New system, poor performance

[Slawek]

I just purchased the following system:

P4 640 (3.2 ghz) processor
Asus P5ND2-SLI motherboard (not deluxe model)
Western Digital 250 SATA II HDD
Corsair XMS2 DDR2 512x2 memory
Antec 550W True Power II dual 12v
BFG GeForce 7800 GT OC
Thermaltake Soprano case


I am getting very poor performance in games currently. And by poor, I mean HL2 suggests I do 1024x768 with everything maxed, but I get like 15 fps. Counter Strike is getting around 15 FPS. FEAR is just a nightmare. Even when I lower everything down to 800x600 with low settings, HL2/Counter Strike is so damn slow, with no increase in FPS.

I have the latest Nvidia 81.98 drivers, latest Nforce chipset update, updated my BIOS, I dont have any of that Nvidia extra stuff starting up in my MSCONFIG/Startup. When prompted to install the Nvidia SW IDE driver, I say YES.

I plugged my HDD in using the SATA cables, so I know it's fine. I get the 'skip' during games, like it's the HDD catching up or something, but I dont think that's the main problem here.

My memory is dual channel DDR (2 x 512) Corsair XMS2 performance ram

I have WinXp Pro w/SP2 installed. No virus scanners, no Office installed or anything like that. Fresh system with WinXP and a few games.

I know that when you get a new system, you have to screw with settings to get it to run perfect. But really, can you guys offer some help here? I'm at a loss...

Here is a shot of some info.. SORRY FOR THE LARGE IMAGE, if i reduced it, it got really blurry:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/Slawek/system.jpg

When I installed Windows for the first time, I hit F6, and put in the disk that I made using my ASUS CD from another computer, and loaded the SATA drivers.

I emailed BFG, they said that the small amount of RAM I have is hurting my performance. I nearly snapped when I read that email. How can 1 gig of ram explain 15 fps at 800x600 in HL2 with my system specs?

They also said that my card must be in an IRQ setting between 5-15. If you look at my screenshot, it's on IRQ 16. But it wouldn't put it there if it was conflicting, right?

My CPU temperatures are 50-55 Celcius at IDLE, and about 60 at full load.
My Graphics Card temperatures are like 42 Celcius at IDLE, and 50 at full load.


My current attack plan: When I get home from work, I'm removing all Nvidia drivers and chipset drivers, using Driver Cleaner Pro to remove all DLL files, and I'll then try to reinstall everything again, saying NO to the Nvidia SW IDE driver. I doubt this will work tho :S

 

[purelithium]

The Nvidia IDE driver is flawed. You should uninstall it and use the generic MS one. It's perfectly fine, as you don't get any sort of extra features with the Nvidia one.

If uninstalling/rolling back doesn't work, you might even have to re-install windows... but that might be a drastic measure you don't need to take. Maybe someone else has a better suggestion

 

[kittle]

Check for "shared" stuff before you uninstall anything.
goto control panel -> Administrative tools -> computer management.
Pick device manager, right click on that and pick 'view -> resources by type'. Look under IRQ and see whats there.

Chances are one of your key components - HD, sound, Video - is sharing an IRQ with something its not supposed to.

 

[mdd1963]

What BIOS version is on your mainboard? (Seen in your initial post display)

(A minimum version of 0404 is required for your model 640 /3.2GHz cpu support, as a BIOS update was issued to suppor that cpu specifically)

here is a link to Asus' site...

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=P5ND2-SLI


Second possibility: CLock throttling?

Do you use the supplied Intel thermal paste? (Generic/cheap brands do not get proper heat transfer to the heatsink, which will quickly cause the cpu to clock throttle itself down to as low as 50% or lower of max...)

Was tape removed from bottom of heatsink, if applicable? (not trying to insult you, just covering some simple "clock throttle" causes!)

another quick possibility: "latest Nforce chipset drivers"

Are you sure you used the right ones, specific to the NF4/Intel chipset?

Here's an Nvidia link for NF4/Intel SLI drivers for XP:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_nf4_winxp32_intel_7.15.html

Another possibility:

You mentioned "When I installed Windows for the first time, I hit F6, and put in the disk that I made using my ASUS CD from another computer, and loaded the SATA drivers."

Unless you are installing from /thru a RAID controller set for RAID 0/1/5 operation, you do not need to install "SATA drivers" with WinXP ; I might try deleting the C partition, recreating it, and fresh installing to clear out that installation entirely...(Ensure MB BIOS is not set for RAID operation) If your mb has an integrated RAID controller, try connecting drive to one of the native supported "ordinary" SATA ports...

The specific standard order for install is:

OS
NF4 for Intel chipset drivers
7800GT drivers
Directx 9.0c

(update sound/lan driver updates from Asus afterwards....skip their RAID driver for now, unless it is impossible to even get Winxp install to access the sata drive without the RAID driver, which is unusual)

 

[Slawek]

I have version 0501.

There was nothing to peel off, you just install it.. it had preapplied thermal paste on it, so I just set it on the CPU, 4 clicks, done.

I will reinstall drivers, if that doesn't work, format, redo it all again.

 

[kolemunky]

silly question but do you have the latest directx version??

 

[Slawek]

yes, if u look at the picture i linked to in my original post, it will answer most questions

 

[Vascular]

Make sure you have the video card in the top pci-e slot if you are running one card.

Also make sure if you are running one card the sli selector card is flipped the correct way.

Its not your ram 1gb is more than enough.

Check your bios to see if there is any sli prompts in there.

 

[mdd1963]

"I have version 0501.
"

Then you are okay for cpu support, as any BIOS version after 0404 supports your cpu...

 

[parlee]

ram could be faulty tho run memtest and 3dmark05.... 06 will give u a lower score and might scare u, ur score in 05 should be around 7-8k? i think... u only have 1 hd, or so the pic says, id say dont install any raid stuff that could be causing it, but u say u hear the hd trying "catch up" while gaming, so its either the hd or memory, u could have like 256 of usable memory and the rest could be messed (if thats even possible) or u could have just installed somthing u shouldnt have (raid drivers)... with the symptoms u described id rule out video/processor... but then again 15fps at lowest settings probably has somthing to do with video card, do u get artifacts at all? u may want to consider RMAing somthing upon further research... do u have an old machine u can put pieces into and test? (like the memory, and maybe processor) or ask a friend if u can try those 2 in his computer, that will rule out 2 of the 4 possible things, but before all this, reinstall drivers, if that doesnt work, reinstall windows... then work with the hardware running benchmarks and memtest, also right click on y computer to see what ur clock speed is, if its throttling it will show that its clocked at 2.0 or somthing

 

[ches111]

Some things to try (although not as effective now that everything is integrated into the MB).

Remove all components not necessary to the operation of the PC. Extra drives, audio card, network card, modem?...

Remove the drivers for these devices.

Uninstall the aftermarket SATA drivers (this may cause a failure to boot given that some controllers are not fully integrated). Make sure that if your PC has two SATA controllers that your HD is on the primary controller. This controller is normally fully integrated into the MB/BIOS and can do a detection within the BIOS of your SATA drives. The secondary controller often requires a driver in Windows to recognize the devices once booted.

After you get (Back to performing) start to add additional components back one at a time, while testing after each installation.

Having been in this industry for a while it really does matter sometimes the order of installation of devices. Some device drivers are written to play nicer than others. I once had a PC that ran at top o the class until the modem was installed (last). Perfomance would come to a halt due to conflicts on the IRQ. Remedy was to install the modem first and the sound card second. The sound card driver payed nicer with the rest of the equipment and went around the modems settings. This does not happen (as much these days) but it does still happen. You can direct the installation of devices by saying NO to windows hardware detection/installation and doing it yourself in your order....

Hope this helps...

 

[Slawek]

Issue fixed!

I can't believe this... The heatsink was not secured properly.. i guess I didn't *click* it in after all?! Anyways, since I reinstalled the heatsink, temperature is at 35 Celcius, and at load it's at 40 Celcius. What a difference from 60!

Thank you for all your help!!

 

[ches111]

I guess we all should have started with the old standard for problem resolution "re-seat everything"

MDD hit a homer !!!!!

 

[Slawek]

hehe ya.

Now I'm looking for a better cooling solution.. a new heatsink and fan.

Can someone suggest "the best"?

 

[ches111]

Man you just opened up a CAN

People are as pasionate about heatsinks as they are about their procs.

Looks like you are hoping to get a good active cooling system.

Quiet or loud or I don't really care?

Are you planning on overclocking?

 

[Slawek]

Preferably not much louder than my stock cooler.

Price is not important, the more expensive, the better, so give it to me baby!

Not interested in overclocking, but I might as well if it lowers my heat! It's not really required. I Just want this system even cooler

NOT WATERCOOLING



Also, please read:

Corsair.com, they say my ram should be:
Latency : 4-4-4-12
When it starts up it says something like 5-4-4-14 or something..

How do I change it to those recommended settings? It's on Auto, but I have the following choices:

T(CAS)
T(RCD)
T(RP)
T(RAS)
T(RC)
Addressing Mode

I need to change settings in each.. what do I set them to, to achieve the recommended latency?

 

[ches111]

This is a great resource to understand what you are looking at and why you should or should not change your timings...

http://www.corsairmemory.com/memory_basics/153707/index.html

 

[Slawek]

Okay but can u help me by telling me what each of those settings is supposed to be?

 

[ches111]

Okay go to that site and listen to section 21 through 24.... it will give you everything you need to read that and you will learn it from them and not have to trust me.

Read and Listen young Grasshopper :-D

 

[Slawek]

I noticed something: When I run CPU-Z, its showing my core speed fluctuating from 2800 to 3200 MHz, and the multiplier keeps changing from 14x to 16x. I read on a forum that this is due to EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology) and that it's reducing the processor to 2800 MHz (the lowest this series can go) when idle. And it kicks it up to full speed when needed. They said it's safe to disable this in my bios because the only real savings is overall CPU life, which, really, who cares.. In a few years I'll upgrade anyway.

Does this make sense?

 

[ches111]

Does your MOBO have dynamic overclocking?

Like MSI and others it will do a dynamic OC with an app in windows called CORECELL. Dynamic OC is not really a good thing to do since you do not know where you are at... I would disable this if it is enabled.

 

[Slawek]

Well my motherboard has NOS (Non Delay Overclocking System) set to AUTO. It says it intelligently determines the system load and automatically boosts the performance for the most demanding tasks.

Should I turn this off?
And then turn off EIST too?

My friend said "Either overclock, or dont. Don't let your mobo decide how fast your processor is supposed to run. Make a choice to stay stock or overclock".

 

[ches111]

Your friend is very wise.

Turn it off and do a mild OC yourself. For instance my primary PC is a P4 3.0C and I have it OC'd to 3.1 with the auto turned off.

The place you can have issues with the dynamic OC stuff is inside of games. For instance the PC at a crucial time beleives that you are not doing enough to have the CPU spun up because you are going down a dark hall with little detail. You then step through the door to the 10 guys on the other side shooting at you. It will determine at that point that you need the Horse Power and give it to you but it is now too late.

That is just a for instance. It may not be that bad but you get the idea.

 

[Slawek]

No no, you're absolutely right, that makes sense.

How should I overclock? I havent done this forever now. Do I just increase the FSB a bit?

 

[ches111]

Let me look for a while and see if I can find an up-to-date OC tutorial. I found one the other day that was geared to the AMD but may not fully apply to the Intel that you have.

Will get back to you.

In the mean time you could do a little yourself, try:

in google search window:
+intel +"dual core" +overclock +tutorial or +"how to"

That is where I would start too..