Help Generally With My Pc

cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
edited October 2004 in Off-Topic
Okay, I think something's gone (or was originally) horribly wrong with my computer. Here's my specs-

Pentium 4 2.667 GHZ w\ 400 MHZ FSB + 512 KB cache
512 MB DDR 266 RAM
Radeon 9550 w\ 256 MB VRAM

I'm unsure of the details of my mobo, but I know it only supports 4X AGP (bad, I know).

Although most games I play seem to perform well enough, I only get a score of 16,628 in Aquamark 3. Considering other people's scores (who have worse specs) I find this unacceptable, and I think there's something wrong. I've ran Crap Cleaner, defragmented the hard disk, etc. Any ideas? Thanks.

I forgot- here's an example of a PC that got 21,177 in Aquamark 3-

Celeron 2.4 GHZ w\400 MHZ FSB + 128 KB cache
512 MB DDR 266 RAM
Radeon 9600 PRO w\ 128 MB VRAM

This example was from PC Gamer.
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Comments

  • BlueNovemberBlueNovember hax Join Date: 2003-02-28 Member: 14137Members, Constellation
    If everyting works fine, and some benchmarking program gives you a low score, is it really cause for concern?

    Try 3DMark 2k3 / 2k4 for a 2nd opinion anyway.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    google for cpuz (program that tells you all the specs on your comp)

    and google for tweaking guides, thats your best bet.
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    I find it one, for some reason. I guess I'm concerned about future games, like Half Life 2.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    your computer should be able to handel most of the new games. It wont be top of the line, but so long as it plays.....


    also you often have to tweak your system for each game if you realy care <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    CPU-Z didn't do me much good, and didn't actually show much information. I wouldv'e used 3DMark, but the download is about 250 MB, which I don't think is really worth it. Speaking of HL2, I hear a benchmarking program is included with CS Source when you pre-order HL2. Apparantely it judges whether or not your PC could run the game. If this is a stand-alone program, does anyone know where I might find it?
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    edited October 2004
    <span style='color:gray'><b>A</b></span> lot of people have this problem, don't feel bad. My computer can't seem to break 20k in 3dmark01 even though it's specs are much higher then people who are hitting 25k. Don't really bother that much with benchmarking programs, if it performs well in game, then there is nothing to worry abooot.
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  • DuoGodOfDeathDuoGodOfDeath Join Date: 2002-08-01 Member: 1044Members
    Hah you should be happy that you can run most games. Those test I could care less what I score in. A few days ago I ran 3DMark05 and only got 2058. Im not sure if thats a high score but I assume its low.

    Specs:
    AMD Barton 3200+
    Radeon 9800 XT 256MB Sapphire
    PC 3200 512x2 Kingston
    BioStar M7NCD Standard Motherboard

    If you score 'low' on these tests do not worry really. If you notice how much more graphically these games are they make HL2 look okay in a sense. If you PC can handle games good now then don't worry.
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    DuoGod- Jesus, I guess those programs are very unreliable. I think that with those specs you shouldv'e gotten somewhere in the 6000 range. I won't worry too much about that then.

    Is it worth it to spend £30 on a new mobo that supports 8X rather than 4X AGP though?
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  • BlueNovemberBlueNovember hax Join Date: 2003-02-28 Member: 14137Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-cannon_fodder1990+Oct 11 2004, 03:11 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cannon_fodder1990 @ Oct 11 2004, 03:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Is it worth it to spend £30 on a new mobo that supports 8X rather than 4X AGP though? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    No?
    :s

    a) Good grief, it would make diddly difference; maybe noticeable on HL2 alone
    b) £30 for a mobo?! Don't compromise on motherboard; it's a key part of the PC. You can get them on eBuyer for €15, but why? Spend much more; get a quality make with oodles of features. (Preferrably useful ones.)
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    I don't really know much about motherboards, or what the differences between bad ones and good ones are (except for obvious stuff like AGP bus speed, max RAM amount, etc.). I thought that if I bought one for £30 it couldn't be worse than the one I already have (which only supports 4X AGP and only 1024 MB of RAM can be installed).
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  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-cannon_fodder1990+Oct 11 2004, 03:11 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cannon_fodder1990 @ Oct 11 2004, 03:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> DuoGod- Jesus, I guess those programs are very unreliable. I think that with those specs you shouldv'e gotten somewhere in the 6000 range. I won't worry too much about that then.

    Is it worth it to spend £30 on a new mobo that supports 8X rather than 4X AGP though? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    They are reliable but I don't think a Radeon 9800 XT should hit so high as to say at least 6000. No one has broken the 10,000 point barrier with today's Video cards (X800 and 6800). I think it's a matter of CPU bottlenecking for DuoGod. I'm assuming you're running a 2500+ Barton OCed to 3200+ right ?

    [Edit:] Stratch off what I just said I think you meant you have a 3200+ Barton w/o OCing.

    As for you cannon, a new motherboard will help other than AGP bus speed and Max RAM supported look at the FSB (Front Side Bus) speed.

    I reccomend this mobo, a bit high end but should do the trick:
    <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-464&depa=0' target='_blank'>http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc....-131-464&depa=0</a>

    Leaves room to upgrade to a faster CPU.
    As for AGP bus speed 4x is still relatively okay the performace is comparable between the two interfaces. It's the mobo's chipset that will determine a lot.
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  • DuoGodOfDeathDuoGodOfDeath Join Date: 2002-08-01 Member: 1044Members
    No mines a standard AMD Barton 3200+. No overclocking of any sort.
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    edited October 2004
    That's a bit out of my price range, plus I don't live in the US. Would this- <a href='http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=2334948175&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=62216' target='_blank'>http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=62216</a>
    one be passable?

    I ran Aquamark 3 with AGP bus speed set to 2X and it got 16,071 as compared to 16,628 with AGP bus speed set to 4X (not a huge difference).
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  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    edited October 2004
    If you're not going to shell out more than 30 Euros then I don't really know what to reccomend. I don't follow Intel very much, but from my experience the best mobos have an Intel chipset in them.

    I'm going to recommend this mobo:
    <a href='http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=2360442045&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=74310' target='_blank'>http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=74310</a>

    It's in your price range, has a decent Chipset, and 8x AGP.
    Try researching a bit on it. I might be wrong.
    I don't like the fact you can't go Dual-channel on it <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
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  • cannon_fodder11cannon_fodder11 Join Date: 2004-08-03 Member: 30339Members
    That's pounds, not euros. £31 is about 44 euros. Is that board really good enough to be worth £15 more?
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  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-cannon_fodder1990+Oct 14 2004, 11:34 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (cannon_fodder1990 @ Oct 14 2004, 11:34 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> That's pounds, not euros. £31 is about 44 euros. Is that board really good enough to be worth £15 more? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Sorry about that. I don't know my european currency well.

    Well I'm going to say it again, when I read benchmarking on the newest Intel processors they use a motherboard with an Intel chipset.

    So I mean I'm all for VIA but in AMD systems, I don't know how good they are on Intel systems.
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