New CPU: Benchmarked

[Blue Mako]

Ok, the wait is finally over!  I got a friend to grab a 3.2GHz P4 Northwood CPU for me from the US and ship it over to the land downunder where they had been discontinued.  I ripped out the old 2.4GHz dinosaur and dropped in the new chip.  I didn't change any system settings (will do a complete clean and reinstall on the weekend though) but did a benchmark with "Aquamark" before and after the change.  The result is:

P4 2.4GHz score: 40,000

P4 3.2GHz score: 43,500

In real terms though the difference is more marked.  I can now set the sliders in AH2 to full for detail and object size and get the same FPS that I used to get with them set at half.  I can also move the detail range slider (aka "the trees of framerate death" slider) from 0.5 miles to 1 mile and get the same frames.

My system isn't really optimised for gaming at the moment as I use it for a little of everything but I still get AH2 framerates between 40 and 60 as an average at 1280x1024 which is very playable.  I just wish something could be done to let me see the trees at long range without such a large performance hit.

My system specs are:

3.2GHz P4 Northwood CPU (with Zalmann 90mm fan)
ATI 9800 PRO 128MB Vid card
1GB RAM PC3200
Gigabyte 8IPE1000Pro M/B
Soundblaster Live! Value 5.1 s/c (soon to become an Audigy 2 ZS if I can convince the wife it's necessary!)
Win XP Pro SP2, Dx9.0c
and some other stuff...


Thanks to Skuzzy and all others who took part in my "Northwood or Prescott" thread.

[Skuzzy]

WHen you swap out the SBLive! with the Audigy 2 ZS, you should pick up more frame rate as well.

Congrats on getting your hands on that CPU.  Getting tough to come by.

[Hajo]

Skuzzy....aren't frame rates locked in by refresh rates?

If the refresh rate is 65........from what I understand 65 is the best framerate you'll get.  I know people say they are getting 100 etc......but I've read that framerates registered over the refresh rate are fictitious.  That a framerate over ones' refresh rate is impossible.

Oh.....and don't count on using that Audigy2ZS card if you have Via chipsets.  I've a new one in the box that I tried to install and make work.  I eventually had to reformat and put the SBLive 5.1 back in.  So now I've got a useless new Audigy2 ZS sitting in the box.....considering using it as a doorstop.

[Skuzzy]

He has a P4, I doubt the mommaboard is VIA based.

Yes, the monitor refresh rates cap the frame rate, if you have vsync enabled in the video card settings.  And you should for AH.
However, there are other games where you do not want to have vsync enabled.  Most FPS games as a matter of fact.

Whether or not vsync is enabled or disabled, the maximum viewable data on the screen is regulated by the monitor reresh rate.  Even if the game says a billion frames a second, you will only see what the monitor is capable of showing you.
If the monitor is running at 85Hz refresh rate, then all you will be able to see is a maximum of 85 full frames a second, no matter what.

[TheFox]

I've also been looking for this P4 3.2c Northwood CPU, but have yet to track one down in the UK.

Has anyone got info on a source that will be willing to ship to the UK ?

Regards