ATi Radeon X800 GTO w/ BAD 3DMark05 Scores

[error_f0rce]

I recently flashed my R430 X800 GTO 256MB AGP to 16 pipes (thnx Infrared!!) and that worked great. It still hasn't help to boost my 3DMark05 scores though. I am only getting about 3116 for 3DMark05. I have a Intel Celeron 2.7GHz, ECS L4S8A2 8X AGP mobo, Antec True Power 2.0 430w PSU, 1024 of assorted DDR266 RAM, 120GB Seagate 7200RPM IDE, and of course my X800 GTO. My bios and AGP drivers are up to date, my AGP aperature is set for 256MB, ATI Catalyst is the lastest version and says I'm running 8X AGP. VGA Palette snoop is off, as is shadow video bios. I haven't reinstalled ATI Catalyst since flashing, should I? Any ideas? is my processor the bottleneck??? Please help me redeem these pathetic scores!!! ;0-

[cjoyce1980]

reduce the size of the AGP aperature, this space space in main memory for graphics. with a 256Mb card the ideal setting is about 128 or 64mb. This can cause bottleneck, as your card could be requesting data from main memory. i've found then smallest setting is better for benchmarking as it forces your card to use the GPU RAM, but as with most games, they dont even use the full amount that is avaliable.

because your RAM is also DDR266 this will cause slower access to the GART table, which would slow down the performance of your card, so get rid of the AGP aperature. you should be hitting around 4.5k'ish really

[JC316]

I think your CPU and ram is crippling your system.

[giorgos th.]

yeap.dont expect to have a better score with the Celeron and your @266 mhz memory.
i had around 7k with my old GTO,but with A64 at 2.5 ghz and my memory at @560 mhz..

[error_f0rce]

Ok, finally got the $$ to upgrade, here's the new layout:

Pentium D 930 3.0GHz (Presler)
ASRock 775Dual-VSTA (VIA PT880 chipset) AGP 8X & PCIe
Corsair Value DDR2 667 (PC5300) x2 512MB sticks
SAPPHIRE X800 GTO (R430 w/ 16 pipes) 10% OC w/ Zalman VF900 VGA cooler
Antec SmartPower 2.0 500w

I'm hoping for ~5k-6k + on 3DMark05...
:respect: what do you think? :respect:

[giorgos th.]

7Κ+ i believe..

[error_f0rce]

7Κ+ i believe..

Ok, I've installed all of the above mentioned components, w/ the exception of the Zalman VF-900, so no OC yet. However, my best 3DMark05 score was still only 5138 :banghead: .
Settings: AGP 8x, AGP aperature: 64MB (also tried 128 & 256), 1024x768, no AA/AF,
Now from what I've seen, that's right up there with the best stock X800 GTO scores.
Question though: Should I re-install the ATi Catalyst software now that I have a new mobo/processor installed, or would that make a difference?

So at this point, what do you think is holding me back?:confused:

Help me fight the 3DMark brainwash... it's taking hold :eek: :eek: :eek:

[ali2487]

Ok, I've installed all of the above mentioned components, w/ the exception of the Zalman VF-900, so no OC yet. However, my best 3DMark05 score was still only 5138 :banghead: .
Settings: AGP 8x, AGP aperature: 64MB (also tried 128 & 256), 1024x768, no AA/AF,
Now from what I've seen, that's right up there with the best stock X800 GTO scores.
Question though: Should I re-install the ATi Catalyst software now that I have a new mobo/processor installed, or would that make a difference?

So at this point, what do you think is holding me back?:confused:

Help me fight the 3DMark brainwash... it's taking hold :eek: :eek: :eek:

try re-installing you catalyst to the latest beta version! it should be ok after that

make sure that you tweak ATI tool aswell this version has plenty of tweaks!

[infrared]

Hey again Error_f0rce :)

ah, 5138 is a little more like it for a stock 16pipe x800gto. Good job, and nice upgrades :D

Get atitool 0.25 beta 10 here (http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/104) and set the fan speed to 100% and let atitool find the max overclocks for it. You should exceed 6500 in 3dmark05 fairly easily now. Don't worry too much about the temperature of the card, as long as it's under 75c you'll be fine, but in the long run, you should get a Arctic cooling, or zalman cooler for it.

Good luck matey!

EDIT: on beta 0.25 beta 10, go to settings, and select artifact scanning from the drop-down menu, and make sure the slider at the bottom's moved all the way to the left.

[error_f0rce]

Hey Infrared, thanks for the help again!! :D

I have the Zalman VF900 mentioned previously, but ran out of time last night after installing all the other upgrades and benchmarking :( So that's going on either tonight, or tomorrow. I'll d/l ATiTool .25 and follow your last post regarding that.

I'll keep posting as things move along :)
:toast: Cheers mate! :toast:

[error_f0rce]

... drum roll please :laugh:
The Zalman install last night was a great success, here's the stats:

Fan @ 100%
w/ stock cooler Idle: 38c
w/ stock cooler Heavy Load: 52c

Fan @ 100%
w/ Zalman Idle: 32c
w/ Zalman Heavy Load: 45c

OC'd (stable) @ 438|555
w/ Zalman Heavy Load: 47c|42c

3DMark05 Stock: 5138
3DMark05 OC'd: 5592
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=2081362


Infrared, I tried d/ling ATiTool .25, but it wouldn't register my temps, so I went back to .24 :( Max core was 443 and max mem was 560 (R430 poop :shadedshu ). I suppose now that I know the card temps are fine, I could d/l .25 beta 10 and try again w/o temp readings?

Now, I need help getting this baby even higher. Since I've reached about core/mem max, what else can I do to improve my score? I'm using ATi Catalyst 6.4, are there any tweaks there?