Very low 3DMarks for my 9800GTX+

I just got a new BFG 9800GTX+ OCE (overclocked edition).

I got the following results at default settings (1280x1024) with 3DMark2006 v1.1.0:

SM 2.0 Score 2807
SM 3.0 Score 3903
CPU Score 1383
3DMark Score 6900 3DMarks


According to graphs on Tom's Hardware, the results for 9800GTX should be:

SM 2.0 Score 5700
SM 3.0 Score 5731
3DMark Score 12042 3DMarks


My system spec:

CPU:
Intel Pentium D 940 (@3212 MHz)

Graphics:
BFG GeForce 9800GTX+ OC
Core Clock 760MHz (vs. 738MHz standard)
Shader Clock 1890MHz (vs. 1836MHz standard)
Memory Data Rate 2250MHz (vs. 2200MHz standard)

RAM:
Module1: Kingston 1024 MB 666 MHz
Module2: OCZ 1024 MB 800 MHz
Module3: Kingston 1024 MB 666 MHz
Module4: OCZ 1024 MB 868 MHz (don't know why this isi being read as 868)

Motherboard:
Asus P5LD2-SE

PSU:
Corsair HX520W

I know the motherboard and CPU are a bit old (which I will upgrade later) but should this make such a big difference?

uhhhhh, the pentium D's were basically dual core p4's werent they... not too bad i guess, but not as good as a pentium dual core or core 2

Yup. I have a 9800GTX+ with a modest E6600 CPU and it gets 11K.

yep, the low cpu score is a clear indicator that you're limited by the cpu. If the mobo supports core2duos get one of those, if not, then get a new mobo as well

The mobo can support C2D up to E6700 and PC2 5300 RAM. That's good enough for that GPU.

Wow, I didn't think CPU mattered much with 3DMarks except for the cpu score it gives. I thought 3DMarks were mainly based on the GPU. I guess the CPU/motherboard are a bottleneck for the GPU here.

BTW roadrunner197069, I know may have used sarcasm, but the Pentium D were released 3 years ago (2005) and not in the 90s lol!

Anyway, I'll be upgrading my cpu and motherboard as well then.

Ahh dang. I checked what it says on my motherboard and it says "Revision 1.00G". But the newer dual core processors are only supported with revision 2.01G. So I'm out of luck in keeping the motherboard and need to look for a new one.

I would be getting an E8400 CPU as well cos they as quite cheap compared to others with good performance. Don't need a quadcore for my needs yet, unless I come across some cheap one.

Ah, but the Pentium D is simply 2 old P4's squeezed together on a chip. That is why RR is saying 90's tech. The P4 tech basically does go back to the late 90's!
Generally no, the CPU is not that important with a modern GPU.
But seriously, the Pentium D is that slow.
Even a low end AMD Athlon 64 X2 CPU will benchmark double what the P-D will.
A slow Core Duo, then blows away the Athlon by 25%.
A fast Core Duo then..........well you are getting the picture.

OK, so finally I managed to build my first PC. It's easy to do but takes a lot of time.... but worth it cos you save some cash!

Here's my system spec once again:


Intel E8400 3.0GHz
BFG 9800GTX+ OC
Asus P5K Premium
OCZ 4GB DDR2-6400 800MHz
Corsair HX520W PSU
Zalman CNPS9700 LED Cooler

I ran 3DMarks once again and this time round got a massive score of 13208

Looks like the CPU did it.


Now, I'm new to overclocking and want to overclock this baby to 3.6GHz to begin with. I've read reviews that you can achieve this frequency without increasing the stock voltage and there is no change in temperature.

Could someone give me some numbers to achieve this please. What do I need to change in the BIOS?

I know this much that FSB x multiplier = CPU frequency, and that I need to increase the FSB to overclock.

I've been looking around the BIOS and there's so many settings. What exactly do I change? Thanks in advance to anyone who could help me out.

E8400 OC Guide

I have an E8400, too, and from what I understand, you just have to increase your FSB from 333 to 400 to get 3.6GHz. My P5Q PRO mb has this "AI Tweaker" section that allows me to OC in the bios. I just haven't found a need to OC so haven't tried it yet.

Now you make me wanna OC just to see a new 3DMark score...

IIRC, the 4850 scores lower in 3dmark than it does in games (compared to the 9800GTX+). You should be just as fast in games, but a bit slower in 3dmark.

Well I'm using these settings in BIOS now:

FSB 333MHz
PCIE Freq 100MHz
DRAM Freq DDR2-801MHz
DRAM Timing 4-4-4-15
DRAM Voltage 2.0V
CPU Voltage 1.2250V
Everything else on auto


And I get a score of 14426. That's an increase of 1218 marks from stock score which was 13208.