Lower 3DMark scores w/ my new Barton 3000 400MHz FSB??

[Michael Adkins]

Maybe some of you guys can shed some light on my problem. Here are the specs on my system

Before upgrade:
A7N8X Delux with ver7 bios
Buffalo PC2100 mem 2x 512MB
Athlon 2400XP @ 2.1GHz
ATI 9800 Pro 128MB
Western Digital 80GB 8MB cache HD

3dMark 2001 = 15750
3dMark 2003 = 5800


Now the only thing that has changed is I have replaced the 2400 with a 3000 400MHz FSB processor. Now my scores are around 12500 in 2k1 and 5200 in 2k3. I have also run the Sandra benchmarking program and my scores are the same as a Barton 3000 400MHz processor. This leads me to believe that it may be my slow memory that I haven't upgraded just yet. Does this sounds possible? I am not sure how it could drop my scores that much. I would just try the old processor again but it has been sold.

[Quattro]

Now that deserves a serious...
WTF

[billobob0]

Are you sure your fsb is set to 200(400)? Also, what are your memory timings/speeds? Its highly unlikely that that memory could do 200fsb at all, and your bios is automatically setting a divisor for it.

[JaY_III]

the memory issue thats you mentioned is exactly what i am thinking... Run memtest86 and see if your plagued with errors...
If you are (and i woulndnt be supprised) that would be your problem

[Sir Barton]

are you using PC3200 or better memory with your rig? running an AMD asynch usually dishes out a big perfoamnce hit.

[georgelogy]

It is definetely your memory. Your BIOS memory divider is probably set to AUTO, in which case, your memory is probably set with a divider, which will run your memory asynchronous to your FSB and kill your performance.

You need to get some PC3200 memory if you want the performance you expect.

[Dragonprince]

Agreed. New new ram.

[Michael Adkins]

Thanks for the suggestions, I need to upgrade that slow RAM anyways. Guess I will go ahead and do it. BTW, the computer still runs really fast. Just the 3dMark and AquaMark scores that were throwing me for a loop....

[JaY_III]

Originally posted by Michael Adkins
Thanks for the suggestions, I need to upgrade that slow RAM anyways. Guess I will go ahead and do it. BTW, the computer still runs really fast. Just the 3dMark and AquaMark scores that were throwing me for a loop....

Did you try to run memtest86?

[Michael Adkins]

Not yet, I don't have a floppy drive. I will grab one from work today. Any other windows based programs that I could run in the meantime..

[JaY_III]

have a burner?
http://www.memtest86.com/
download the bootable CDROM image :D

[Fleck]

Adkins, get Prime95, run a "Torture Test", first select the test that stresses mostly the memory (should be selected by default), if it fails out at any point it's the RAM... for me when it's RAM issue it always fails out during the first test, but it could always just fail out within the first 4, so let it run til then, it is a better tester of a memory's capabilities than even memtest86, I've found.

[georgelogy]

If my RAM is right on the border of being stable, I'll get my errors in the last test at around 98% or so. If it's very unstable the first test will usually produce many errors.

[Michael Adkins]

Well I ran mem86 through a few times and didn't get any errors. Wierd, I will start Prime95 before going to bed tonight. I am going to upgrade the RAM regardless, I just want to make sure there isn't any other problems before my time to return the processor runs out.

[Silent Buddha]

That PC2100 just isn't going to hold up at PC3200 speeds. To reach the full potential of that 3000+ @ 200 FSB, you definitely need some new PC3200 ram. It is a crime to run a memory divider on the Athlon XP platform.

[Michael Adkins]

It makes sense that I won't get full performance since I am not currently running the appropriate RAM. I just don't get why the scores dropped 3000 points on 3dMark2001. I would have figured that they would have just stayed the same.

[Michael Adkins]

Well Prime95 completed every test successfully also. We will see what happens after I get new RAM.

[Sir Barton]

your benchies should go up when you get your new RAM. im sure youre running your PC2100 at very very loose timings. 3dmark01 relies on memory bandwidth as well as video card performance. for instance, theres a guy on another forum whos getting 22k in 3dmark01 with a 5700U like i have, and his isnt even clocked as high as mine, but hes also running an OCed A64 3400+. bandwidth makes the difference in 3dmark01.

Bart