2 to use with a 9800XT?! FoeHammer is right, that graphics card is holding that system back major style.

Its 2006 dude, get a x1900xt

Chrome_Rust · 10-February-06, 12:09 PM

He would have to get a AGP card, anf the X1900's arent AGP. I have the same board and i love it. get a x850XT and do some clocking. I get 31k in 01 and i am getting 12k in 03....

Ward · 10-February-06, 02:22 PM

Lol, last week I got the video card for free, but my processor (Athlon 1900+) was holding me back. I upgraded to an X2, and now the video card is holding me back... I guess I'll start saving for an X800. In the meantime, I can overclock the 9800 and see how much I can squeeze out of it.

The Dragon Reborn · 10-February-06, 02:35 PM

Well... I've just got a "lowly" PIV... (2,6c, overclocked..), when my old 9800Pro "passed away", I bought a
6600GT... never expected such a HUGE boost in the latest Doom & Quake... (not even my choice of games..lol..)..

Those games really 'thrive on Nvidia hardware....

I must agree with the previous posters... if you "ugrade" to the Nvidia "7" series you'll REALLY use the
"muscle"of your 'rig!

TDR

Ward · 10-February-06, 08:58 PM

After a mild overclock, I was able to squeeze out a 2958. The CPU overclock had little to no effect, but OC'ing the radeon did. I currently have the CPU at 2.2, I'll push it to 2.4 when I get a better cooler. right now it has the stock AMD one. Heres the specs:

FSB @ 220Mhz, to acheive 2.2Ghz
Memory @ 2.5-3-3-7
9800XT @ 450/370

2958 3DMarks (3dmark 05)

Highperf15 · 10-February-06, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ward


	After a mild overclock, I was able to squeeze out a 2958. The CPU overclock had little to no effect, but OC'ing the radeon did. I currently have the CPU at 2.2, I'll push it to 2.4 when I get a better cooler. right now it has the stock AMD one. Heres the specs: FSB @ 220Mhz, to acheive 2.2Ghz Memory @ 2.5-3-3-7 9800XT @ 450/370 2958 3DMarks (3dmark 05)

Welcome to OUR world Ward.......

Nerdz · 10-February-06, 09:44 PM

Well you could always get the 7800, it came out for AGP recently..

Ator · 11-February-06, 12:55 AM

That processor can handle 2.4-2.5 with no problem....I should know, i've got the same processor running at 300x8 with the RAM 1:1 right now. Running 2.5-2.6 should be enough of a processor boost to break 3k.

What brand of RAM chips do you have? If they are along the lines of, say, Samsung TCCx, you could get some nice timings @ DDR400, or some wicked high clock speeds with loose timings and 2.8v.

For a new video card, I would recommend something like an X850XT, or nVidias new 7800GS. They are both great cards, although I feel the X850 would be a much better value (close to $200 now!).

Ward · 11-February-06, 08:28 PM

It's OCZ brand memory, and the chips say OCZ on them. I don't know how good this memory is for overclocking, but it's doing fine at 220Mhz, 2.5-3-3-7. The stock timings are 2.5-4-4-8.

10-February-06, 10:58 AM		#1 (permalink)
Ward Apex Techie II	New system doesnt perform as expected I bought another stick of memory last night to complete my system upgrade, but it's still not performing as well as I had hoped. I would like to see what it can do stock, before I overclock anything. Running the quake4 demo at 1024x768, all advanced fx on, 2xaa, it's playable, but not perfect. I ran 3dMark '05, and only scored in the 2600's. I'm not sure what else could be holding it back, but I might reinstall windows, or get 64-bit edition. I'm hoping someone else here has a similar system, and can tell me their 3dmark 05 scores. Here are the current specs: Processor: AMD Athlon X2 3800+ @ 2.0Ghz Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939 Memory: 1GB PC3200 (2 OCZ 512MB sticks, matching, running dual channel, SKU#OCZ400512P3) Using 2.5-4-4-8 Timings, as printed on memory Video: ATI Radeon 9800XT (flashed 9800 pro) Hard Drives: Western Digital 40GB ATA100 WD40BB 7200RPM (fresh defragged) Maxtor 250GB (storage only, not used for OS or gaming) Any suggestions? Does 2600 sound about right for this setup?

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10-February-06, 11:40 AM		#2 (permalink)
FoeHammer P-Hoe-lice	Hate to say it, but that does seem to be about where you should be. The biggest limiting factor in your system is your video card. The 9800 series is just out of its depth in 3DMark05, and god forbid you try '06. That's not to say that you won't be able to play games well, but they just won't be run at the same quality as the newer cards out there.

10-February-06, 11:53 AM		#3 (permalink)
Dex Retr-hoe Reviewer	Sorry, but who buys a AMD X2 to use with a 9800XT?! FoeHammer is right, that graphics card is holding that system back major style. Its 2006 dude, get a x1900xt

10-February-06, 12:09 PM		#4 (permalink)
Chrome_Rust Apex Tech God	He would have to get a AGP card, anf the X1900's arent AGP. I have the same board and i love it. get a x850XT and do some clocking. I get 31k in 01 and i am getting 12k in 03....

10-February-06, 02:22 PM		#5 (permalink)
Ward Apex Techie II	Lol, last week I got the video card for free, but my processor (Athlon 1900+) was holding me back. I upgraded to an X2, and now the video card is holding me back... I guess I'll start saving for an X800. In the meantime, I can overclock the 9800 and see how much I can squeeze out of it.

10-February-06, 02:35 PM		#6 (permalink)
The Dragon Reborn Apex Elite Expert Tech	Well... I've just got a "lowly" PIV... (2,6c, overclocked..), when my old 9800Pro "passed away", I bought a 6600GT... never expected such a HUGE boost in the latest Doom & Quake... (not even my choice of games..lol..).. Those games really 'thrive on Nvidia hardware.... I must agree with the previous posters... if you "ugrade" to the Nvidia "7" series you'll REALLY use the "muscle"of your 'rig! TDR

10-February-06, 08:58 PM		#7 (permalink)
Ward Apex Techie II	After a mild overclock, I was able to squeeze out a 2958. The CPU overclock had little to no effect, but OC'ing the radeon did. I currently have the CPU at 2.2, I'll push it to 2.4 when I get a better cooler. right now it has the stock AMD one. Heres the specs: FSB @ 220Mhz, to acheive 2.2Ghz Memory @ 2.5-3-3-7 9800XT @ 450/370 2958 3DMarks (3dmark 05)

10-February-06, 09:44 PM		#9 (permalink)
Nerdz Sir Knight of Spamalot	Well you could always get the 7800, it came out for AGP recently..

11-February-06, 12:55 AM		#10 (permalink)
Ator At-Whore	That processor can handle 2.4-2.5 with no problem....I should know, i've got the same processor running at 300x8 with the RAM 1:1 right now. Running 2.5-2.6 should be enough of a processor boost to break 3k. What brand of RAM chips do you have? If they are along the lines of, say, Samsung TCCx, you could get some nice timings @ DDR400, or some wicked high clock speeds with loose timings and 2.8v. For a new video card, I would recommend something like an X850XT, or nVidias new 7800GS. They are both great cards, although I feel the X850 would be a much better value (close to $200 now!).

11-February-06, 08:28 PM		#11 (permalink)
Ward Apex Techie II	It's OCZ brand memory, and the chips say OCZ on them. I don't know how good this memory is for overclocking, but it's doing fine at 220Mhz, 2.5-3-3-7. The stock timings are 2.5-4-4-8.