Low experience rating scores

[Guest]

I just built a new computer running Vista Home Premium 64-bit. I have an MSI
P6N SLI Platinum. Here are the experience scores I'm getting:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600: 3.0
Crucial DDR2 800 2GB: 1.5
eVGA geforce 8800 GTS: Graphics - 2.9
Gaming Graphics - 5.8
WD 250GB 7200RPM SATA: 5.3

From what I've read, my scores should be MUCH higher for processor, memory,
and graphics. According to Tom's Hardware, the processor should be 5.9.
According to user reviews on newegg, the graphics should also be 5.9. I
haven't read what the memory should be, but I'm sure it should be much higher
than 1.5.

I've installed all drivers and windows updates and refreshed the hardware
score. The only thing I haven't updated is the bios, and there doesn't seem
to be anything in the version history that sounds like there is a fix that is
related.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[P. Di Stolfo]

Hello,

it's interesting that the Experience Index votes your gaming graphics higher
than the Aero graphics. For instance, for me and for many others with a
standard graphics card that supports full Aero this value is 5.9, and for
you it's 2.9. So I think that there's a problem with Vista recognising your
hardware.
Try deleting files C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore and re-rating.
Perhaps the BIOS upgrade will help

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

 

[Lord Takyon]

Hello,

it's interesting that the Experience Index votes your gaming graphics
higher than the Aero graphics. For instance, for me and for many others
with a standard graphics card that supports full Aero this value is 5.9,
and for you it's 2.9. So I think that there's a problem with Vista
recognising your hardware.
Try deleting files C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore and re-rating.
Perhaps the BIOS upgrade will help

Greetings,
P. Di Stolfo

Try a BIOs update if you think it will help. Are you sure all drivers are
installed as that is pretty low across the board?

 

[Guest]

I already tried deleting those files and re-rating. It seems like windows is
recognizing the hardware because on the welcome screen in the control panel
it lists my processor, amount of RAM, and video card correctly.

I will try updating the BIOS.

 

[Lord Takyon]

I already tried deleting those files and re-rating. It seems like windows
is
recognizing the hardware because on the welcome screen in the control
panel
it lists my processor, amount of RAM, and video card correctly.

I will try updating the BIOS.

What about power options? Are you throttling everything back by mistake?

 

[Guest]

What would I look for in the power settings? I haven't changed anything from
what it originally was.

 

[Guest]

I decided not to try the BIOS, since there's nothing in the version history
that leads me to think it might help.

Formatting the hard drive and starting from scratch again make it work?

 

[Guest]

I've experienced another problem, and I'm guessing it's related. I tried to
run the Windows Memory Diagnostic test off the Vista CD. The computer shuts
off about 30% through the test. I'm using the 500W power supply that came
with my Antec Sonata III case.

Problem with power supply? Defective memory?

 

[Chris Blunt]

I've experienced another problem, and I'm guessing it's related. I tried to
run the Windows Memory Diagnostic test off the Vista CD. The computer shuts
off about 30% through the test. I'm using the 500W power supply that came
with my Antec Sonata III case.

Problem with power supply? Defective memory?

I ran into similar memory problems after building my own machine
recently. I eventually tracked it down to the motherboard (Nvidia
nForce 680i SLI) using a default voltage level of 1.8V for the memory
chips when they were actually expecting a 2.2V supply. A change to the
voltage levels within the BIOS settings fixed the problem perfectly.

Chris

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Check with the motherboard manufacturer and see what they have to say
about Windows Vista compatibility.

Do you have the latest BIOS?
That is a common fix for some similar issues.

How about the memory?
Are there multiple sticks?
If so are they IDENTICAL?
If you have multiple sticks, try with one stick and then the other.
A significant change may indicate a problem with one of the sticks.

 

[Guest]

We seem to have the same chipset. My RAM also requires 2.2V.

I tried going into the BIOS to change the memory voltage level, but it was
set to 'AUTO' and was greyed out. I couldn't edit it. So I installed MSI Dual
Core Center, where I could set values like that in Windows. According to
that, the default memory voltage level was 2.7v. I reduced it to 2.2v, but
that didn't change anything.

Uggg....

 

[Guest]

MB is Vista Certified.
I didn't update the BIOS since the version history doesn't mention any fix
to the situation.
I have 2x1GB. I tried reseating it and installing only one at a time. The
test made it longer, percent-wise, but crapped outeventually in all
instances. In one instance, having only one stick in made it through the
first pass, but crapped out shortly into the second pass.

 

[Guest]

I spoke too soon. After a restart, I have the following experience scores:
Processor: 5.3
RAM: 2.1
Graphics: 5.9
Gaming graphics: 5.9
HDD: 5.3

Big improvement, but disappointing on the memory still. I tried manually
setting the timing to 4-4-4-12, which is what I read on newegg customer
reviews as the timing that most people are using.

I still need work on the memory...

 

[Gary]

I didn't update the BIOS since the version history doesn't mention any fix

to the situation.

I still would try to update the BIOS because I have seen MB manufactures
make changes to the BIOS and do not state all the changes in the release
notes.

 

[Guest]

Well... It was the memory. Turns out that my motherboard didn't like RAM that
runs above 1.8V, and I had difficulty changing the settings in BIOS. MSI told
me to upgrade the BIOS. Not a good idea when the system is unstable. Their
instructions were terrible too. This useless motherboard is being returned to
newegg, and I'm getting an eVGA board that has the Crucial Balistix memory
modules on their approved memory list.

 

[Joe Corey]

ALWAYS update the BIOS since they don't list all of the fixes that are put
in place. Why would you not want the latest one? It was updated for a
reason. My board wouldn't post with my memory and bios revision when i got
it from new-egg but it sure wasn't listed as one of the fixes, I just
stumbled upon it and fixed it inadvertently!

 

[moose]

i am running the q660 slacr/gigabyte ga-x48-ds5/ati x3850 crossfire/4 x
crytial balistix ddr 1066. everything is 5.9 except my memory, it runs at 5.5
when i was on the amd platform, everything ran at 5.9 so i sympathise with
you. its all about vista accepting the hardware combination i think.