6600GT to 8800GTS and No Improvement?

[Tm4_Reaper]

I just upgraded from a 6600GT to an 8800GTS Superclocked card (320MB @ 575 Mghz). My frame rate on World of Warcraft is still between 20 - 40 FPS. I am not seeing much if any improvement. I downloaded all of the new drivers, etc. Should I return the card for something else, wait, or is there something wrong? Becuase this doesn't seem to be worth upgrading cards.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

P4 - 3.2 GHz on Abit AG8
1.5 Gig PC3200
WD Raptor SATA
8800 GTS SC

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Do you play any other games? Not too familiar with wow. It could be vsinc, or if on line, could be server, other games should show an improvement, as well as wow offline,single player, unless theres a cap on it

 

[rammedstein]

thats peculiar, i used to play this game alot on an older system, with all eye candy on and my frame rates were always 70+, but in saying "older system" it was still a beast (fx-60, x1950xt)

 

[cpburns]

You could likely benefit from dual channel ram instead of odd sticks. You could also do with a better processor, and subsequently a better motherboard. Your video card is definitely going to be held back by your processor. It's just not enough now.

I always hovered around 40-70fps in WoW at 1600x1200 maxed options, 20-45 while raiding (lots of people to render).

I run a dual core 2.4GHz Athlon 64 X2,
2GB OCZ DDR400 Dual Channel 2-3-2-5 1t,
eVGA 7800GT 445/1070
100GB SATA boot
3x100GB SATA Raid0 games drive
Audigy 2 ZS

 

[andybird123]

don't listen to cpburns, that processor is fine to run that graphics card (there was an article a little while back that showed that the GTX got better frame rates with a dual core, but it was the difference between 120 and 160 frames per second, the GTS topped out way sooner regardless of CPU, but it was still 80fps+ in most games)

I was running a single core athlon 64 4000+ with a 7900GT and used to get 50+fps on wow with no noticeable slow down, I'm now running a GTS, haven't tried it with WoW, but with other graphically intensive games like BF2142, GRAW2 etc. I get completely smooth gameplay, (BF2142 I get 70+fps)

I would look at things like task manager and see what else your PC is running (a lot of backround apps maybe?), and see what your memory usage is like when running wow

your CPU and graphics card are not the problem

 

[choirbass]

yeah, the 8800GTS definetly isnt a problem where performance is concerned, especially since youre coming up from a 6600GT. the last card i had before my current 7800GT was also a 6600GT, and that was a major improvement in pretty much every game i played (unless the game just wasnt at all demanding). an 8800GTS is going to be about twice as fast as a 7800GT, especially when you start pushing it to where you can see the difference (shouldnt be too difficult), so, you definetly have a decent card now.

assuming all your software is running correctly... the only other hardware change i can see being worthwhile aside from a dual core cpu, is possibly going up from 1.5GB single channel, to 2GB dual channel.

 

[uberman]

I concur with the ram recomendation,other than that your system is fine.

 

[skittle]

"and subsequently a better motherboard."
heh I think you meant to say: substantially.


What power supply do you have? that could be your problem.

 

[maverick7]

is your pci express slot at 16x?? not 8 or 4 god forbid lol ??

 

[jaguarskx]

Sometimes a clean install of Windows will boost your performance. That'll get rid of possible Registry entries and other programs that may be slowing down your system.

 

[Tm4_Reaper]

well the 1.5 GIG of RAM I am running is Duel Channel Ram.


I ran a 3dMark test last night and scored a measly 4,700. I am going to reload my 6600GT tonight when I get home and see what kind of score I get.


Maverick, where do you check to see what the PCIex slot is set at? The bios? I know it is a 16ex slot, but I have not seen anywhere to set it at 16, 8, or 4, not even in the bios unless I missed it.

How about other bios settings? could it be something there hampering things?

 

[turtle1]

It is either your ram not in dual channel or too many apps running in the back ground.

 

[double_helix]

well the 1.5 GIG of RAM I am running is Duel Channel Ram.

I can't think of a way for 1.5 gigs of RAM to be in dual channel... perhaps 2x512 and 2x256? If that's the case, then there might be some decreased performace running 4 sticks. Like other's have noted, check the task manager and see what's running. There might be unnessisary processes that are taking up processor/ram needlessly. I'm running WoW at 1280x1024 w/ almost max details and 75Hz at 60-70FPS even in the most hectic instance with a nVidia 7900GS...

 

[ethel]

Run 3dMark06 and use its in-built functionality to compare your system with similar rigs. It will take you to the web and show you how your score compares to systems with the same processor / gfx card as you.

Then you'll know if you have a problem.

 

[DeAtHrApToR]

I'm convinced that your cpu is part of the problem becuase even the X6800 can't utilize the 8800 series to its full potential. The P4 3.2Ghz was recommended to fully use a 6800 Ultra.

 

[Tm4_Reaper]

yes the duel channel RAM is done with (2) 256 and (2) 512, for 1.5 gig.

Running World of Warcraft at 1024 x 768 and all the other settings on maximum graphics settings, 85 MHz refresh, 4x AA, 8x whatever it was (lol). But only getting 20 to 40 frames a sec.


what really concerned me was the Horrible 3dMark score of 4,700. Guess I will check the processes running tonight at home, and or wipe windows and see where I am.

 

[andybird123]

I'm convinced that your cpu is part of the problem becuase even the X6800 can't utilize the 8800 series to its full potential. The P4 3.2Ghz was recommended to fully use a 6800 Ultra.

don't talk bollocks, I have a 4000+ single core processor and I have an 8800GTS and I get 80+fps in all the games I play (like BF2142 that was getting <30fps with a 7900GT on the same system)

and how do you explain the fact that supreme commander gets 3 frames per second faster running on an Q6600 compared to an E6300 with an 8800GTX - if CPU was the limiting factor then that processor change should increase the fps by 50%

 

[roberotto]

yes the duel channel RAM is done with (2) 256 and (2) 512, for 1.5 gig.

Running World of Warcraft at 1024 x 768 and all the other settings on maximum graphics settings, 85 MHz refresh, 4x AA, 8x whatever it was (lol). But only getting 20 to 40 frames a sec.


what really concerned me was the Horrible 3dMark score of 4,700. Guess I will check the processes running tonight at home, and or wipe windows and see where I am.

I have a A64 3000+ w/ 1gb ddr400 in dual channel and a 6600gt. In 1024x768 w/ graphics in high and w/o AA and w/o FA, I can get almost this same score in wow. With a cpu overclock to 2400mhz, I can get 42xx from PCMark05 graphics score.

Try to make changes in steps.
1st, try to run in 1024x768 in high setting and w/o AA/AF/Others improvements and see the FPS...

 

[bfellow]

He has a P4 and PC3200... that's like top of the line 5 years ago.

The PC3200 won't compare well vs. a PC2 6400. and neither will the P4 3.2 vs. C2D 2.0+

 

[double_helix]

I will note that I originally upgraded my 6600GT w/ a 7900GS. I was expecting a good increase but was surprised to see the 7900GS getting lower framerates than my 6600GT was! After digging around on multiple forums and doing some minor research, I found out that my old AMD64 3000+ Winchester just didnt have enough "oomph" in its ability to handle information from the 7900GS. So, I went ahead and upgraded to the Opteron 180 and immediately saw a huge improvement on the 7900GS's ability to throw out FPS upwards of 60-70FPS at 1280x1024. So it is possible that the old Pentium4 3.2Ghz just isn't cutting it...I don't even think it's an EE...

 

[tiger131]

Hmm I really don't think its the CPU. Obviously the CPU is going to be a big bottleneck with the videocard, but the same with my x2 3800+ x1800xt512 as well, but I can play all my games maxed out (which includes newer titles like FEAR). I say post a Hijack this log and see how many running processes are on your computer as well as how "dirty" your machine. Seems to me like an infected machine making his P4 3.2 acting more like a 1.6. PM me with a Hijack this log and I can help you out (clean computers on a nearly daily basis).

 

[tanknspank]

Just for another data point:
My previous system was
2.8GHz P4 Northwood, no hyperthreading
6600GT video card
1.25G RAM

I got terrible framerates after the 2.1 patch in WoW. As low as 8fps in certain parts of Shattrath City (Scryer's tier). And this is with some video eye candy at lowest settings, some at mid-settings, a select few at max setting.

After my upgrade:
C2D E6600 (non-overclocked)
8600GTS video
2GB RAM in dual channel mode

My new frame rates were 48fps - 60 fps in all areas, including the previously problem areas. All video eye candy set at maximum. the screen resolution was set to 1280x1024 in both my old and new system (did not upgrade my LCD monitor).

 

[tiger131]

Another point to check - go into the Display properties and under the Nvidia 3d options, make sure you dont have all the options like the advanced AA AF etc. That shouldn't really slow that card down much, but I've noticed most drivers will make ALL the graphics settings maxed in there which can cause some issues. Set them all to application preference.

 

[rodney_ws]

I just upgraded from a 6600GT to an 8800GTS Superclocked card (320MB @ 575 Mghz). My frame rate on World of Warcraft is still between 20 - 40 FPS. I am not seeing much if any improvement. I downloaded all of the new drivers, etc. Should I return the card for something else, wait, or is there something wrong? Becuase this doesn't seem to be worth upgrading cards.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

P4 - 3.2 GHz on Abit AG8
1.5 Gig PC3200
WD Raptor SATA
8800 GTS SC

I know the OP said he downloaded new drivers, but does that necessarily eliminate a driver problem? Isn't there some sort of driver clean-up tool for removing the old drivers first?

 

[Spikke]

is your pci express slot at 16x?? not 8 or 4 god forbid lol ??

I am wondering the same thing.