Low 3dMark'06 Score on my 8204

[bluntspoon]

I just ran 3d mark '06 on my 8204.
Scored a disgusting 924 :blushing:

Running Omega drivers(Catalyst 6.2).
Not sure what the problem could be?

Would updating the bios and ATI drivers improve the score?

[BOFH1971]

the 8204's at work with the default delivered drivers scored over 1200 3dmark06 points

there is something amiss with your driver try getting the latest omega 6.3's they work fine for the x1400 so I dont see a problem with the x1600 since its the same card with more pipes :)
good luck

plus if you're running the nortons that comes with it.. get rid and install avg, its like getting an upgrade

[bluntspoon]

Thanks BOFH,
Will try the updated omega drivers.

I also read a thread that shows you how to customize the ATI 6.3 to work with the X1600 mobile. Do you think I should try that.

I'm using avast as my anti virus, I have been using it for the last two years no problems. it is strange how my 3dmark '05 score is on par with everyone else and my '06 score isn't.

[Falafel]

I got a 1916 on 3DMark 06

[bluntspoon]

I got a 1916 on 3DMark 06

Just quick question.
How many Processes do you have running in the background?
When you push Ctrl + Alt + Del.

I have 68 running.
Is that to many?

[BOFH1971]

well it is strange you got such a low score in 06, did it run all the tests?
there are more tests to do with hdr lighting and physics in 3dm06

I wouldnt personally play around with individual driver files, as my 5672 is my main machine and would probably mess up, and I need to be able to do the bowling league scores ! LOL , but omega are pretty darn good at optimising performance.

I think its basically the 6.2 ones can't see your card properly, they Identify my card by its part number rather than model number.

[Falafel]

Just quick question.
How many Processes do you have running in the background?
When you push Ctrl + Alt + Del.

I have 68 running.
Is that to many?

I have 44 running processed when I boot up. I have removed any applications from startup that I didn't need.

I also do not have any of the Acer software installed. Most of that software is a duplication of what the OS can do for you.

I use window's Wifi manager and have disabled intel's software from startup.

[efalis]

1942 here, using Catalyst 6.3, but I inadvertently left emerge desktop on while I was running them, and I know it eats cycles.

- Ed

[Falafel]

Yah I forgot to mention I was running the drivers that came with the machine, which I assume are 6.1?

[efalis]

Yeah, I think 6.1 is what ships with it.

[Travel Matey]

Did you go into ATI Control Panel and set the 3D options to maximum performance?

[digitalfx]

I just updated bios to 3312
also have 6.3 ATI Catalyst

1997 3DMarks

SM2.0 Score 723

HDR/SM3.0 745

CPU Score 1599

[bluntspoon]

After updating my bios and omega drivers.
I got my '06 score up to 1998.
Which I am very happy with thanks for the help BOFH.

I have also so uninstalled the acer software.
Some of the software won't uninstall which is very starange.
Anyone else having problems?

[bluntspoon]

I have 44 running processed when I boot up. I have removed any applications from startup that I didn't need.

I also do not have any of the Acer software installed. Most of that software is a duplication of what the OS can do for you.

I use window's Wifi manager and have disabled intel's software from startup.

Falafel is there any chance you can take a screenshot of your task manager. And post it.
So I can compare it with mine.
:bow:

[Travel Matey]

I have 44 running processed when I boot up. I have removed any applications from startup that I didn't need.

I also do not have any of the Acer software installed. Most of that software is a duplication of what the OS can do for you.

I use window's Wifi manager and have disabled intel's software from startup.

pfft! My 8204 has 68 processes running at startup. No Acer software installed, but a few database servers and debugging agents :) Even so, the overall effect of these is minimal (as you can see from my benchmarks) so I wouldn't be worried about "only" 44 processes..

[bluntspoon]

pfft! My 8204 has 68 processes running at startup. No Acer software installed, but a few database servers and debugging agents :) Even so, the overall effect of these is minimal (as you can see from my benchmarks) so I wouldn't be worried about "only" 44 processes..
OK, Then tell me how you manage to get those scores in 3dMark.
I also have a SQL Server Database running and Visual Studio 2005 installed.
I'm interested to see what you do that causes such a performance difference.
:wow:

[Travel Matey]

Quite simple actually - the best performance so far is with the v6.2 Catalyst drivers (v6.3 is slightly slower, and messes up the ability to OC), and a bit of overclocking using ATI Tool. The numbers are in my ORB results.

[Falafel]

pfft! My 8204 has 68 processes running at startup. No Acer software installed, but a few database servers and debugging agents :) Even so, the overall effect of these is minimal (as you can see from my benchmarks) so I wouldn't be worried about "only" 44 processes..

I didn't remove the extra processes because of cpu consumption. I've removed them because they are using up memory. I still can't get myself to run ATI's CCC which launches a dozen cli.exe apps that consume quite of bit cpu time. I just really hate ATI's software.

[wynand32]

Travel - Those are some nice scores (5174 '05?!?)... Would you mind posting (or, linking to wherever it's already posted) brief instructions on what you did to get there? You're getting a bit better than the 4200 I'm getting on my 8204, and the 4500 or so that others have posted using Omega drivers and etc...

Thanks!

[Travel Matey]

Travel - Those are some nice scores (5174 '05?!?)... Would you mind posting (or, linking to wherever it's already posted) brief instructions on what you did to get there? You're getting a bit better than the 4200 I'm getting on my 8204, and the 4500 or so that others have posted using Omega drivers and etc...

Thanks!

Sure, here goes:

First off, install the Catalyst 6.2 desktop drivers - the 6.3's are marginally slower, and mess with ATI Tool (it thinks the speeds are much lower than actual). Also, don't waste your time with the Omega's - there 0% faster and only mess up the TV Out on the X1600.

1. Download the Catalyst 6.2 Installer (https://support.ati.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?questionID=21599).

2. Run the install, taking note of (or changing) the path where the installation files will be extracted to. You will end up getting an error, but this is expected - OK your way out.

3. Open Display Settings, click the Settings tab, then the Advanced button.

4. In the display adaptor properties window, click the Adaptor tab, then the Properties button.

5. Click the Driver tab, the Update Driver..

6. In the Hardware Update wizard, select these options for each page:

Page 1: No, not this time
Page 2: Install from a list or specific location
Page 3: Don't search. I will choose the driver to install

7. On page 4 of the wizard, click the Have Disk button, the in the dialog window, click Browse and go to the extract path noted in step 2. From there drill down to Driver > 2KXP_INF and select the first *.inf file you see.

8. You will now see a huge list of cards supported by the 6.2 drivers - scroll down a little over half-way and select "RADEON X1600 Series", the click Next.

9. Eat the warning (click OK).

10. Click Finish and reboot.


The Next step is to setup ATI Tool. Download and install version 0.25 Beta 12 here (http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/Tweaking/ATITool). Note that Beta 13 does not work properly - Beta 14 might but I haven't bothered to try it (if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

1. Click the Find Max Mem button, and watch the preview window carefully - if you see *any* artifacts in the image (manifested as yellow dots on my X1600), abort the test and knock the memory clock down 5MHz.

2. With the memory overclocked, click the Find Max Core button. As above if you see any artifacts, abort and knock it down 5MHz.

3. Click the Save button and save your max overclock settings.

Now all that's left is to run 3DMark and ensure your overclock settings are truly stable - if you see *any* artifacts in the 3DMark tests, Abort them immediately, go back to ATI Tool, reduce your overclock by 5MHz for both the Core and the Memory, give your system a little time to cool down, then try again.

Rinse, lather and repeat until you find the maximum stable settings for your system.

Note that this is all at your own risk, and please do submit your projects to the 3DMark ORB, publish them, and provide some links for us here!

[wynand32]

Thanks!!!

[bluntspoon]

Thats great Travel.
Aren't you worried about your card dying sooner than meant?

[Travel Matey]

Thats great Travel.
Aren't you worried about your card dying sooner than meant?

Not really :)

1. I have been overclocking PC components for 7+ years and have not yet had a single component fail.

2. Overclocking systems makes them unstable well before it makes them susceptible to damage.

3. I have full first class insurance coverage on the machine (comes free with all Acer notebooks in Thailand), so I'm covered no matter what :)

But forget obout #3 for now - the most important fact is that these components will become unstable before they will become damaged, and given that we're all (assumedly) running Windows, *any* hardware instability will manifest itself as a BSOD way quicker than anything will burn :)

[digitalfx]

Acer now has an Acer version of the ATI 8.231 drivers. Works great, still getting 1997 3dMark'06 scores.

Also seems to have fixed my issues when Docked w/ EzDock

[Travel Matey]

Acer now has an Acer version of the ATI 8.231 drivers. Works great, still getting 1997 3dMark'06 scores.

Also seems to have fixed my issues when Docked w/ EzDock

Where'd you get them from Digital? Looked over the usual suspects but can only see v8.201 :scratch:

[Travel Matey]

Never mind, found them here (ftp://ftp.support.acer-euro.com/notebook/travelmate_8200/driver/ATI_8.231.zip).. Thanks for the heads up!

[pr50wner]

the 8204's at work with the default delivered drivers scored over 1200 3dmark06 points

there is something amiss with your driver try getting the latest omega 6.3's they work fine for the x1400 so I dont see a problem with the x1600 since its the same card with more pipes :)
good luck

plus if you're running the nortons that comes with it.. get rid and install avg, its like getting an upgrade

d00d, anything is an upgrade to norton (with the exception of mcafee)
having no AV is almost better than norton because your lappy goes so much faster

[Chakz]

Just quick question.
How many Processes do you have running in the background?
When you push Ctrl + Alt + Del.

I have 68 running.
Is that to many?

:eek: :eek: :eek: 68 Processes running ? :eek: :eek: :eek:

I never have more than 25 running at any given time. You should go to Start -> Run -> msconfig -> Startup, And disable everything you don't need or can start manually when you need it. Also do the same thing but replace "msconfig" with "services.msc" and set the services you don't need to Manual/Disable. Don't do that unless you know what you're doing.

[Deathwish238]

d00d, anything is an upgrade to norton (with the exception of mcafee)
having no AV is almost better than norton because your lappy goes so much faster AVG Free is good as is Avast!

[iBorg]

d00d, anything is an upgrade to norton (with the exception of mcafee)
having no AV is almost better than norton because your lappy goes so much faster

I deleted the Norton's, and have been running McAfee - is that also problematic? Is there a consensus of which virus app to run? (I realize that your "no AV" comment is facetious, given the overwhelming number of PC viruses we encounter regularly!)

There are alot of AV choices, and it seems everyone's advice is different. Free is great, but I'd gladly pay for an efficient and effective AV if needed!

[BrickTop]

Look at NOD32 its pretty light on resources and very highly regarded

I deleted the Norton's, and have been running McAfee - is that also problematic? Is there a consensus of which virus app to run? (I realize that your "no AV" comment is facetious, given the overwhelming number of PC viruses we encounter regularly!)

There are alot of AV choices, and it seems everyone's advice is different. Free is great, but I'd gladly pay for an efficient and effective AV if needed!

[Travel Matey]

I deleted the Norton's, and have been running McAfee - is that also problematic? Is there a consensus of which virus app to run? (I realize that your "no AV" comment is facetious, given the overwhelming number of PC viruses we encounter regularly!)

There are alot of AV choices, and it seems everyone's advice is different. Free is great, but I'd gladly pay for an efficient and effective AV if needed!

I switched to Grisoft's AVG Free (http://free.grisoft.com) about 2.5 years ago - the difference in speed between Norton & McAfee is just outstanding, and as I haven't had a problem with a virus, I'm assuming it does just as good a job!

If you fit the licensing rules (home use, non-commercial), I wouldn't recommend anything else. Remove Norton/McAfee, install AVG, and unleash the performance of your machine, with peace of mind.