CPU bottlenecking my Graphics Card?

[tkh]

I ran 3dmark 2001 fir the first time today and I only got 15,000 points.
Is this low for this system:
Mobile 2500+ @ 220 x 11
1gb pc3200 elixer ram
XFX 6800gt (AGP)
DFI ultra infinity mobo.

I am using the latest drivers and only recently reformatted my pc.

The only reason I can think of is that my cpu is too slow for my 6800gt.

Please advise

[sawyen]

that could be a possibility... but it could be your RAM as well.. I'm assuming those are value memory? you could try upping your FSB further.. 2.5Ghz Bartons are pretty common, the only thing that worries me is how far ur able to push your memory..

[tkh]

Well, i have got watercooling and my cpu is already running at 50degrees+. I can not seem to push, my ran any further, and at the moment it has timings of 2.5-3-3-7. Can you please advise me on how to overclock my ram further.I will be upgrading soon, but I want to try this F-E-A-R demo with a high resolution, at the im only getting bout 20-30fps

[herulach]

If thats just generic ram then 220 with those timings is likely the best youll see. Is the gpu overclocked at all?

[tkh]

No I havent overclocked the GPU yet as I only have stock cooling for it. I think i'm going to upgrage to a 64 bit processor as I am interested in getting an SLI system, am I able to sell my existing parts on these forums as I couldnt find a BST section

[mike_w]

The For Sale forum becomes open after fifty posts (I think).

[tkh]

Cheers, I better start helping people out with their problems then

[SilentDeath]

Your cpu is not too slow. Looks like you have something set up wrongly.

Cpu bottlenecks dont make your score drop below what 3yr old hardware would get (my 2.2ghz AXP + 9700 got better than that). They only stop you getting scores that you would expect from a well balenced system.

[menthel]

I think it sounds like that something is wrong in your system. That 50 degree temperature sounds high on watercooling. Before I changed over my mobile 2500+ in a shuttle aircooled was only just running at 50 with 2400mhz!

[sawyen]

exactly... i had my old 'normal' barton up at 2.3Ghz and it was only loading at about 55ish on air.. did you install ur heatblock correctly? did u use a thermal paste?

[tkh]

Yes, everything is set up correctly and I used the coolermaster thermal compound that came with my water cooling. Could it just be that it is not a very overclockable cpu?

[sawyen]

hmn.. i dont think so.. how much voltage are u giving the cpu? also.. even 2.2Ghz shouldnt give u rubbish results on a 6800GT.. i had a 2500+ as well with 6800GT and it was quite speedy.. even at stock 1.8Ghz..

I reckon you need to check if all your drivers are installed correctly.. get a fresh install of XP if possible.. might be plagued with spyware or old compressed registries and bulk files.. try to disable some of the useless background processes such as ITunes helper, DKManager (if u have diskkeeper) or AdobeReader encryption programs..

[schmunk]

I think it sounds like that something is wrong in your system. That 50 degree temperature sounds high on watercooling. Before I changed over my mobile 2500+ in a shuttle aircooled was only just running at 50 with 2400mhz!

My cheaply watercooled XP-M 2500+ at 2400MHz sits at 42 idle in a warmish room - and that includes the GPU being watercooled too!

[Rave]

It's a bit pointless speculating about the efficiency of his watercooling when you don't know how much voltage he's giving the CPU. If it takes 1.9V to get to 2.2GHz then those temps might be reasonable. It's also possible that his internal temp diode isn't calibrated properly.

Anyway tkh, 15,000 is a very low 2001 score for that setup, I've scored that with a softmodded 9500. Are you sure you ran it at stock resolution (1024x768) with AA/AF disabled? It sounds as if a software or driver issue is holding you back.

[rajagra]

Cpu bottlenecks dont make your score drop below what 3yr old hardware would get (my 2.2ghz AXP + 9700 got better than that). They only stop you getting scores that you would expect from a well balenced system.

<Cough> Well, my 6800 Ultra only gets 12500 3DMark01 points!
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8550925

But I suppose it is in a 3 year old motherboard, lol.
Don't worry, it'll soon be going in an MSI K8N Neo2 bought just for the purpose.

[exAndrzej]

...my cpu is too slow...

Not sure if this has already been suggested...

...but I could not see any posts about a 'diagnostic' for this question

Q: Is my system CPU limited when running 'x' graphics benchmark at 1024x768?

Making sure you have the latest WHQL drivers from the chip-designer's web site...

...enter the graphic card control panel and make sure the IQ settings are at 'default' with 'application control'

Change the setting on the system to 640x480 and run the bench

Now do the same again at 800x600

Now again at 1280x1024

As long as the benchmark is CPU limited - you will see the same scores over and over

The 'curve' will change as soon as the demand on the graphics chip becomes 'strong enough'

As a 'last test' - run the bench again with the highest possible resolution, AA set to 4x and AF to 8x

That will give you an idea of how the GPU reacts under extreme pressure

Bear in mind though that 3DMark01 is not as good a test of advanced shader performance as something like 3DMark05



Make sense ?