Graphics problems with CPU upgrade from AMD 3500 to 3800 X2

[spencertaylor]

Hi all! I just updated my Vista, home made, PC from an Athlon 64
3500+
single core chip to an Athlon 64 3800 X2 to take advantage of multi-
processing in Vista. Here is the problem. When I ran the benchmarks,
Vista is performing terribly. I went from about 12,500 to about 7,500
in 3D Mark 03. I didn't do a clean install of Vista, but the
motherboard (MSI 7025) and OS picked up the CPU right away. What
should I look at doing to fix this performance problem? This should
be
an upgrade, not a downgrade. Please help!

Here is what I have tried already, and ruled out:
BIOS is working properly, and recognizes both cores
Vista recognizes 2 logical cores
Have installed the AMD Dual Core optimizer for Vista
Have reinstalled 3DMark 03 and 06, and styill have the same problem
I installed a new nVidia driver for my 6800 Ultra

I am still getting poor performance - only in graphics.
Otherwise, the system is totally stable. I ran the nTune utility from
nVidia, and it's totally stable.
Has anyone experienced odd behavior when upgrading their CPU.
I know there is no repair install for Vista, so I would have to do a
clean istall, if I want to go the OS route.

This is driving me nuts, and help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dale White]

Hey, you're not suppose to start a new thread. You could have at least
replied to my last answer to you on this

Have you tried using SANDRA XL ?
They don't have a 3800+ listed, but they have a 4000+ and 3200+, so you can
get a feel for how close you are
http://images1.filecloud.com/402032/sandra.jpg.

You can get the freebie at http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=177

 

[spencertaylor]

Hey, you're not suppose to start a new thread. You could have at least
replied to my last answer to you on this

Have you tried using SANDRA XL ?
They don't have a 3800+ listed, but they have a 4000+ and 3200+, so you can
get a feel for how close you arehttp://images1.filecloud.com/402032/sandra.jpg.

You can get the freebie athttp://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=177









- Show quoted text -

I sent you a long email - with the reply to author function.
I guess you didn't get it.
I am scared I will do a clean install, and still have the same
problem.
Unfortunately, there is no repair install in Vista, which really
sucks.
I'm at my wits end. I have run PCMark 05, and the graphics are still
affected, and I never had a problem with my 3500+.

 

[Dale White]

Did you remove the .NO out of the e-mail address ?

Did you try SANDRA, I haven't played with PCmark05. Does it tell you if your
CPU is running correctly, meaning comparing it to a like speed CPU ? That's
why I wanted you to run SANDRA. if your CPU is running correctly, then your
numbers should be very close to the 4000+ X2.

Have you tried, dropping back to the 97 drivers ? Also, instead of saying
oyu installed new drivers or latest drivers alone, could you also what
driver version it is. th 101.65s are the official drivers and the 111.41 are
the latest beta drivers.

If you think it's video related, do you know anyone you could borrow their
video card, preferably an ATI card to re-run your test ? do you have any
actual games like doom3 or Fear with a built in benchmark program, so you
could confirm your numbers ?

Before wiping out and re-installing have you tried going back to the 3500+
and see if the numbers go back up ?

What are you calling the repair feature ? You can boot from the DVD, it
should see you have Vista installed and on the inital screen, you should see
an option for repair windows. not sure it will do you any good, but if you
want to try that before format re-installing, it's an option

 

[spencertaylor]

Did you remove the .NO out of the e-mail address ?

Did you try SANDRA, I haven't played with PCmark05. Does it tell you if your
CPU is running correctly, meaning comparing it to a like speed CPU ? That's
why I wanted you to run SANDRA. if your CPU is running correctly, then your
numbers should be very close to the 4000+ X2.

Have you tried, dropping back to the 97 drivers ? Also, instead of saying
oyu installed new drivers or latest drivers alone, could you also what
driver version it is. th 101.65s are the official drivers and the 111.41 are
the latest beta drivers.

If you think it's video related, do you know anyone you could borrow their
video card, preferably an ATI card to re-run your test ? do you have any
actual games like doom3 or Fear with a built in benchmark program, so you
could confirm your numbers ?

Before wiping out and re-installing have you tried going back to the 3500+
and see if the numbers go back up ?

What are you calling the repair feature ? You can boot from the DVD, it
should see you have Vista installed and on the inital screen, you should see
an option for repair windows. not sure it will do you any good, but if you
want to try that before format re-installing, it's an option








- Show quoted text -

I have used PCMark pretty extensively.
I am getting this weird graphics slow down in everything.
I ran the stress test from Half-Life 2 Lost Coast, and I am only
getting 46 FPS avg.
I was running over 60 FPS before.
I think I am just going to bite the bullit and reinstall Vista.
It will probably be the fastest thing to do, compared to everything
else added up.
Now if it still does it, I will be pissed.
When I took the 3500 out, I bent a pin and it fell off. I should taken
everything off the mobo, but I was lazy.
So, it's the 3800 or nothing.
I have the Multi core Widget add-in for Vista, and I can see what the
cores are doing.
It's not a driver issue. I tried 3 different nVidia drivers.

I have backed up everything already. It's just a pain in the ass
because of my XBOX 360 extender and everything.
Thanks!

 

[spencertaylor]

I have used PCMark pretty extensively.
I am getting this weird graphics slow down in everything.
I ran the stress test from Half-Life 2 Lost Coast, and I am only
getting 46 FPS avg.
I was running over 60 FPS before.
I think I am just going to bite the bullit and reinstall Vista.
It will probably be the fastest thing to do, compared to everything
else added up.
Now if it still does it, I will be pissed.
When I took the 3500 out, I bent a pin and it fell off. I should taken
everything off the mobo, but I was lazy.
So, it's the 3800 or nothing.
I have the Multi core Widget add-in for Vista, and I can see what the
cores are doing.
It's not a driver issue. I tried 3 different nVidia drivers.

I have backed up everything already. It's just a pain in the ass
because of my XBOX 360 extender and everything.
Thanks!

I did a clean install of Vista, and the exact same problem came up.
It has to be the mobo. The Sandra tests are all good for the CPU.

 

[Dale White]

I did a clean install of Vista, and the exact same problem came up.
It has to be the mobo. The Sandra tests are all good for the CPU.

That sure seems kinda weird, that the CPU speed is normal, but your getting
Graphics slowdown. Just curious, when you run DXDIAG, and you click display,
it should say AGP enabled. If not, then that's an easy way to know the
chipset drivers aren't working or workign right.

Have you done a windows update ? Did you see any optional installs for you
motherboard ? I've seen 2 different ones for mine, though it's a Nforce 4.

Just for giggles, you might try installing the 15.00 drivers, which is
really meant for the Nforce 4. More than likely it won't do anything and may
pop-up and say there is nothing to install. but it's something to try
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce4_amd_winvista32_15.00.html

I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around why upgrading to a 3800+
would cause a problem, that wasn't already there with the 3500+, unless the
Dual-cores are confusing the mobo.

You can run MSconfig, and under the boot tab, you can choose advance and
then choose NUMPROC= and set it to 1 CPU
http://images.filecloud.com/395728/advance_config.jpg

Then give 3dmark another try and see what it does.

 

[gw]

I have a 6800GS that has a "cold bug". When I upgraded my case cooling, my
video performance went into the toilet. Turns out that the card throttles
when the GPU is under 39C. Stupid. Nvidia refuses to fix the problem. I had
to overclock the card in 2D mode and reduce the fan speed in order to get
the core to warm up.

I don't know if this problem carries over to the 6800GT, but check your GPU
core temp. If it's under 40C, block the fan to warm it up and try again.

 

[spencertaylor]

That sure seems kinda weird, that the CPU speed is normal, but your getting
Graphics slowdown. Just curious, when you run DXDIAG, and you click display,
it should say AGP enabled. If not, then that's an easy way to know the
chipset drivers aren't working or workign right.

Have you done a windows update ? Did you see any optional installs for you
motherboard ? I've seen 2 different ones for mine, though it's a Nforce 4.

Just for giggles, you might try installing the 15.00 drivers, which is
really meant for the Nforce 4. More than likely it won't do anything and may
pop-up and say there is nothing to install. but it's something to tryhttp://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce4_amd_winvista32_15.00.html

I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around why upgrading to a 3800+
would cause a problem, that wasn't already there with the 3500+, unless the
Dual-cores are confusing the mobo.

You can run MSconfig, and under the boot tab, you can choose advance and
then choose NUMPROC= and set it to 1 CPUhttp://images.filecloud.com/395728/advance_config.jpg

Then give 3dmark another try and see what it does.

Hi;
I just spoke to MSI, and they are going to RMA the board. They said
that the chip works with the board. They will send the latest BIOS on
the board, and they claim that they will test it with an X2 chip. It's
a mjor pain in the ass swapping boards, but what can I do. It doesn't
make sense to invest more money in another mobo. I'm better off
building a new PC, and selling the cpu on eBay. I would definitely
prefer not to do that, though.

I am going to try the 1 proc test when I get home and see what happens.