Hardware analysis tool needed (mobo + gfx) freeware

jpe20

Hi folks,

i have just reinstalled win xp and I am still having problems with stuttering running a game called GTR.

I have already played around with settings like AGP aperature, PCI latency etc as well as messing with the config.ini file in the GTR game. Latest drivers installed.

I have installed a new PSU, extra memory (ran memtest86), ran chkdisk etc. All ok.

The only thing that remains unchecked is my gfx card and mobo. I have run 3Dmark03, dxdiag which seem to run fine. I end up with a score of 5900ish. GFX card is a 9800SE which is overclocked (I have underclocked this and still the stuttering remains). Is there any gfx card analysis tool that can check the memory, bus speeds/stability on the gfx card itself. Also the motherboard could be tested in some way to I suppose with the right software to check my AGP stuff is working right,

Any tips appreciated but bear in mind that I have tried alot of things!!!!

Jules

(1) ran memtest86
(2) Ran CPU stability test (AMD 3000+)
(3) Latest drivers (nforce2, cat 6.4, omega)
(4) New PSU, extra 512mb mem.
(5) Windows reinstall
(6) ..... and so on!!!!

Brodel

have you checked the temperatures of your card under load?

the best way to check stability is usually to run 3dmark etc like you already have.

T4i

Get this, its free.

http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/

Will tell you infor about GFX card, also scans for artifacts/problems with the GFX at those settings.

All your other games run ok? What other games do you run?

T4i

Have you tried patching GTR?

http://uk.gamespot.com/pages/gamespace/download.php?pid=920141&sid=6123383&mode=latest

jpe20

I have ran something similar to ATI Tool for stability/artifact testing which seems to go ok!!!!!

GTR is already patched to 1.5. TOCA3 demo stutters a bit too at crazy low resolutions!!!!! Seems to make little difference as there always seems to be a slight stutter.

That tech website looks good!!! I ended up reflashing my GFX card with the original BIOS and running some extra memory tests.

I am all out of ideas now.... I checked the card itself and the sticker on it says its a 9800 AIW pro version not an SE version which what I thought I was originally sold. I suspect that the card was originally manufactured as a pro edition but quality control failed it then reflashed it and sold it on as a 9800SE. I reckon it's the card.

So any ideas on a new card???? AGP ... 512MB around 200quid????? May go for gforce. I would like to run everything at 1920x1200 res maybe 2xAA and 2xAF. Is this unrealistic???

Maybe I will start a new thread for this!

Jules

T4i

Does the stutter go away when you turn in-game detail down? If it does then you could be right, the card may be a weak one that failed QC tests.

If the stutter doesnt go away, then theres something wrong somewhere either with Hardware or Software.

Have you tried these settings:-

V-Sync?
Triple Buffering?

Fast Writes?
AGP 4x/8x?

Does 3D mark stutter?

jpe20

Okay t4i.

I tried vsync b4 ... no diff
I just tried 8-4x AGP and Fast Writes ..... no diff
Triple Buffering ???? cannot see that option

Ran 3dMark 03 and watched carefully

3D Mark 03 Score 4985

GAME TESTS
GT1-Wings of Fury 141fps
GT2-Battle of Proxycon 35fps
GT3-Trolls Lair 31fps
GT4-Mother Nature 30fps - Stuttering on camera panning shot moving over the

tortoise

CPU Tests - CPU SCORE 648
CPU TEST 1- 74fps
CPU TEST 2- 11fps --- Generally poor stuttering noticable

FEATURE TESTS
Fill Rate (sing. texture) 1670MTexels/s
Fill Rate (multi texture) 2788 " "
Vertex Shader 17fps
Pixel Shader2.0 52fps
Ragtroll 22fps .... generally not good .. stuttering

SOUND TESTS
No sounds 40fps
24 sounds 31fps
60 sounds 25fps

Seems okish.

Three things have helped ....... Changing Texture Quality and mipmap detail from High to Performance and the Catalyst AI from low to high makes an improvement. (Changing settings to high performance helps even more but the picture quality is unacceptable!!!! and still slight glitches remain few as they are!!)

Jules

T4i

jpe20 wrote:

GAME TESTS
GT1-Wings of Fury 141fps
GT2-Battle of Proxycon 35fps
GT3-Trolls Lair 31fps
GT4-Mother Nature 30fps - Stuttering on camera panning shot moving over the

tortoise

CPU Tests - CPU SCORE 648
CPU TEST 1- 74fps
CPU TEST 2- 11fps --- Generally poor stuttering noticable

FEATURE TESTS
Fill Rate (sing. texture) 1670MTexels/s
Fill Rate (multi texture) 2788 " "
Vertex Shader 17fps
Pixel Shader2.0 52fps
Ragtroll 22fps .... generally not good .. stuttering

SOUND TESTS
No sounds 40fps
24 sounds 31fps
60 sounds 25fps

Those figures sound about right to me, my 9700Pro got about 31fps on GT2-Battle of Proxycon. The mother nature test also made my 9700pro stutter but I didnt get anywhere near 30fps on that.

Apart from using older cats (which I did as the newer cats are built for the new ATi generation cards - not 9700/9800 series)

I always used 3.11 cats, worked very well on my 9700Pro. And because its older than the CCC drivers you dont need to install .NET Framework pap.

Other than that I really don't know...

What res do you use? TFT or CRT? You not got any kind of throttling enabled in BIOS?

jpe20

I am trying to run at 1920x1200 but lower resolutions still seem to stutter the same !!!! I am using a TFT panel and yes throttling of the CPU is enabled at 80%.

Maybe I will try that.....um

Jules

Pal

Have you remembered to reinstall the latest motherboard and raid drivers (if you use raid)? I formatted and reinstalled xp without installing the motherboard drivers and it stuttered really badly.

Toxteth_OGrady

Have you tried Omega's drivers for the 9800?

:cool:

TOG