benchmarks seem very low?

[c_brod]

Hi all. I just recently built a pc (specs in my sig below), and was doing some benchmarking using 3DMark03 and Aquamark. I think the results are low for my system specs. My scores were roughly with my video card's default settings:

3DMark03: 5,900
AquaMark: 22,000

Reading through various forums, I found that I should turn off AA, AF, VSync (all in the graphics card properties), but the benchmarks don't change with the above turned off). I have overclocked the Graphics card from the default 3D settings of 325Mhz and 700Mhz all the way up to 390Mhz and 765 Mhz (no luck). Also, in the BIOS, I have tried benchmarking with the AGP Apperature (not sure if this is the correct term) size at 64MB, 128MB, and 256MB, and still no change.

Does anybody have any recommendations to improve my benchmarks? I feel like some of my settings (in BIOS and in Windows Display properties) may be incorrect. Maybe it's a RAM or CPU setting issue, but I have no idea. I have played Call of Duty and a little bit of Far Cry so far and there does not seem to be any issues. I'm just confused as to some of the other benchmarks I've seen, being so much higher than mine, I want to make sure I'm getting the correct performance out of my components.

PS. I have the latest nVidia drivers installed.

Thanks.

[DragonNOA1]

Seems to be a reaccurring theme for a lot of ppl. Some ppl have 6800GT's that bench well, others that don't. Weird. All I can recommend now is the latest chipset drivers and vid drivers (plz give a version number b/c sometimes what M$ and others say are the latest aren't).

EDIT* And btw, you should be getting closer to 11,000 with your card/setup in 3DMark2k3.

[c_brod]

I'm at work, so I don't have the version in front of me, but I believe its 6177, which when I checked on evga.com, where I purchased the card, was the latest driver available. I forgot to mention that I have the non-ultra 6800 (just the basic card). When I run the test, my fps slows down the most on the CPU test (I think?) to the range of 1 to 12 fps.

[DragonNOA1]

Looks like the latest that ppl like is version 65.62 for their video cards and VIA just released new chipset drivers. Looks like the ppl having problems with their card have a bad/underpowered PSU. I believe your Enlight is pretty good if I remember correctly, so hopefully that's not the problem. Also, try changing your Aperture size. Try it from 64 all the way up to 256MB. Any chance you have Vsync on?

[Xtasy]

Originally Posted by DragonNOA1 Looks like the latest that ppl like is version 65.62 for their video cards...

Why doesn't Nvidia have these posted yet?

[c_brod]

You know, come to think of it, I believe I think I have the connector from the power supply, that connects to the video card shared with the SATA HD, so maybe the video card isn't getting enough power. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

evga has 61.77 as the latest? I guess they are behind on the driver updates. Is that later version you posted a beta version, or not? If beta, is it OK for me to download (not very knowledgable about drivers and video cards in general)?

I am not really concerned with the benchmark itself...but rather that my card is working correctly (i.e. settings, drivers, and connections are correct) and will play the games I throw at it (Doom3, HL2, Farcry)

Thanks again.

[DragonNOA1]

Originally Posted by Xtasy Why doesn't Nvidia have these posted yet?

B/c they aren't WHQL certified yet and are therefore considered beta because, to my knowledge, nVidia only posts WHQL certified drivers on its site. Ppl are getting good benches with these though and can be tried if you like, it's totally up to you.

evga has 61.77 as the latest? I guess they are behind on the driver updates.

See above, those 61.77 are the latest certified drivers.

I am not really concerned with the benchmark itself

Well what big name game do you have that we can compare scores with other ppl? That's the only way we can really check.

Edit* And I think your regular 6800 3DMark2k3 should be around 7500.

[c_brod]

Originally Posted by DragonNOA1 Well what big name game do you have that we can compare scores with other ppl? That's the only way we can really check. Edit* And I think your regular 6800 3DMark2k3 should be around 7500.

I currently only have 2 games (FarCry and Call of Duty) since I just finished building this machine less than a week ago. When I ran the benchmark test (scored 5900), I did not change anything in 3DMark2k3. I only made changes to the video card properties (turned off aa, af vsync, overclocked 3D to 390Mhz and 765Mhz, 2D is clocked at 325Mhz and 765Mhz), and ran 3DMark2k3, I guess, at the default settings.

Is there a way to check the fps or whatever else I need to check while playing the game itself, or am I only able to check in the benchmark test?

PS. I ran Aqumark again last night, making changes to the AGP Apperature (ran it at 64, 128, and 256MB) and the score was about 26,400 on all three settings. I didn't have a chance to rerun the 3DMark2k3 test. I also checked the power supply connector connected with the video card, and the video card was the only thing connected to that particular line.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

If you want to know your fps in games try Fraps.

www.fraps.com

[Xtasy]

Originally Posted by DragonNOA1 B/c they aren't WHQL certified yet and are therefore considered beta because, to my knowledge, nVidia only posts WHQL certified drivers on its site...

This isn't true because the 61.77 drivers are not certified, cuz when I install them i get the warning saying the driver hasn't passed the WHQL testing... But that doesnt really matter, this is a great post and driver signing isn't a big deal anyways. Farcry still has texture error when i play with water settings past low, but it make all other games run just a little faster.

[DragonNOA1]

My bad, the 61.76 version is certified... close enough

And make sure you have patched your FarCry game with 1.2. Hopefully that will fix your water problems while increasing performance (Note: v1.2 is only for nVidia owners, just a warning to ATI owners reading this thread).

EDIT*

driver signing isn't a big deal anyways

I wish VIA wouldn't think that way b/c their drivers for my specific mobo crash my system and I can't get them to work in XP. They do work in 98SE tho. Get 'em signed and working right VIA! Grrr, but that's for another thread, lol.


Ah, and finally I found some benches for FarCry on a plain 6800.

Far Cry 1.2 - Volcano Demo - 1024 x 768
FPS: 80.1

Far Cry 1.2 - Volcano Demo - 1600 x 1200
FPS: 35.4

[Richolmes72]

Your score is definitely too Low, With Overclocking my 5900XT will hit 5900. From what I've heard with no O/C a plain 6800 should hit just under 8000.

Are you sure you have the latest motherboard drivers installed? this turned out to be my fix when i had a low score.

[c_brod]

If I update my mobo drivers, will this wipe out, or change in anway my current nVidia Drivers. What is the proper way for me to do this?

Also, there seems to be several drivers listed on their site for my mobo (listed in my sig). How do I know which I need, and how do I know which I already have on my system? By the way, thanks for all the replies.


ASUS K8V Se Deluxe Dirvers (Release):


FileName NT4_3663.zip Version 5.12.01.3663 Date 2003/09/10
Description SoundMAX Audio Driver version 5.12.01.3663 driver for Windows NT4
More...
File Size 3.4
(MBytes)
OS WinNT


FileName WDM_3663.zip Version 5.12.01.3663 Date 2003/09/10
Description SoundMAX Audio Driver version 5.12.01.3663 WHQL driver for Windows 98SE,ME,2000,XP
More...
File Size 18.92
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / Win2K / WinXP


FileName 378raid_100137.zip Version 1.00.1.37 Date 2003/09/18
Description Promise FastTrak 378 RAID Driver V1.00.1.37 for Windows 98SE/NT4/ME/2000/XP/2003
More...
File Size 1.41
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Win2003


FileName 378ata_100104528.zip Version 1.00.0.26 Date 2003/07/07
Description Promise SATA378 Driver V1.00.0.26 (ATA Mode)
More...
File Size 959.32
(KBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Win2003


FileName 378Linux.zip Version V1.00.1.30 Date 2003/06/30
Description Promise 20378 Driver
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File Size 1.79
(MBytes)
OS Linux


FileName 378Netware.zip Version V1.00.1.30 Date 2003/06/30
Description Netware5.1/6.0 Promise FastTrak 378 Controller Driver.
More...
File Size 73.22
(KBytes)
OS Netware


FileName PAM_2.zip Version Version 3.2.1 Date 2003/05/21
Description Promise Array Management Utility Version 3.2.1 Build 13 for Windows NT4.0/2000/XP.
More...
File Size 3.44
(MBytes)
OS WinNT / Win2K / WinXP


FileName Marvell630.zip Version 6.30 Date 2004/03/08
Description Marvell LAN Driver v6.30 WHQL for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/NT.
More...
File Size 11.4
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP


FileName amd_cnq_driver.zip Version 1.0.1.7 & 1.1.0.0 Date 2003/12/17
Description AMD Cool''n''Quiet Driver
More...
File Size 3.43
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / Win2K / WinXP


FileName amd_cnq_software.zip Version release Date 2003/12/17
Description ASUS Cool&Quiet Software for Windows ME/2000/XP
More...
File Size 2.02
(MBytes)
OS All


FileName USB2_257.zip Version 2.57 Date 2003/10/22
Description VIA USB 2.0 Host Controller Drivers V2.57 for Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
More...
File Size 15.7
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / Win2K / WinXP


FileName 4in1_449.zip Version 4.49 Date 2003/09/10
Description VIA 4 in 1 driver Package Service v4.49
More...
File Size 1.32
(MBytes)
OS Win9x / Win98SE / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP


FileName VIARAID220d.zip Version 2.20D Date 2004/03/08
Description VIA VT6420 (VT8237) SATA RAID Driver Package Version 2.20D WHQL.
More...
File Size 7.24
(MBytes)
OS Win98SE / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Win2003