6800GT Bottlenecks...

Prelude · Jun 4, 2005, 08:13 AM

Hi guys, I just recently got me a Leadtek 6800GT 256mb AGP card. Up until now the results are a bit dissapointing so I figure my system is too slow to properly run the card. My question is, what are key components that can cause a card to not perform the way it could be?

Some issues that might be the problem in my system;
* CPU P4 2,4Ghz
* 2x 256mb SDRAM
* PSU 250w (Req. state it needs 300w, no stability issues on 250w so far, got 2 HD's and 2 CDROM drives on the PSU as well)

Running XG76.41 drivers

Thx in advance...

MobileTerror · Jun 4, 2005, 08:48 AM

My guess is that it is the power supply thats giving you the performance loss. If a card doesn't get the required power (especially the minimum) it could potentially cause damage to the card as well.

wolfran · Jun 4, 2005, 09:12 AM

I would suggest upgrading the PSU first (250W is just too low for current hardware, you want at least 400W good quality PSU these days) and if nothing imrpoves, you may want to consider upgrading your cpu to 3GHz+.

jasonbourne · Jun 6, 2005, 01:50 PM

your main problem is your cpu and psu.u really need a 3gh+ cpu and a good psu to be able to see how good ur g/c really r

Randy P · Jun 6, 2005, 02:51 PM

Yup, I got the same card...it sucks 100W easily all by itself, and I suggest upgrading the CPU.

goranpaa · Jun 6, 2005, 06:28 PM

If you feel, you cant afford upgrading both at the same time. I would go for the PSU first.
I would suggest Antec True Blue 480w. I replaced my old trusty 360W Chieftec PSU, that came with the case. With this Antec. And I love that PSU!

Prelude · Jun 7, 2005, 05:10 PM

Ok guys, I just put in a new PSU, a Zalman 400W and if anything the performance is getting worse! Before 3dmark05 got me like 3800 marks and now 2100... The card seems to be getting hotter as wel with this PSU. With the old the core temp would be 59 when idle and 63/64 after some heavy 3d games. Now it's 64 when idle and 77 after gaming... all at stock speeds. wtf is going on...

Necrosis · Jun 7, 2005, 07:37 PM

What all do you have hooked up to your PSU, and what are the rest of your specs?

Prelude · Jun 8, 2005, 05:58 AM

Only 2 HDD's, a DVD burner and a DVD-ROM, that's it...
It's one of those Aldi computers, bout 1,5-2 years old;

CDsDontBurn · Jun 8, 2005, 06:08 AM

aside from your PSU, have any of your other hardware configurations changed in ANY way?

Prelude · Jun 8, 2005, 05:15 PM

Not a thing, put in the new PSU and I now get a whopping 2100 on 3dmark05 with 4xAA and 4xAF and slider on 'quality'

What do you reckon my score should be with my rig?

Tabasco · Jun 13, 2005, 11:50 PM

PSUs do NOT increase performance - it's a myth.

CDsDontBurn · Jun 14, 2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prelude

Not a thing, put in the new PSU and I now get a whopping 2100 on 3dmark05 with 4xAA and 4xAF and slider on 'quality'

What do you reckon my score should be with my rig?

to get the highest scores possible on the 3Dmark tests, you want to turn off all quality settings, and turn off AA/AF. Try running 3Dmark like that, and your score will go up quite a bit

.

Prelude · Jun 14, 2005, 11:14 AM

Well, it's not about getting the highest score possible. It's about being reassured that the card is functioning like it should. And right now I'm thinking this can't be it, since I have a very small performance gain over my 9800pro and I didn't cough up 300 euro's for that...

mike2h · Jun 14, 2005, 11:33 AM

if you are not using them try zp 6744 drivers. also, pull the card & make sure that heatsink assembly is tight. i had that card for a little while & had that problem with it.
your temps, while moderately high for that card, are well within acceptable parameters. your original temps are more in line with that card.
have you tried using a completely different power lead? do you have it by itself on that lead?
otherwise i definitely understand your frustration. give it some time, & either you or somebody here will figure out what is going on.
bty, do you still have the box it came in? if so will you tell me the gpu/ram speed from the FRONT of the box.

Prelude · Jun 14, 2005, 12:08 PM

I'll try those drivers... Tried a few already, right now I'm on ZP 76.44
Yes, I tried another connector (on the same lead mind you) and the videocard is the only hardware connected to that lead.
And nowhere on the box does it state the gpu/ram speed... It's a "Leadtek Winfast A400GT TDH 6800GT 256mb DDR3"

Thx for you reply!

CDsDontBurn · Jun 14, 2005, 12:14 PM

try playing games w/the card. the same games you were playing w/your 9800. See if you can see a FPS increase when playing games at the same settings you were playing w/your 9800. If there is an increase in performance, increase the resolution at the same settings (ex. run 1280x1024 and 4x/8x settings instead of 1024x768 and 4x/8x). If your FPS still remains the same, or is still higher than w/your 9800, then you have gained performance over your 9800.

mike2h · Jun 14, 2005, 12:59 PM

what he said.
try a different lead. also what vers of p4 do you have? ex - 2.4a, 2.4c, etc.

Prelude · Jun 16, 2005, 12:42 PM

CPU; 2405 ~MHz [GenuineIntel x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7] ; ;
All i can find of it

mike2h · Jun 16, 2005, 03:07 PM

probably 533 bus? or 400. any way, that is a bottleneck. follow CDDB's advice. your performance in games will be better. and that is all that really matters.
the upside to all this is, that as you upgrade your comps cpu/mem components that card will scale. a lot

there are some game optimisations in the driver folder, if you play any of those games i highly rec using them. if you have not already.
your 3d score should be higher though. that card is capable of higher than that. & your cpu while a limiting factor is still fast. are you using the newest vers of dx? & did you uninstall, run newest DC(in safe mode), & then install 7644?

dpagan · Jun 16, 2005, 03:17 PM

I still think 400w isn't enough to begin with and also you need to pay more attention to your 12v rails amps 20+ amps on that rail is the minimum i would accept. And i would also be looking into adding more memory as well, 512mb isn't enough nowadays.

Also make sure your chipset drivers are also upto date.

dsdsdk · Jun 16, 2005, 03:29 PM

did you remove your ati driver? or did you do a reinstall of windows?

PSU's dont give performance gain.. everybody knows that... so there is no myth!
but psus do supply the power to a system, which is an important factor. 6800 will throttle down in speed, thus losing performance to under normal level.

Prelude · Jun 16, 2005, 05:30 PM

Thx for all your suggestions, I'll try some of them on the morrow... One thing, how do I see the amps on the 12v rails? (wtf is a rail anyways

)
I'm currently shopping for parts for a better system (whole new one) AMD 64 3500+ so I hope I will see improvements there. (The whole system I put together : Some help composing a new system...)

sc3000 · Jun 16, 2005, 08:28 PM

good choise on processer, you don't wan't to waist your money on that intel crap

mike2h · Jun 16, 2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc3000

good choise on processer, you don't wan't to waist your money on that intel crap

really helpful

Warpy · Jun 16, 2005, 10:55 PM

Your problem is the PSU, needs to be 450Watt Min. The CPU is also in need of some juice.

I run the following:

AMD64 3200+ (O/C 2.75Ghz)
1GB TWINX Dual RAM
6800 ULTRA

I run most games with 6AA and 8AF in max detail in 1280x1024.

-J_B- · Jun 17, 2005, 01:45 AM

Your CPU is 478 pin (old) and your max memory speed is 266 (your FSB is 133 so DDR - 133*2=266) I know ive got the same CPU, get a new mobo (amd 939 pin) and a good ol' 64+ 3200, thats what im doing.

mike2h · Jun 17, 2005, 02:00 AM

right now your system should be able to play anything. maybe not at max levels but i can not think of one game were you are not way beyond min req.
if it was me i would continue to save my $$ for 3-5 mths & see how the whole dual-core cpu setup continues to shape up along with other improvements to pcie & sata.

Prelude · Jun 22, 2005, 05:43 AM

Well I could but then again I could have bought that new videocard for 200 instead of 300

I dunno, I'll think about it...

Tried another power lead today, no luck... Can't get more then 2600 marks in 2k5. Downloaded Motherboard monitor to check out the volts and stuff :

Anything odd in this? It's a bit too technical for me. Any other things I could look at to narrow down the problem? I don't really buy that a quality 400w PSU should be a problem, I realize some of the hardware is not optimal for this card but could this CPU/MEM config really cut my 3dmark score in half? Seems a bit excessive.