Graphics Help

trkorecky · 19th Dec 2004, 12:05 PM

Alright, I need some help here. Either I'm expecting my computer to do more than it's capable of, or my computer isn't doing what it should. I hear that some people get incredible frame rates in games like Far Cry and Doom III and HL2. I've never played HL2 (no demo...) but have played the demos of FC and D3. D3 ran horribly on this system (specs below) in 1024x768 (not sure of settings, but I'll redownload the demo and try it again) and FC demo was around 25-30 FPS on my preferred resolution of 1280x1024 with all settings as high as possible (my goal). Am I getting results that I should be getting? If not, what is holding my computer back? I know my power supply sucks, and I can't imagine my computer running too cool, since it is a small HP Pavilion case.

Specs:
Most can be found here.
I did swap the RAM for 2x512MB PC3200 Kingston ValueRAM
and vid for Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 256 bit

Nothing is overclocked, as the cooling of this small case isn't all that great. Front of case is mesh-like with all the holes in it, with an 80mm fan as an exhaust in the back running at probably 2800 RPM. Stock cooling on vid card and CPU.

So if anyone could help here, I'd really appreciate it. I've tweaked the heck out of XP, so everything goes quickly. Only running Norton Anti-Virus 2003 and FRAPS and maybe one or two other small things while playing games.

I can run the free version of 3dMark03 to let you know what I get in that if you want me to.

trkorecky · 19th Dec 2004, 12:13 PM

If it matters, I'm running the latest Omega drivers as well.

All my other drivers are as up-to-date as possible.

PsYkHoTiK · 19th Dec 2004, 12:41 PM

I think that you should maybe drop your resolution a bit.

Try 1024x768...

The 9800 Pro probably night not be able to handle that resolution at that Graphics settings...

trkorecky · 19th Dec 2004, 01:00 PM

Alright, so it's the Radeon not being able to run as fast as I wish it could?

Would getting better cooling and modding to XT (if possible) help much, or not enough to notice a change?

BTW, I got a 5851 or something in 3DMark03 after killing all processes but explorer (and other system ones). Not sure if that's what's expected from a 9800 Pro.

PsYkHoTiK · 19th Dec 2004, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trkorecky

Alright, so it's the Radeon not being able to run as fast as I wish it could?

Would getting better cooling and modding to XT (if possible) help much, or not enough to notice a change?

BTW, I got a 5851 or something in 3DMark03 after killing all processes but explorer (and other system ones). Not sure if that's what's expected from a 9800 Pro.

That should be the score..

You can only mod it into a 9800XT if you have the R360 core. You have to manually check that.

That would just unlock some optimized shaders. Not too much difference. I used to have that card and I played at 1024x768.

SAMSAMHA · 19th Dec 2004, 03:27 PM

9800 is more like last gen's card, so it will run today's latest game fine but you shouldn't expect super performance. Dropping the resolution will certainly help, also if you can live with it, disable some effects, like AA or lower it. It will boost frame rate. If you really want a great performance, I guess upgrade is the choice to go.

PsYkHoTiK · 19th Dec 2004, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMSAMHA

9800 is more like last gen's card, so it will run today's latest game fine but you shouldn't expect super performance. Dropping the resolution will certainly help, also if you can live with it, disable some effects, like AA or lower it. It will boost frame rate. If you really want a great performance, I guess upgrade is the choice to go.

Yup. Doom3 and FarCry really saps the power of your pc. So you shouldnt aim that high. In fact, I'm running 1280X1024 with my 6800GT on Doom3... I couldnt do that with my 9800SE@Pro...

trkorecky · 19th Dec 2004, 10:21 PM

Alright, thanks everyone. I only got this vid card near the end of the summer, so I'm stuck with it for a long time.

I am thinking of getting an Audigy 2 LS Gamer edition and a set of 5.1 speakers. I know that won't help with framerate, but it'll make the gaming experience better.

In one of the custom maps I have for UT2k4, There's this one spot I can look where I get an average FPS of 19 at 1280x1024, and 19 yet again at 1024x768...

davidletterboyz · 19th Dec 2004, 11:35 PM

You might want to tweak the console. There is a hidden settings, that's better than ultra quality.

trkorecky · 20th Dec 2004, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidletterboyz

You might want to tweak the console. There is a hidden settings, that's better than ultra quality.

For what game?

I play UT2k4 more than anything, and only played a demo of FC. I can run most maps of UT2k4 at 1280x1024 with everything as high as it goes in the settings usually at 40-50 fps.

19th Dec 2004, 12:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
trkorecky Warming up Join Date: 19 Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 115 Reputation: 6 Rep Power: 6	Graphics Help Alright, I need some help here. Either I'm expecting my computer to do more than it's capable of, or my computer isn't doing what it should. I hear that some people get incredible frame rates in games like Far Cry and Doom III and HL2. I've never played HL2 (no demo...) but have played the demos of FC and D3. D3 ran horribly on this system (specs below) in 1024x768 (not sure of settings, but I'll redownload the demo and try it again) and FC demo was around 25-30 FPS on my preferred resolution of 1280x1024 with all settings as high as possible (my goal). Am I getting results that I should be getting? If not, what is holding my computer back? I know my power supply sucks, and I can't imagine my computer running too cool, since it is a small HP Pavilion case. Specs: Most can be found here. I did swap the RAM for 2x512MB PC3200 Kingston ValueRAM and vid for Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 256 bit Nothing is overclocked, as the cooling of this small case isn't all that great. Front of case is mesh-like with all the holes in it, with an 80mm fan as an exhaust in the back running at probably 2800 RPM. Stock cooling on vid card and CPU. So if anyone could help here, I'd really appreciate it. I've tweaked the heck out of XP, so everything goes quickly. Only running Norton Anti-Virus 2003 and FRAPS and maybe one or two other small things while playing games. I can run the free version of 3dMark03 to let you know what I get in that if you want me to.

19th Dec 2004, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,745 Reputation: 4681 Rep Power: 66	I think that you should maybe drop your resolution a bit. Try 1024x768... The 9800 Pro probably night not be able to handle that resolution at that Graphics settings... __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

19th Dec 2004, 12:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
trkorecky Warming up Join Date: 19 Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 115 Reputation: 6 Rep Power: 6	If it matters, I'm running the latest Omega drivers as well. All my other drivers are as up-to-date as possible.

19th Dec 2004, 01:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
trkorecky Warming up Join Date: 19 Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 115 Reputation: 6 Rep Power: 6	Alright, so it's the Radeon not being able to run as fast as I wish it could? Would getting better cooling and modding to XT (if possible) help much, or not enough to notice a change? BTW, I got a 5851 or something in 3DMark03 after killing all processes but explorer (and other system ones). Not sure if that's what's expected from a 9800 Pro.

19th Dec 2004, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
SAMSAMHA Super Active Join Date: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 2,356 Reputation: 197 Rep Power: 9	9800 is more like last gen's card, so it will run today's latest game fine but you shouldn't expect super performance. Dropping the resolution will certainly help, also if you can live with it, disable some effects, like AA or lower it. It will boost frame rate. If you really want a great performance, I guess upgrade is the choice to go.

19th Dec 2004, 10:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
trkorecky Warming up Join Date: 19 Dec 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 115 Reputation: 6 Rep Power: 6	Alright, thanks everyone. I only got this vid card near the end of the summer, so I'm stuck with it for a long time. I am thinking of getting an Audigy 2 LS Gamer edition and a set of 5.1 speakers. I know that won't help with framerate, but it'll make the gaming experience better. In one of the custom maps I have for UT2k4, There's this one spot I can look where I get an average FPS of 19 at 1280x1024, and 19 yet again at 1024x768...

19th Dec 2004, 11:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
davidletterboyz Warming up Join Date: 19 Dec 2004 Posts: 113 Reputation: 20 Rep Power: 6	You might want to tweak the console. There is a hidden settings, that's better than ultra quality.