3dmark06 low score with new GTX 460

[Gabb]

So I just got my new GTX 460 768mb for a good $145 deal and swapped my 9800 GTX+ out ( which I gave to a friend ). I know the performance between the two isn't that huge but I was shocked to see my 3dmark06 score only increased from 14538 to 15904 ( approx a 10% increase ). Does this accurately convey the real performance difference between the two or is something up with my 3dmark06 score or possibly gfx card?

I'm running 4 gigs of ram ( 3.25 recognized due to win xp 32 bit ) and a q6600 OCed to 3.0 ghz, the GTX 460 card is left at stock which is apparently boosted to 720/900

[Jarnis]

Don't use 3DMark06 to benchmark DX10/DX11 hardware. It isn't very good at it, being CPU limited in most setups on any card that performs around the level of 9800GTX or thereabouts. It is old and the age is starting to show...

3DMark Vantage would be a much better tool for your purposes.

Edit: Or you can look at this handy list for a rough idea; http://service.futuremark.com/hardware/

(those scores are estimated graphics scores off 3DMark Vantage, and yes, there is a massive difference between those two cards)

[mapesdhs]

I've researched this extensively. Newer cards only help if:

- You're going to be playing newer games which use newer features,

- You're playing older games but will be playing them at a higher resolution and
higher detail settings (eg. old card: 1280x1024, no AA, 4X AF; new card: 1920x1200,
4X AA, 8A AF).

- Both the above! 8)

See my results pages:

http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/misc/pctests.html
http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/misc/stalkercopbench.txt
http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/misc/x3tcbench.txt
http://www.sgidepot.co.uk/misc/uniginebench.txt

3DMark06 is also heavily affected by CPU performance. Look carefully at the first
of the above pages, compare 1 vs. 2 older cards at a low clock, vs. 1 vs. 2 older
cards at a high clock (eg. 4890), look how these data compare to the same
comparisons of 1 vs. 2 newer cards at low vs. high clock (GTX 460).

More data being added this evening, including my own GTX 460 results, which, btw,
might surprise you. ;)

Ian.

PS. Forgot to mention: for modern Intel CPUs, HT does not help. It can result in
higher overall numbers (because of how strongly the CPU result affects the overall
score) but using a higher clock without HT gives better frame rates, eg. examine:

http://3dmark.com/compare/3dm06/15084731/3dm06/15085763

I've checked this with Stalker COP, X3TC and Unigine: none of them benefit from HT.

[treinier]

Im having a similar problem, but then ... worse. I bought a msi n460gtx today and i got a 10400 as a score on 3dmark06. Im using P5K motherboard and e6750 chip 2GB ram. Is this expected with my cpu..? 10k seems a bit to low to me ... btw i have the 259. drivers

[AgentSmith5150]

So I just got my new GTX 460 768mb for a good $145 deal and swapped my 9800 GTX+ out ( which I gave to a friend ). I know the performance between the two isn't that huge but I was shocked to see my 3dmark06 score only increased from 14538 to 15904 ( approx a 10% increase ). Does this accurately convey the real performance difference between the two or is something up with my 3dmark06 score or possibly gfx card?

I'm running 4 gigs of ram ( 3.25 recognized due to win xp 32 bit ) and a q6600 OCed to 3.0 ghz, the GTX 460 card is left at stock which is apparently boosted to 720/900

Im having a similar problem, but then ... worse. I bought a msi n460gtx today and i got a 10400 as a score on 3dmark06. Im using P5K motherboard and e6750 chip 2GB ram. Is this expected with my cpu..? 10k seems a bit to low to me ... btw i have the 259. drivers

Both you guys are being held back by your CPUs. The OP is also being held back by Windows XP (don't know what the second fellow has for OS). I just did an '06 run and got a score of 17,265. And that's with a 460 1gb, 4 gigs RAM, and an E8400 OC'd to 3.6ghz. The E8400 will beat the Q6600 every time in games and benchmarks, due to the newer architecture and much higher clock ability.

Time to upgrade!

[Thierry14]

If you want higher scores a cpu upgrade is indeed what you need.

This what I got with a GTX460 and a i7 930..http://hwbot.org/community/submissio...it_28483_marks