Looking for some input as to what is going on, what I should do or what I am not doing. 3DMark says improvement, games, not so much. The 3DMark scores seem to show a 1,100 to 1,600 Mark improvement but in games it seems as though there has been no increase in performance. At some points in game, it seems the visual detail has improved but the Fps has decreased, is this normal?

I just recently replaced my PSU with the below and at the same time replaced my GFX Card as it was failing.

Old Spec:
Dell Dimension 8300 (Upgraded)
OEM PSU 305W
Maxtor 250GB 7200RPM HD
Intel Pentium 4 3.2Ghz w/HT
3GB DDR 400Mhz
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi XM
BFG NVIDIA 256MB GeForce 6800GT

New Spec:
Dell Dimension 8300 (Upgraded)
OCZ GameXStream PSU 600W
Maxtor 250GB 7200RPM HD
Intel Pentium 4 3.2Ghz w/HT
3GB DDR 400Mhz
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi XM
ATI X1950Pro XGE

Results (Using ATI's Driver):
Old Spec - 3DMark05 1024x768 - GPU 5013, CPU 3787
Old Spec - 3DMark05 1440x900 - GPU 4318, CPU 4310
Old Spec - 3DMark06 1024x768 - GPU 2763, CPU 652
Old Spec - 3DMark06 1440x900 - GPU 2328, CPU 645

New Spec - 3DMark05 1024x768 - GPU 6231, CPU 2576
New Spec - 3DMark05 1440x900 - GPU 5930, CPU 3980
New Spec - 3DMark06 1024x768 - GPU 3833, CPU 633
New Spec - 3DMark06 1440x900 - GPU 3528, CPU 645

Results (Using Omega Driver/No ATT):
New Spec - 3DMark05 1024x768 - GPU 6114, CPU 3280
New Spec - 3DMark05 1440x900 - GPU 5916, CPU 3417
New Spec - 3DMark06 1024x768 - GPU 3822, CPU 641
New Spec - 3DMark06 1440x900 - GPU 3490, CPU 631

Your CPU score definitely looks lower now than it was before, especially in the 3DMark05 1024x768 CPU test.

I'm guessing that your CPU is limiting the new card's potential here. Your overall 3DMark scores are pretty low for that card. Your overall '05 scores aren't that bad, but your '06 scores are a little on the low side. The x1950Pro should be producing '06 scores in the 4700-5000 range.

Did you make any other changes to the hardware? What temperature is your CPU running at? It's possible that your new faster, hotter-running video card is heating up the case enough to cause the CPU to overheat and throttle back in speed. Again, the 1024x768 3D'05 cpu score took a nosedive there.

The lean, mean, movie playing P3 machine
P3-S 1400 @ 1.66GHz, 158MHz FSB
2GB PC2700 DDR
7950GT AGP
Optoma 1280x720 projector
JBL 5.1 amp and speakers
Now storing 114 HD movies

What can I use to check the Temp? I used PCWizard, SpeedFan and AIDA32 and none of them displayed the CPU Temp. On my other PCWizard displays the CPU and GPU Temp on this PC it does not. I can't find the Temp in my Bios either >,<.

http://forums.pcper.com/showthread....

What games are these? Newest titles or older?

Either way, the X1950Pro may be a good card -- AGP or PCI-e -- but it is far from being a card that you can crank every game up to the highest resolution with maximum (AA/AF) details JSYK.

And the other thing is, you were advised to hang on to your factory OC'ed 6800GT AGP till you're ready for a complete system upgrade & certainly to not splurge on a card from Dell, but you were adamant about upgrading to another AGP card without looking at the big picture.

"What games are these? Newest titles or older?"

World of Warcraft to be specific.

"And the other thing is, you were advised to hang on to your factory OC'ed 6800GT AGP till you're ready for a complete system upgrade & certainly to not splurge on a card from Dell, but you were adamant about upgrading to another AGP card without looking at the big picture."

If you read in the top post the "6800GT AGP" was failing, an increase in graphical distortion and tearing forced the replacement. Also, to replace the card for $180.... $180 would not have replaced my entire AGP system. I would need a New MoBo to house my New CPU that would not bottleneck my New GPU (which apparently is what may be happening to the X1950Pro). Beside the fact that the New PCIe MoBo would probably take DDR2 so that means New RAM. Last I checked to make it worth my while, you usualy have to drop $250-350 to obtain a new GPU that would last you long enough to make it worth purchasing (which is more then what I spent in itself). In the end I have maxed out a PC and do not have to ever worry about upgrading it again (as the usual parts that give way have a 5yr-Liftime replacement warranty).

......I just wish it performed a bit better >.<

......Now to calculate how much upgrading the PCIe desktop sitting in the corner will cost me >.<