Help Interpreting 3D Mark Vantage Results

[Toefuzz]

Greetings!

I built my first system a few weeks back and was playing around with 3d Mark Vantage to establish a baseline before I started overclocking anything... here are my results:

GPU Score: 5687
CPU Score: 7207
3dMark Score: P6004

GPU Test 1: 15.98
GPU Test 2: 17.36

CPU Test 1: 941.36
CPU Test 2: 10.96

Feature Test 1: 480.78
Feature Test 2: 3.09
Feature Test 3: 14.59
Feature Test 4: 16.38
Feature Test 5: 28.32
Feature Test 6: 32.62

Here's my setup:

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX
Processor - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 PC3 12800
Graphics - SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
Power Supply - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W
OS - Windows 7

I realize that nothing in the rig is really top of the line but it seems odd that when I submit the results to 3DMark it posts my score below the line that supposedly represents 'rather old computers'. I'm thinking that either A.) I'm interpreting the results incorrectly or B.) Something is set up incorrectly.

Any thoughts?

 

[skolpo]

The results seem pretty accurate to me. Don't worry about how the site places your PC since it's often wrong.

 

[Toefuzz]

Where do you think I would see the biggest performance gain by upgrading? My initial plan was to purchase a 2nd graphics card down the road but it looks like NewEgg has discontinued the card I purchased. Can I pair a different make/model 4830 card and still crossfire them? Would I be better off putting the money elsewhere?

 

[jay2tall]

The 3dMark tests aren't really THAT great at comparing against other systems. It likes to favor certain components. However, I do like to use it when I upgrade a system and compare from a baseline. Your best benchmarks will be gaming benchmarks that are built into alot of newer games.

To be honest, your next video upgrade should probably be a better single card solution. The 4830 is sorta the entry level gaming card and with the new 5xxx cards coming out, I think ATI will start moving away from the 4xxx cards. Your best bet will be to sell your card for a few dollars and upgrade to a 5xxx card. You can always pickup a 2nd 4830 off ebay. And no it doesn't have to be the same brand.

Your best upgrade will probably be to sell the 4830 and go for a 5850, when you can find one. That give you a BIG boost in gaming performance. Which is what I am assuming you want.

 

[Toefuzz]

That's what I was thinking as well... I've never been into PC gaming (always stuck to consoles) so I decided to build a basic rig that could be used for gaming... of course now that I have it I want it to run faster My brother-in-law has a higher end gaming system and is thinking about upgrading his cards... he offered me a pair of the 4850's that I can crossfire...

 

[jay2tall]

If he takes $150 that seems pretty fair for family. I'd take the (2) 4850's that will give you an awesome boost. You mobo has 2 slots between the PCI-E x16 slots so as long as you move a little air in your case you should be good to go.