I need some opinions...

gt123

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Zardon

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

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

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

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

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)