3dmark tweaking guide

[st0nedpenguin]

Just a wee word, the ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 tip only applies to Win9x systems.

[Mathias-K]

Hmmm... I'm not a total n00b, but how do you run the different test one at a time? Could it give ANYTHING with mere air cooling?

[SPQQKY]

Yes, it makes a big difference for me. Using my 5700 Ultra, I run each test individually. This allows time between tests for the GPU to cool so that you do not experience lockups. It's simple really, just go to the Selected Tests and click Change..., then select the Custom tab, got to the bottom and select Clear and then check the box of one test. Once you have done that , apply your overclock to to GPU and then hit the Benchmark tab on the 3DMark main window. This will run only that test, once complete, it will tell you you have not run enough test to get a score. Close that window but not 3DMark entirely and set your GPU clocks back to default. Wait a while for the GPU to cool down (with the FX series it's nice because you can open up the nVidia display - advanced properties tab and watch your GPU cool down with the temperature settings tab). Once you feel it has cooled down enough, go back to the Selected Tests section and unselect the previous test and pick the next test. I usually just go straight down the line, from Car low to Car high, etc., etc.. Jus tdo this until all the test have been completed one by one. 3DMark saves the info from all the previous tests and compiles it. You can even check the status as you go along. I like to do this as 3DMark can be a little fickle and your runs can differ a little each time by a few FPS, especially on the CPU dependant tests. If a run is lower than the last time you ran it, you can try again.
I am new to Intel and haven't quite figured out how to tweak WinXP to get the best results, I was good at Win2K when I ran AMD. Any advice?

[A64'uSER]

Hey, i have a problem

When im doing the 3dmark01 without OC on my cpu and i little on my gfx, i am getting 14096, but if i OC my cpu to 2200MHz and a little on my gfx i only get 13XXX..

And why is that?

Help please

[r3b0rN]

if you have an fx series nvidia card the clocks could be throttling back to 2D. but u only said a little and it dosnt happen when u dont oc cpu, so... i dont know, sorry buddy. make sure FSB speed spectrum is disabled in bios options, and make sure that the cpu is being cooled sufficiently, if it gets to hot its not going to perform as well.

[A64'uSER]

Well... I dont have a nVidia FX card, but an old gf4 ti4200... FSB Spectrum, what is that?

[r3b0rN]

i remember roughly it had to do something with locking ur cpu's fsb... which can have a bad affect when benching, but im not sure if this is the actuall meaning, ive just read something like this from a few people and i know that (even if that isnt really what it does) it definately does drop performance.

[LilGator]

can anyone elaborate on the Win2K memory tweaks ... i remember getting delayed write failures after disabling the paging executive, and the other mem tweaks ...

[nailbomb]

What test order does everyone prefer?

[Gogeta]

I know I'll sound like a complete and total noob if I ask this question, but I have to know...

What are LOD settings (like with RivaTuner and display driver options)?

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Originally posted by A64'uSER
FSB Spectrum, what is that?

Spread spectrum varies the FSB ever-so-slightly (by the % set in the BIOS) so that interference with other devices is minimised. It will almost certainly reduce stability though.

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Another tweak to try:

Set the desktop to 1024 x 768, 32 bit, 60 Hz and ensure that Vsync is turned OFF.

[sjohnson]

Gogeta

LOD = Level of Detail Bias. The higher the number, the "blurrier" the scene(s), the lower (including negative) the "sharper" - blurry uses less calculations than sharper.

Somewhere between LOD 3 and 8 seems to get folks the best scores in 3dmark. I wouldn't use them for everyday or gaming 3d though

[Soulburner]

Originally posted by Jimbo Mahoney
Another tweak to try:

Set the desktop to 1024 x 768, 32 bit, 60 Hz and ensure that Vsync is turned OFF.

This is better than 800x600 16 bit 60 Hz?

[r3b0rN]

Originally posted by Soulburner
This is better than 800x600 16 bit 60 Hz?

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?

[Soulburner]

Originally posted by r3b0rN
Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?

No, I really am asking that legitimately, because that's what I use.

[Gogeta]

Originally posted by sjohnson
Gogeta

LOD = Level of Detail Bias. The higher the number, the "blurrier" the scene(s), the lower (including negative) the "sharper" - blurry uses less calculations than sharper.

Somewhere between LOD 3 and 8 seems to get folks the best scores in 3dmark. I wouldn't use them for everyday or gaming 3d though

Thanks sjohnson. I read that this only applies to Nvidia cards...is this true?

[r3b0rN]

Originally posted by Soulburner
No, I really am asking that legitimately, because that's what I use.

oh... fair enough but i think he said 1024x768 32bit 60hz so desktop settings have no chance of intefering with 3dmark settings, however i dont think 60hz would help performance any more than having it set at something higher.

[Jimbo Mahoney]

The theory goes that setting a refresh of 60 Hz reduces the work the DAC on the graphics card has to do because we have Vsync off anyway.

1024 x 768 x 32bpp is what 3DMark uses right?

Setting the desktop to this negates the need to switch resolutions between tests.

It can't do any harm, but whether it ACTUALLY increases 3DMarks is something which I have yet to test.

EDIT - My 3DMark scores:

18500 with '01
6000 with '03

AMD 2400+ @ 2.4 Ghz
Abit NF7 v2
1 GB Twinmos @ 200 Mhz 11-3-3-2
Radeon 9700 non-pro @ 400/300

Haven't started the volt-mods or the major benching yet - I got some dry-ice plans coming up!

[r3b0rN]

Originally posted by Jimbo Mahoney
The theory goes that setting a refresh of 60 Hz reduces the work the DAC on the graphics card has to do because we have Vsync off anyway.

EDIT - My 3DMark scores:

18500 with '01
6000 with '03

AMD 2400+ @ 2.4 Ghz
Abit NF7 v2
1 GB Twinmos @ 200 Mhz 11-3-3-2
Radeon 9700 non-pro @ 400/300

Haven't started the volt-mods or the major benching yet - I got some dry-ice plans coming up!

Thanks for info on 60hz

As for your benching, u already got respectable scores = cant wait to see ur "major" scores

[Soulburner]

Yeah I tried 3DMark at 85Hz a few months ago and the score was slightly lower, but I didn't look to see if it was Car Low or if it was a legit drop.

[FlyingHamster]

Run regedit and go to: HKLM/system/currentcontrolset/control/session manager/memory management and set the disableexecutivepaging(This has caused bootproblems for some members, be aware) to =1

dunno if this has been said already, but for win2k at least (wut im using right now), its actually disablepagingexecutive. just wanted to clear that up.

oh, and should IOpagelocklimit still be set to 16384 in decimal? or is there another number u guys have found works better recently??

EDIT: disablepagingexecutive = 1 caused instability on my win2k system. are any of u guys running with it fine?

[Jellard23]

hey fellas I'm new into XtremeSystems.org and I have got some systems here but 1 system is very old and it's getting no higher than 860 points in 3DMark2001 maybe this tweaking will help the stupid lil thing it's a P3 450MHz and TNT2Ultra..(lol now don't think that's my main rig )

I have some questions, what are the best drivers for TNT2Ultra and the best LOD settings?

[biohead]

hopeloos..

[Jellard23]

Originally posted by biohead
hopeloos..

Hehe yeah I have understood that now already