lousy benchmarks GeForce 4

[ivorybow]

I have the MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200, 8X 128mb video card. I just reinstalled windows, updated my Forceware drivers and ran 3DMark03 and 3DMark01. Both scores were lower than I had achieved on my previous mobo which was an MSI. I now have the Ausus A7N8X. My scores were 1408 and 8912 respectively. I'm new to tweaking. Any advice for a neophyte how to get the scores up? Also, what is AGP sideband addressing?

Window XP
SB Audigy
512 megs DDR RAM
AMD Athlon XP 1700+ running at 1.5

[Allan]

Hey, welcome to AOA!

What kind of score decrease are we talking about here?

Did you try using the latest Detonator drivers for the video card?

Were you overclocking the video card, by any chance?

Sidebanding:
http://www.strathfield.com.au/glossary.asp?

http://www.faculty.iu-bremen.de/birk...=G&glossid=135

[Raider]

wel u could start with overclocking your CPU and GFX..

i use a GF4ti 4800se ..Gainward an i have 16300 points..in 3dmark 2001se

very overklocked

GFX : : 350\650

cpu : : P4 2.8c @ 3.5ghz on 250 FSB

[robbie]

Is it a VIA chipset?!?!? Got the lastest 4-n-1 drivers?
Rob

[ivorybow]

No, it uses the nVidia chipset. I just got the latest Forceware from nVidia before i did the benchmark tests. I am interested in overclocking but have no clue as to where to begin. Is there an FAQ somewhere?

[robbie]

Well you can start here or do a search here
Rob

[danrok]

The first thing you will need to do is enable the hidden overclocking feature in the Forceware driver this is known as 'cool bits'. A google search will lead you to info on how to do this.

[ivorybow]

Ok, but bear with my noobiness here... isn't it dangerous to the system to start overclocking without putting in safety mechanisms? I don't want to burn out any thing or overheat.

[marcofra2000]

Originally Posted by ivorybow

Ok, but bear with my noobiness here... isn't it dangerous to the system to start overclocking without putting in safety mechanisms? I don't want to burn out any thing or overheat.

Maybe somehow in the 3d card drivers you had an option different and when you updated it changed to an option that it's making it slower. PLay around with the options in your forceware drivers

[danrok]

Extra heat only becomes an issue when you increase chip voltages. You can safely increase the speed of your 3d card without fear of it cooking. It will run a little warmer.

Did you find out how to enable the 'cool bits'?

[ivorybow]

Yes I did get Cool Bits running, but increasing the core clock by 10 only bumped up my 3DMark01 score by 4 points. I did not mess with the memory clock. I am so new at this.

[danrok]

Increasing the graphics memory speed will help. The way to do it is to make small increases and the run 3dmark01. Keep an eye on the visuals, because if you go a little to high you will see odd artifacts on the screen. Such as white pixels where there should be none.

You can't damage your card by overclocking it a little. The reason why the overclocking features are hidden is because MS will not certify drivers with overclock features, they don't like it.