9800XT-Subpar performance?

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 01:09 PM

Well, I'll start by listing my system specs.

3GHz P4 w/800FSB+HT,
Intel® Desktop Board D875PBZ,
1024MB of Corsair XMS DDR PC-3200 RAM,
ATI Radeon 9800XT.

I've ran 3DMark03, and I got 6653 3DMarks without overclocking it at all, which is about normal for a 9800XT..
And I've got the card overclocked right now at 465.75MHz core, 391.50MHz memory speed,
Not showing any artifacts or overheating.

My problem is, I seem to be getting poor performance in actual games. The game (which is still in beta) City of Heroes, for instance.. I get about 30-50FPS at 1024x768(32bit) resolution, but what's weirder is that if I raise the resolution to 1600x1200, I get the EXACT same performance! 30-60 FPS.

Any idea why this would be happening?

zerodamage · Apr 16, 2004, 01:17 PM

Sounds like you have Vsync tuned on. Check and make sure you have that and Truform turned off.

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 01:19 PM

No, I have Vsync and Truform--Always Off, on both Direct3d and OpenGL. :/

Rasta Monsta · Apr 16, 2004, 01:44 PM

Can you provide some examples of your performance in games that more people here might have some experience with? It would make it easier to diagnose your problem (if you have one).

rasta

zerodamage · Apr 16, 2004, 01:51 PM

How do things look in your Smartgart tab? Have you done chipset driver updates and all of that jaz.

It sounds like your system is being bogged down. Have you done a check for spyware and etc?

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 02:16 PM

My smartgart tab looks fine, showing AGP 8x, I believe Fast Write is on..

I don't have any specific drivers for my chipsets installed other then what WindowsXP installed,
but I did update the BIOS yesterday.

As for Spyware, this is a relatively new installation of XP, and I run Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware everyday.

Somebody asked for benchmarks for a more well-known game..
I get about 55-70FPS at 1024x768(32bit) in the Unreal Tournament 2004 demo, playing UNS-Torlan (the map with the vehicles/raptor airplane.)

zerodamage · Apr 16, 2004, 02:30 PM

Sounds like you should be downloading and updating your chipset drivers if you are only running the basics from Windows XP.

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 02:45 PM

I'm trying to install the 'D875PBZ' drivers, but when I do, it's telling me "Files Needed"

"The file 'pci.sys' on (Unknown) is needed."

I tried redownloading the driver, and it's still telling me it.

I tried finding the already existing pci.sys file on my computer and using it, and then another file comes up and another and another until it won't work. Am I doing something wrong?

Rasta Monsta · Apr 16, 2004, 04:12 PM

Download and run this file from Intel.

Try your benchmark again and post results (although your framerates for UT2k4 seem in the acceptable range). Did you enable PAT in your motherboard BIOS?

rasta

P.S. Make sure AdWatch is NOT RUNNING during installation of ANY DRIVER.

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 04:16 PM

That was the file I was trying to install. It gives me that 'Files Needed.' error.

I called Alienware tech support, they said my installation of Windows XP must be corrupt, no other explanation. So I'm going to reinstall Windows. *Sigh.* What a troublesome thing..

Well, they said that the motherboard drivers are the most important.

(Anyway, my benchmarks are never done with anything except the bare reqs. running, no virus scan, ad-scan, other garbage)

Rasta Monsta · Apr 16, 2004, 04:23 PM

Alienware tech support said to do a clean install on a new PC?

Now I have heard it all. . .

rasta

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 04:24 PM

New? It's not THAT new.. It's about half a year old now, I think.

It came with a 5600FX, I upgraded it to a 9800XT.

Rasta Monsta · Apr 16, 2004, 04:26 PM

Hmph. "Clean install" is the last resort of the lame (or first resort, as the case may be).

Maybe if you choose the option to repair your installation you can avoid some of the hassle.

Good luck,

rasta

P.S. You MUST use a driver cleaner to get rid off all traces of nVidia software prior to installing ATi drivers! There is a good one available for download at DH.

~~Sourcer_2002~~ · Apr 16, 2004, 04:29 PM

Before you do a complete reinstall....use driver cleaner and wipe the video card drivers....then restart...install your chipset drivers off you motherboard cd....or alienware cd...and then reboot....and then update your chipset drivers....and then install the latest cats..or omegas.

SailorAlea · Apr 16, 2004, 10:25 PM

I reinstalled Windows and the drivers, and everything.

I ran a Aquamark3 test, and got this result:

http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_vie...run=1888455954

Is 48592 a good score for a P4 3.0GHz, and 9800XT?

Rasta Monsta · Apr 19, 2004, 11:23 AM

Looks like you are right on the money, per this article.

Good job,

rasta

DocHoliday · May 25, 2004, 03:22 PM

I think your supposed to have fast writes off except for the 9600 model?Not sure if it's for the stock ati drivers but for the omega's they are turned off by default

Jalle64 · May 26, 2004, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DocHoliday
I think your supposed to have fast writes off except for the 9600 model?Not sure if it's for the stock ati drivers but for the omega's they are turned off by default

With the new Omegas you can choose if you want it or not, when you install it!

germanjulian · May 26, 2004, 07:40 AM

hey seems u have fixed your problem with that aquamark score... I would do a fresh install anyway. I will tonight! again!

Chaos · May 26, 2004, 08:08 AM

That is a decent score, but how is your gaming performance now, better, worse or the same?