3dMark01: 1000 points vanished w/ no system change?

[illogical06]

Ok, when i first got my 9800 pro/xt, I threw it in the case and ran 3dmark01. I disabled my firewall and perhaps closed a couple programs running in the taskbar. My score was 21362
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8523698
I then installed rad linker and atitool and bumped up the core and mem slightly...my score also improved slightly.

Then i began to oc my FSB, i tried different things for a couple hours testing them with 3dmark01 as a quick stability test. None of my scores even broke 20G's!!!!!

Not even with with the same rig in sig but @ 252 FSB w/ same RAM timings. Score 19385
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=8523641

EVERYTHING in the bios remained the same as before except the FSB and i had to up the cpu voltage one notch. I've tried resorting back to the EXACT same settings as the original high score but i lose 1200 points

Here are all the operating system changes that took place: installed radlink,atitool,Windvd/ Uninstalled PowerDVD

Keep in mind that after i installed radlink and atitool, i still got a high score but i didnt save it because i figured the score dropping was the least of my worries.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!!!! :bang head

[illogical06]

I just noticed that the average fps reported by ati tool has dropped around 40-60 fps. This is ridiculous. I even ran msconfig and put 3dmark01 on realtime which i NEVER do but i still didnt even break 20G's. I'm completely lost as to what could be the problem. I think i might just reinstall windows and go from there....i mean really....cmon.
_____________________________________
This may sound odd but...
I ran atitool and just staired at the fps that are updated per second
I noticed that it formed a 5 second pattern, the first three seconds were the lowest fps, the 4th the second highest and the 5th by far the highest. But every 5 second interval, the 5th slightly dropped while the 4th slightly rose. Can someone else test this out? It becomes obvious when you try it.I have no idea what this means but i'm shootin blanks here.

I think my pc just got cursed with some voodoo magic.....

[StormPC]

When you got the first score was it repeatable?

If it is true that nothing has changed and you can't repeat it then your first score was bugged.

[illogical06]

Ya, i repeated it a second time then i rebooted and began to oc my setup. But now when i change my settings back to the orginal score settings in bios...its 1200 points lower.

[StormPC]

You could be pushing the card too much. Sometimes cards will slow down if they are damaged by heat and/or excessive volts.

[illogical06]

Ok, well the person i got this card from told me the clocks they ran it @ and i've stayed below it at all times. The card has a cpu hsf for the gpu, and bga ramsinks. I also have a good fan setup location for cooling the ramsinks. I don't think thats a problem but if it is, i could be in trouble. I havent vmodded this card @ all and don't plan on it. Any other suggestions you might have also?

Edit: I reinstalled windows and my normal basic programs and i got the high score again!! So i'm not sure what caused it but i had alot more programs installed then i do now when i got the other high score...so it has to be one of them i installed/uninstalled within the time period as indicated in my earlier post. I'm goin to utilize system restore to find out the problem.

[illogical06]

Sorry guys, ran a fresh install, everything is fine. I bet a reinstall of the drivers would of done the same thing but oh well.

[Jimbob7]

Sure you didnt have some AA or AF still on? or high detail bitmaps etc?

[StormPC]

Sorry guys, ran a fresh install, everything is fine. I bet a reinstall of the drivers would of done the same thing but oh well.

Maybe and maybe not. Chances are you got a virus or parasite that was eating clockcycles. The reinstall got rid of them. Is your machine on the internet? Do you download many free offers that come your way?