Low physics score with 3Dmark11 with my MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 2048 MB

[Jacky791]

I notice that my graphics card isn't scoring as high as it should for the physics section of the 3Dmark11 test. I used to get 10000+ on that section but gradually it has decreased down to about 9600.

Here are the results of the test I ran just now:
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/6535503

I was wondering how I could improve the score back to 10000+?

They are recommending that I go back to an older version of the Nvidia Driver when I click the ". Here are some suggestions to get more performance out of your PC"? I don't understand why that would help. Shouldn't newer drivers be better?

 

[cookybiscuit]

The physics test has little to do with your video card, its the processor doing the work.

 

[Fulgurant]

I notice that my graphics card isn't scoring as high as it should for the physics section of the 3Dmark11 test. I used to get 10000+ on that section but gradually it has decreased down to about 9600.

Here are the results of the test I ran just now:
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/6535503

I was wondering how I could improve the score back to 10000+?

They are recommending that I go back to an older version of the Nvidia Driver when I click the ". Here are some suggestions to get more performance out of your PC"? I don't understand why that would help. Shouldn't newer drivers be better?

Newer drivers generally are better*, but "better" doesn't necessarily mean it'll be faster in every application available. The newer driver's design may conceivably even trade ~4% in a 3dMark benchmark for stability elsewhere.

That said, you're talking about a tiny discrepancy in your score. If I had to guess the reason for the (tiny) decline in your score, I'd guess that you have a different complement of processes/services running in the background than you used to have. I wouldn't sweat the number, and I wouldn't necessarily blame the driver.

(* - It's worth noting that newer drivers sometimes do have problems. Sometimes ATI/nvidia even pull down drivers due to catastrophic problems. Personally, I rarely update my drivers immediately on release day; I wait at least a couple of days to see if I hear about any problems, unless I have some sort of problem with my current drivers. Sometimes you are best served by rolling back to an earlier driver, but again, I wouldn't worry too much about 400 points in 3dMark.)

 

[Fulgurant]

The physics test has little to do with your video card, its the processor doing the work.

Hehe, there is that too.

 

[photonboy]

A small difference in benchmarks like these is common over time, and you should NOT even worry about things unless your scores are significantly different indicating some more serious error.

AMBIENT ROOM TEMPERATURE alone can account for a difference in scores. A different software or hardware setting, or a process running in the background are other reasons but not all of them.

Again, if your video drivers are current and there aren't any major issues with your system then your GAMING PERFORMANCE is as good as it's going to get.

*If you really want to set a baseline for your system so you can later check for issues, you should run several different benchmarks that are completely repeatable, not just one. If possible, include a good gaming benchmark like Metro 2033's (launched from the main folder manually).

Again, remember that TEMPERATURE can have a small affect on both the CPU and the GPU scores.