New Build & Benchmarking

[DukeD]

OK you all. This will be my second build. Everything is ordered & on the way.

This time around I would like to learn more about benchmarking. Have played around with PCMark and a little program called ptest.

Looking to you all to help me if you would be so kind. What programs do you recommend? Any literature anywhere describing how to interperate the results?

Looking to be able to test all the sub-systems including cpu, memory, HD, video, etc.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Here's the system...

AMD Athlon 64 3800+
GIGABYTE GA-K8NXP-SLI
(2)Chaintech nVIDIA GeForce 6600GT
2 Gig OCZ Enhanced Latency Series Dual Channel PC-3200
SAMSUNG 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Thermaltake Fanless103 fanless CPU Cooler with heatpipe
ASPIRE Chameleon 3-in-1 Black 550W Aluminum Power Supply

Thanks!

-Duke-

<font color=blue><b>just trying to put a little distance......
..... between causes and effects</font color=blue></b>

 

[over_c]

Off the top, I think the most glaring problems are that the 2 6600 GTs will barely outperform a 6800 GT, but will cost more too. If you want top of the line video performance get a 6800 Ultra or whatever ATI's best is. 2 Gig of ram is unnecessary, currently. And I think if you get 1 gig sticks they tend to run at slower timings than 2x512. Also, you're obviously spending a large amount of money, so you might as well get a 74 GB Raptor HDD for improved I/O performance.

Finally, I don't really see the point of getting a fanless heatsink when everything else will be running fans (vid cards, mobo, case probably).

 

[Ned_Flanders]

If only he had come to us <i>first</i>

______________
Who's the man with the master plan?

 

[DukeD]

Thanks for the interest Over-c, I appreciate your thoughts.

It's my impression that the sli will allow the 2 6600gt's to outperform 1 6800 GT and, as you indicated, save some bucks.

I got 4 sticks of 512.

Thought about the Raptor too..... didn't do it though maybe I should have.

Heatsink- just trying to save noise whever I can.....

Any thoughs on benchmarking?

Thanks again for your comments.

<font color=blue><b>just trying to put a little distance......
..... between causes and effects</font color=blue></b>

 

[DukeD]

Sheesh! What now Ned? lol

<font color=blue><b>just trying to put a little distance......
..... between causes and effects</font color=blue></b>

 

[over_c]

This will be my second build.

Sorry, I thought you hadn't bought everything yet. I'm not much of a benchmarker myself, so I can't really give much advice in that arena.

 

[mozzartusm]

I just dont know what to do with all these people that start asking the questions after they order. Oh well! The video card combo is a terrible idea IMO. Your basically stuck with 2 6600GT's when you could have done like previously suggested and bought one of the faster cards. Even if you just had one of the faster ones for now at least you would be in a good upgrade situation. All you would need to do is save up your money and then buy another 6800 series. As it stands now you would have to buy 2 brand new cards to do the same. I have no idea what your going to use this machine for, but guess what? Its going to run slower with 2G of RAM then it would with 1. So unless you have some monster program that requires 2G then you not only wasted money, you paid to take a performance loss. There is something about Windows that causes it to slow down after you hit the 1.5G point.

If your wanting to know about benchmarking that tells me that your probably interested in performance. The RAM is a really good brand, but why did you get 3200? I run an Intel system, so there may be something I dont realize about an AMD but with an Intel you would get the faster RAM if your looking for performance in benchmarks. Did you order form NewEgg? If you did then your in good shape because they will take back that extra ram and you could also do something about the video card.

<b>Ned Flanders said that im a BAD ASS</b> :lol:
Intel 550(3.4)@4.2
ASUS P5AD2-E-Prem
Ballistix PC5300@DDR2 780
ATI Radeon X800XL
TT 680W PSU

 

[endyen]

Aquamark, Sysoft Sandra, and whatever mad onion is calling itself now, in 01 03 and 05.

 

[Molar]

Where is a good place to find these benchmarks and are they shareware or pay to play?

Thanks in advance,

Molar<----The foldings folding dentist

 

[RX8]

majorgeek.com
goto benchmarking.
just go there please. if ur still stuck private message me.

<font color=purple> MY FINGER IS ON THE BUTTON! </font color=purple>

 

[endyen]

Mad onion (futuremark) is here <A HREF="http://www.futuremark.com/download/" target="_new">http://www.futuremark.com/download/</A> aquamark <A HREF="http://www.aquamark3.com/am3-mirrors.htm" target="_new">http://www.aquamark3.com/am3-mirrors.htm</A> or you could just go and grab a bunch of stuff from <A HREF="http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=6" target="_new">http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?id=6</A>

 

[mozzartusm]

Have you not saved this one yet? <A HREF="http:///www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/b_e.html" target="_new">http:///www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/b_e.html</A>

Intel P4 550(3.4)<font color=red>@4.2 posted 4.8</font color=red>
ASUS P5AD2-E-Prem
Ballistix PC2 5300@<font color=red>DDR2 780</font color=red>
ATI Radeon X800XL <font color=red>459/609</font color=red>
TT 680W PSU

 

[endyen]

Been there, hate that. I tried a couple, one had no uninstall, the other was just dumb. It's better to use the ones everyone else recommends, or use frapps to make up your own.

 

[mozzartusm]

Ok. I havent had that same problem. Most of the ones that I have downloaded are linked to the official sites.

Intel P4 550(3.4)<font color=red>@4.2 posted 4.8</font color=red>
ASUS P5AD2-E-Prem
Ballistix PC2 5300@<font color=red>DDR2 780</font color=red>
ATI Radeon X800XL <font color=red>459/609</font color=red>
TT 680W PSU

 

[endyen]

Ya, I went to thier sites, but it was all spiel. Good enough to suck me into trying. Just the same, it is a good place to find benches you want to download.
Google is my friend.