Hi,
I have a 6600GT running on a 1.7GHz 400FSB, 256KB cache pentium 4 (socket 478).
With no overclocking and default settings, I get a 3D Mark score of 2600. when I set AA to 8x and AF to 16x I get a score of 1800.

I have checked some places on the net, and the normal score for an agp 6600GT seems to be about 3200. These scores are obtained on processors that are way faster than mine (amd 4000 and Pentium 3.0GHz).
I would like to know your comments on the fact that my slow processor is only compromising 600 3D points.

Suppose I upgrade my processor to the fastest available, I will gain only about 600 3D Mark points.

Please tell me if my score of 2600 is accepteable for a 6600GT on a 1.7GHz processor. Is this score high enough to run some future games too?

Sarosh

Hi
btw i read your earlier posts, if you have had no luck upgrading 3dmark 05 is a waste of space for testing your pc worthyness for the halls of fame, use an earlier version 3mark03 , better scenery imo , any way i got about 3600 score on a 3200amd64 a while back, so was verily dissapointed, (lol)
another benchie is aquamark, this will run happily on your pc,
http://download.guru3d.com/aquamark3/
try it!, a lot more meaningful info on their forum

also check here ,

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20050524/vga_charts-02.html#3d_mark_2005

more interesting benchmarks till you realise on what pc they are testing.

as for future games who knows, i just sold my 6600gt in favour of an uber 7800gpu maybe this time next year things will change again who can tell.

a future game
http://www.beyondunreal.com/main/ut2007/about.php

the T&L appears to take minimum game specs perhaps a bit higher than a p1.7 so save some $ for a new year upgrade those 600 points could make all the difference with a faster cpu
;)

The problem is I am having absollutely no luck finding a fster processor.
I would love to upgrade to a 2.8 or 3.06GHz processor, but no one has socket 478 any more.
I found many socket 478 on www.pricewatch.com
But i just dont hvae the knowledge to know which will work properly with mine. The termenology on my m/b site is confusing.

Sarosh

One of my PCs has a 1ghz Pentium III, which I overclocked to 1.7ghz.
With an x800XL, that P3 scores a good 5400 in 3DMark05.
CPU speed is not important in synthetic graphics benchmarks.
Though in actual games, you should notice a huge difference uppgrading that old Willamette P4 to something newer.

FX-57 @ 3.1ghz
4GB of OCZ PC-4200
500GBx4 drive array
Sapphire X850 XT-PE
Fujitsu 1920x1080 projector

"you should notice a huge difference uppgrading that old Willamette P4 to something newer"

LOL!

This space for rent

My current cpu is 1.7GHz with 256KB cache.
I an buy a celeron processor of 2.8GHz with 128Kb cache.
But what do you think is more important for games, the cache size or the clock speed.
If the cache is smaller smaller they will be more cache misses, but because of the higher clock speed, but the higher clock speed would negate the effect of cache misses anyway.
Anyway, what do you guys think, is a Celeron 2.8GHz 128KB cache better than a Pentium 1.7GH 256KB cache?

Sarosh

NO, the Celeron would be a downgrade!

dsarosh,

You've been trying to find a way to work around this CPU issue for almost 3 weeks now. You know what you need...a P4 Northwood w/512K L2! But you said you can't find one in your area, & you're unable or unwilling to buy online. It's time to face the fact that you're stuck with what you have until you're ready for a new board/CPU combo.

This space for rent

No dude,
There are plenty of cpus available at www.pricewatch.com
I will get one from there within the next 3 months for sure.
I am just trying to find out various alternatives from you guys in the mean time to enable me to make the best buy.

Sarosh

Hey Jam,
Just to add to my previous post, I "think" the processors at www.pricewatch.com will be compatable with my board. I am no expert with processor termoninology, and will need some guidance. But I think pricewatch has many processors of socket 478 type, and atleast one of them will run on my board.

Sarosh

Why is this so difficult for you??

ASUS P4V533-MX link:

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=212&l1=3&l2=12&l3=53

CPU Support:

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

So there's no more controversy, here are the ONLY socket 478 CPUs your board supports:

Celeron 1.7GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 1.8GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.0GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.1GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.2GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.3GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.4GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.5GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.6GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.7GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

Celeron 2.8GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:128KB)

P4-1.4GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-1.5GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-1.6GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-1.6AGHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-1.7GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-1.8GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-1.8AGHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-1.9GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-2.0GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:256KB)

P4-2.20GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.26GHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.40GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.40BGHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.50GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.53GHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.60GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.66GHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.80GHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-2.0A GHz (400 FSB, L2 cache:512KB)

P4-3.06GHz (533 FSB, L2 cache:512KB, HT, C1/D1)

The Williamette & Northwood core P4s are becoming outadated...the longer you wait, the harder they're going to be to find.

This space for rent

Jam thinks I'm funny! My dreams have been fulfilled!
:-D

FX-57 @ 3.1ghz
4GB of OCZ PC-4200
500GBx4 drive array
Sapphire X850 XT-PE
Fujitsu 1920x1080 projector

This is confusing because the processors are not named the same way on websites.
From the above list it seems that I can only have celeron procesors with 128KB cache.
Dude, I am not an Intel processor expert, I am a mechanical engineer, and I stopped keeping track of processor termenology after Pentium 4 3.0GHz.
This may seem simple to you, but it is a bit confusing to me.

Sarosh

Hey, I'm not a computer expert either, I'm a Civil engineer. Computers are my hobby. I avoid Intel products...I think they're overrated & overpriced, but I know enough about them to get by.

I copied/pasted the entire CPU list supported by your board from the manufacturer's website...what is so hard about choosing one from the list?

A Celeron is not an improvement. You have a decent video card which I know you want to take advantage of, but you're not gonna do it with a Celeron. You need a P4 which runs at 533FSB & has 512k L2 cache...in other words, you're looking for a P4 with a Northwood core. You currently has a P4 with a Williamette core...you do NOT want another Williamette!

When looking for a CPU, this is what should be included in the description:

Pentium 4
socket 478
533FSB
512k L2
Northwood <--- may or may not be included

Looking at pricewatch, the 3.06GHz Northwood is too expensive, that leaves you with 2.8GHz as your max. So click on "Pentium 4 2.8GHz 533" & look at the descriptions. I just had a look myself...here's the 1st one on the list:

"box pentium 4 511 2.8ghz 1mb 533 fsb" -- Obviously that's not what you're looking for...it has 1MB L2.

But the 2nd one lists, "Intel P4 2.80 GHz 478-pin FC-PGA2 512k 533FSB CPU" -- That IS what you're looking for!

The 3rd one doesn't give enough info. It may or may not work...you won't know unless you go to the seller's website.

The 4th one lists, "Pentium 4 2.8GHZ(2800MHZ)(533MHZ Bus)512K cache - Socket 478-OEM" -- That's another that will work. OEM means it's the CPU only, no HSF is included.

If you want one with the Intel HSF, look for the listing to say "retail" or "box"

This space for rent

This is really nice of you.
I appreciate it very much. Thanks for stopping me from making the mistake of going in for the celeron.
The 2.8Ghz is the one I am going to get.
Thanks much.

Sarosh