What is Holding Back My 3DMark06 Score?

[Vegetable]

I recently upgraded from a 8800GTX to a 4870 X2. I expected a bigger jump in my 3DMark06 score than I received. I went from 11861 with the 8800GTX to just 13275 with the 4870X2. One notable difference is that my Nvidia card allowed me to keep the benchmark at 1:1 scaling ratio, so it played at its native 4:3 resolution, whereas my ATI card won't let me do that (I know it's supposed to, but it won't), so the test stretches to fill my screen. I'm assuming those extra pixels on the left and right sides of my screen are bringing my score down. But is something else going on as well? I think most people with my specs (and nothing overclocked) are getting scores of 15,000 - 17,000. Any advice appreciated. Specs below.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
ASUS P5W64 WS Professional
2 GB (2 x 1024MB) Corsair Dominator XMS2 1066 MHz PC2-8500 CAS5 5-5-5-15 EPP
Asus Radeon 4870 X2
Aegia PhysX physics accelerator
Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
SilverStone 1000W OP1000 (single rail)

[Vegetable]

Let me add this: running the test at 1920 x 1200, 4xAA, 8xAF, my score went from 7523 to 12,443. Perhaps that is an acceptable increase?

[Bman212121]

I really wouldn't put much faith into 3dmark06 tests. It just doesn't always work out to compare between setups because 3dmark doesn't always grab the correct information. Your stock test looks fine as it is going to be totally CPU limited. The higher res test shows some good scaling, but I can bet your still CPU limited in that test too.

For what it's worth, I just did a check in the orb for a C2Q running at 2400mhz and using an ATI 4870X2 and there is only one result which comes in at 12288, so it looks like you're doing okay.

[Dazz]

Agreed you should very easily hit 3GHz and notice a bigger jump.

[Eliminator]

cpu is holding you back... even at 3.6GHZ my quad core is holding me back in 3dmark06 at default settings... give vantage a try instead

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Let me add this: running the test at 1920 x 1200, 4xAA, 8xAF, my score went from 7523 to 12,443. Perhaps that is an acceptable increase?

There you go.

Like others said, try a newer benchmark for more meaningful results.

-OR-

Play some games and just enjoy your powerful card.

[Heinz68]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

I recently upgraded from a 8800GTX to a 4870 X2. I expected a bigger jump in my 3DMark06 score than I received. I went from 11861 with the 8800GTX to just 13275 with the 4870X2. One notable difference is that my Nvidia card allowed me to keep the benchmark at 1:1 scaling ratio, so it played at its native 4:3 resolution, whereas my ATI card won't let me do that (I know it's supposed to, but it won't), so the test stretches to fill my screen. I'm assuming those extra pixels on the left and right sides of my screen are bringing my score down. But is something else going on as well? I think most people with my specs (and nothing overclocked) are getting scores of 15,000 - 17,000. Any advice appreciated. Specs below.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
ASUS P5W64 WS Professional
2 GB (2 x 1024MB) Corsair Dominator XMS2 1066 MHz PC2-8500 CAS5 5-5-5-15 EPP
Asus Radeon 4870 X2
Aegia PhysX physics accelerator
Creative Sound Blaster® X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
SilverStone 1000W OP1000 (single rail)

I have no problem to run the 3DMark06 bench with 1280x1024 res (4:3) with my ATI Hd 4870.


You will get higher scores with with higher clocked CPU as others already pointed out. Here is my lousy score as good example.

[mythy]

vista or XP? If vista its your ram. Not to mention your slow CPU set it at 3.4GHz and get some decent ram. Drop the clocks at least and set the timings tighter! Drop the CPU multi as well to increase the bandwidth to make up for the lack of ram.