GF 6800GT: Low score?

**Inspiron83** · December 22nd, 2004, 08:25 AM

Hello everyone. I recently upgraded my graphics card from my trusty GF4-TI4400 to an MSI GeForce6800GT (256MB DDR3/8X AGP) card. My motherboard is a Gigabyte 8S648FX-RZ with the newest bios (F8a). The video drivers are 66.81 WHQL.

With my old graphics card, it could manage just over 9,000 3D marks in 3D Mark 2001. Since upgrading to my current card, i now get around 13,500 3D marks. To me, this seems rather low (considering the box says i can expect that many points in 3D Mark 2003, not 2001). I did the usual update everything ect but no difference. My system's config as follows: Celeron D 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR ram, Windows XP Home SP1 and a 350W PSU. Any help/suggestions would be apreciated! Thanks!
Abe

**TechZ** · December 22nd, 2004, 11:25 AM

Its the Celeron, must be, its holding back a good system,should get yourself a decent P4, worth the money, costs alot less than a 6800GT too

**jaimicook** · December 22nd, 2004, 02:50 PM

The Celron is without a doubt the worst piece of garbage put out by Intel. The AMD Duron beat it easily.
Jim

**TechZ** · December 22nd, 2004, 02:55 PM

Is that why they dropped it? ITs a budget thing, ppl want cheap, Intel gave them what they wanted, and they make a good profit too. If everyone made quality, durable, expensive stuff, how would most of teh world work? The celeron does what u pay for it, basic work.

**TechZ** · December 22nd, 2004, 02:57 PM

Use the new drivers also
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_66.93.html

**Inspiron83** · December 22nd, 2004, 05:11 PM

I don't know if it's the Celeron...its not a normal Celeron, its a "D" version with the prescot core. In benchmarks i have seen (on Tomshardware.com) it maches a AMD Athlon XP very well (losses in some and beats it in some scores) so i hope it's not the CPU. Although my MB does support upto a P4 HT 3.2GHz, but i am worried about the heat issues though...the Celeron D 2.8 i have already idles at 42C and runs upto 54C under a heavy load.

**TechZ** · December 23rd, 2004, 03:34 AM

Try using a better fan, lots of options out there.

**Radical Dreamer** · December 26th, 2004, 02:25 PM

The celeron D is pretty much a P4 Williamette with SSE3 and I think also 90nm, its not for gaming, it is pretty much without a doubt whats causing the low score

**Inspiron83** · December 27th, 2004, 12:23 AM

I am realy supprised that everyone thinks the low score is due to the Celeron D. It does use the newer presscot core, has SSE3, is on a 90nm process. The only downsides i can think of is the bus speed of 533MHz and the cache is 256Kb. The Cele D also scores very well alongside an Athlon XP. But i do know that the Celeron (the one before the D is very bad...we have one as well. It scores along the range of 4300 3D marks 2001 with a GF-FX5200 and just performes poorly in just about anything at all...but my D works far better...maybe there is a trick to these things. But i am hoping in the near future to upgrade to an Athlon 64 3200+ and maybe up my memory to 1GB.

**TechZ** · December 27th, 2004, 03:48 AM

You need to get a totally different MB for the Athlon and for now if your board supports it, why not try to trade/ inreplace your Celeron for a full blown P4

**Inspiron83** · December 27th, 2004, 05:48 AM

I am fully aware that any Athlon (XP or 64) will require a new MB. My current MB supports CPU's upto P4 HT 3.2GHz. While that is an intresting processor, the price they ask is almost insulting. I was told for an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ and an MSI MB would set me back SR1150 ($306), which is quite the wallet buster. If i am to do an upgrade, i'd rather future proof myself with an Athlon 64 (with Windows XP 64bit comming out), i'd rather be safe. Also just incase its my MB, i wont be stuck with the Intel CPU considering that it costs 3/4 the price of the AMD CPU/MB...oh well, i might as well start saving now...

**TechZ** · December 27th, 2004, 06:20 AM

To get the most out of your system now, seeing that u put so much into it, its a shame the Celeron is holding you back, thats why I "recommended" the P4 instead of the Celeron. As far as future proofing is concerned, you should know (seeing u live in Saudi A.) that its not that popular as in the US, we genenrally have to get a new system when we want to upgrade, i know it depends on a persons habits, but imagine if u get the MSI board, does it support DDR2(gonna be norm soon), and how about the PCI-Express support, with so many new things coming out, here in teh Middle East with lack of choice, and older parts, and suppliers, its always a good idea, to get the best at one time and then 2-3 yrs down the line (my upgrade cycle) go for a new system altogether. IMHO.

**Radical Dreamer** · December 27th, 2004, 11:57 AM

Regardless of the fact that the celeron is on the prescott core (which by the way scores lower than the northwood core in most cases when talking about P4) its still a celeron.

You can't expect a chip with 256k cache and a 533 bus to score anything even remotely close to a P4 with 1024k and 800 bus and HT and Dual channel memory.

Why ask for help and then insult us by throwing it in our faces and saying "I dont think this is it"? Many of us do this sort of thing for a living so we have a pretty good idea of whats going on. If you dont want to hear the answer, then dont post the question.