8800GTX LoD Testing for 3D Mark2001SE

[BenchZowner]

Since I'm a 3D Mark2001SE addict, I decided to go...hardcore and test some LoD settings with the 8800GTX for it.
LoD Range tested = from 0 to + 9 [ at 0.1 increments ]

I'll update this post with more results, more tests, testbed config ( system specs, hardware & software ), BIOS Settings, etc and more.
At first I'll run each test with integer LoDs, then I'll test them with FP LoDs.


I've run each test with each LoD setting 3 times and averaged the results ofcourse.
In Car Low ( a.k.a. "the good run" test :D ) I've excluded the "good runs" from the average, but I'll include them in the results table.

----------------------------------------
--------------System Specs-----------
----------------------------------------
Motherboard: Asus P5W DH Deluxe ( BIOS v1602 ) [ only crucial benchmarking hw enabled ]
CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 @ 3.3GHz ( 300MHz FSB , 11x Multiplier )
RAM: OCZ PC2-6400 S.O.E. Urban Elite 2GB Kit @ 600MHz ( FSB/DRAM = 1/1 - Timings 4-4-4-8 , Write Recovery = 3 )
VGA: Twintech GeForce 8800GTX ( Stock Clocks )
OS: Windows XP SP2 ( only basic services started, disabled themes )
Chipset Drivers: Intel Chip. Inst. Util. v8,1,1,1010
VGA Drivers: nVIDIA ForceWare v97.92

Car Low:
LoD 0: Average = 750.66 , Runs = 756.4 749.6 746
LoD 1: Average = 750.16 , Runs = 749.5 795.6 752 749
LoD 2: Average = 749.83 , Runs = 752.4 793 749.9 747.2
LoD 3: Average = 751.66 , Runs = 750.3 751.3 799.8 753.4
LoD 4: Average = 751 , Runs = 750.1 752.6 750.3
LoD 5: Average = 750.56 , Runs = 746.6 797.9 752.1 753
LoD 6: Average = 747.43 , Runs = 746.3 748.8 747.2
LoD 7: Average = 746.8 , Runs = 790 747.1 747.7 745.6
LoD 8: Average = 744.03 , Runs = 746.7 744.5 740.9
LoD 9: Average = 744.9 , Runs = 742.2 743.7 748.8

Car High:
LoD 0: Average = 217.6 , Runs = 217.8 216 219
LoD 1: Average = 218.6 , Runs = 218.3 219.2 218.3
LoD 2: Average = 218.56 , Runs = 218.8 218.1 218.8
LoD 3: Average = 217.03 , Runs = 216.3 217.6 217.2
LoD 4: Average = 218.76 , Runs = 220.1 218.4 217.8
LoD 5: Average = 218.53 , Runs = 218.9 218.2 218.5
LoD 6: Average = 219.4 , Runs = 219 220 219.2
LoD 7: Average = 217.16 , Runs = 218.7 216.4 216.4
LoD 8: Average = 218.53 , Runs = 219.2 217.2 219.2
LoD 9: Average = 219.86 , Runs = 220.8 219.5 219.3

Dragothic Low
LoD 0: Average = 1010.1 , Runs = 1014 1007.4 1008.9
LoD 1: Average = 1010.36 , Runs = 1010.7 1010.1 1010.3
LoD 2: Average = 1010.4 , Runs = 1010.5 1010.3 1010.4
LoD 3: Average = 1009.36 , Runs = 1009.7 1009.4 1009
LoD 4: Average = 1010.33 , Runs = 1010.6 1010.1 1010.3
LoD 5: Average = 1010.36 , Runs = 1011.4 1010.4 1009.3
LoD 6: Average = 1008.16 , Runs = 1008.7 1007.7 1008.1
LoD 7: Average = 1006.4 , Runs = 1006.5 1005.6 1007.1
LoD 8: Average = 1011.73 , Runs = 1011.4 1012.1 1011.7
LoD 9: Average = 1007.66 , Runs = 1007.3 1009.6 1006.1

Dragothic High
LoD 0: Average = 540.9 , Runs = 540 540.8 541.9
LoD 1: Average = 540.36 , Runs = 540 540.9 540.2
LoD 2: Average = 540.73 , Runs = 541 539.3 541.9
LoD 3: Average = 540.13 , Runs = 539.5 540.3 540.6
LoD 4: Average = 540.26 , Runs = 540.6 540 540.2
LoD 5: Average = 540.8 , Runs = 539.9 541.4 541.1
LoD 6: Average = 539.8 , Runs = 539.6 540.3 539.5
LoD 7: Average = 539.73 , Runs = 540.5 538.8 539.9
LoD 8: Average = 539.56 , Runs = 541.6 538.1 539
LoD 9: Average = 539.9 , Runs = 539.4 540.1 540.2

Lobby Low
LoD 0: Average = 782.26 , Runs = 779.4 785.4 782
LoD 1: Average = 782.56 , Runs = 784.4 779.1 784.2
LoD 2: Average = 782.36 , Runs = 783 780.6 783.5
LoD 3: Average = 782.4 , Runs = 783.1 783.7 780.4
LoD 4: Average = 780.9 , Runs = 779 779.6 784.1
LoD 5: Average = 783.23 , Runs = 783.7 782.9 783.1
LoD 6: Average = 781.33 , Runs = 780.4 783.3 780.3
LoD 7: Average = 780.06 , Runs = 777.7 781.5 781
LoD 8: Average = 781.76 , Runs = 783.4 781 780.9
LoD 9: Average = 780.23 , Runs = 783.1 777 780.6

Lobby High
LoD 0: Average = 315.13 , Runs = 315.3 315.9 314.2
LoD 1: Average = 315.3 , Runs = 315.3 316.1 314.5
LoD 2: Average = 315.5 , Runs = 315.2 316.4 314.9
LoD 3: Average = 314.8 , Runs = 314.6 315.1 314.7
LoD 4: Average = 313.96 , Runs = 315.6 313.6 312.7
LoD 5: Average = 314.3 , Runs = 314.5 314.8 313.6
LoD 6: Average = 315.76 , Runs = 317.1 315.7 314.5
LoD 7: Average = 315.13 , Runs = 315.4 315.4 314.6
LoD 8: Average = 314.23 , Runs = 314 314.1 314.6
LoD 9: Average = 315.33 , Runs = 315.9 315.2 314.9

Nature
LoD 0: Average = 535.16 , Runs = 535.2 535.1 535.2
LoD 1: Average = 559.6 , Runs = 559.6 559.5 559.7
LoD 2: Average = 564 , Runs = 564.2 564 563.8
LoD 3: Average = 570.16 , Runs = 570 570.2 570.3
LoD 4: Average = 599.56 , Runs = 599.9 599.8 599
LoD 5: Average = 621.73 , Runs = 621.8 622 621.4
LoD 6: Average = 616.76 , Runs = 619.7 615.5 615.1
LoD 7: Average = 607.53 , Runs = 607.8 607.2 607.6
LoD 8: Average = 598.36 , Runs = 596.7 601.7 596.7
LoD 9: Average = 583.56 , Runs = 583.6 584 583.1

Once I finish with the FP LoDs, I'll go for a quick AquaMark 3 LoD testing as well :)
Actually I'm thinking of playing with the decimals in-between the "beneficial" LoDs only ( lets say 4.1 to 5.9 for Nature ).

Your ideas ?

[Gebba]

LoD 3: Average = 751.66 , Runs = 750.3 751.3 799.8 753.4

somethins most be wrong whit 799fps ?

[Stelios]

LoD 3: Average = 751.66 , Runs = 750.3 751.3 799.8 753.4

somethins most be wrong whit 799fps ?

Nothing's wrong with the 799 fps ... It's the "good run" where car doesn't hit the barrel .

[massman]

Great work!

Can't you test lod to +15? In the old days, the dragon/car tests loved +10 lod.

[gandalfone]

Yes great work!
I used LOD 3.3 for all...

[ojdr2001]

Tests are all 1st runs after rebooting?
Good work

[N3RO]

Good post, however we've to see somethings..

Between each run or re-run we have to reboot the machine.. the stress will change the scores..

By your comparison we can see that CL, DL and DH don't like LOD.. (if LOD 0 = no LOD and LOD 9 = max LOD (at your range))

Something is wrong.. right?

[G H Z]

Not neccesarily, but I do recommend a boot between each test ;) :slapass:

However we cannot re-boot between each test when were going for a real score so yeah, it can get a little complicated :D

Good thread Bench, thanks for the info.

[BenchZowner]

Tests are all 1st runs after rebooting?
Good work

Yes.
Test, reboot, test, reboot ( was a boring sequence :D )

Great work!

Can't you test lod to +15? In the old days, the dragon/car tests loved +10 lod.

Thanks :)
Will test LoDs up to +15 @ Car L/H & Dragothic L/H just for you ;)
Nature got kinda unstable after LoD 8 ( double-checked everything )

Good post, however we've to see somethings..

Between each run or re-run we have to reboot the machine.. the stress will change the scores..

Yes, after each test was run, I went for a reboot, and then run the next test.

By your comparison we can see that CL, DL and DH don't like LOD.. (if LOD 0 = no LOD and LOD 9 = max LOD (at your range))

Something is wrong.. right?

Not necessarily.
Some tests "dis-like" positive LoDs.
This isn't the first case to showcase that.

[kiwi]

Man, how much time did you spend :D

Nature seems to benefit most. I will test and see what my GTS says

[BenchZowner]

Man, how much time did you spend :D

Quite a lot :D
At least its something useful for future bench sessions with the 8800GTXs :)

Nature seems to benefit most. I will test and see what my GTS says

Yup, Nature loves positive LoDs :D
~85 fps more ( from LoD 0 to LoD 5 ) ;)

[hausner]

Great Job BenchZowner :toast:

[wittekakker]

I had about the same outcome couple weeks ago, with G80 it seems like LOD only makes sence in Nature.

[DeDaL]

Great job.
how about ATI ?

[BenchZowner]

Great job.
how about ATI ?

LoD settings depend on the card.
With a GeForce 7900GTX ( for example ) some other settings would yield better results.

I've done that for the X1900XT/X in the past, and as far as I remember, both Car Low & Dragothic High presented better results at LoD 0.

[N3RO]

Tomorrow I'll test too.. I've time and I'll share my own results too and show on this thread if you agree ;)

(BFG 8800GTX)

[BenchZowner]

Tomorrow I'll test too.. I've time and I'll share my own results too and show on this thread if you agree ;)

(BFG 8800GTX)

Ofcourse, feel free to add your results :)

Oh by the way, is anybody willing to test "testing sequence" ? ( tests running order ) :)

[ahmad]

Thats what I was just going to ask about... There are only 5000 different ways of doing the run :slap:

[kiwi]

Dunno, it was always like this:
DL, LL, CH, DH, LH, Nature, CL

[dinos22]

what no pretty graphs

this thread sucks :mad:





lol just kidding......good to see you go through all LODs there :clap:

[N3RO]

Dunno, it was always like this:
DL, LL, CH, DH, LH, Nature, CL
With these G80 cards the best order isn't like this.. :(

[BenchZowner]

what no pretty graphs

this thread sucks :mad:

I always keep the best part for the end :D



lol just kidding......good to see you go through all LODs there :clap:

Well, there's more to it ( and guess what! I'm looking forward to it :D )

Thanks for your comments mate.

[dinos22]

Well, there's more to it ( and guess what! I'm looking forward to it :D )

Thanks for your comments mate.

if you want to be pedantic you can also bench 3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4....etc :D now THAT would take a long time hahahah

[BenchZowner]

if you want to be pedantic you can also bench 3.1,3.2,3.3,3.4....etc :D now THAT would take a long time hahahah

Guess what.I've already said I'd do that :D
Actually I'm going to do that tomorrow.

[dinos22]

Guess what.I've already said I'd do that :D
Actually I'm going to do that tomorrow.

you're crazy man :woot: :woot: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Micutzu]

For 8800 series, LOD 4.9 is the fastest trough Nature and pretty much across all tests, just as LOD 3.4 was the fastest for 7900 series :thumbsup:

[Gautam]

you're crazy man :woot: :woot: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Agreed. :eek:

Great effort, and thanks for sharing.

[kiwi]

With these G80 cards the best order isn't like this.. :(

Then be so kind and share which is the fastest :)

[BenchZowner]

I've just finished testing the decimals in-between the "beneficial" LoDs, and higher LoDs ( 9.x - 12 ) as requested by massman and AquaMark 3 as well :)

My final numbers:

---------------------------
-----3D Mark2001SE-----
---------------------------
Car Chase Low = 3.0
Car Chase High = 9.1
Dragothic Low = 8.0
Dragothic High = 5.0
Lobby Low = 5.0
Lobby High = 6.0
Nature = 4.9

---------------------------
------AquaMark 3-------
---------------------------
Just like 3D Mark2001SE, I've run each LoD test 3 times, and averaged the results.
Unfortunately, the highest score & average was achieved with...LoD 0.
LoDs from 0 to 12 were tested.

-----------------------------
Now...who's willing to test all 49 possible test sequences ? :P

[Console]

Really Nice Info !
And props to you for spending the time testing this .

I hope some one does test the different sequences the old order prob needs some tweaking . Some PPl like running nature first .

[kemo]

i posted this once and will post it again

Well nice work with a lot of efforts a
BTW from where you got all that time and patience

[BenchZowner]

Well nice work with a lot of efforts a
BTW from where you got all that time and patience

Thanks mate :toast:
About time...I don't like sleeping ( weird huh ? :D ), and as I get more than what I need with 5-6 hours of sleeping, I can take my time on various stuff :)
Good preparation, testing the tweaks, looking for new tweaks & getting to know your hardware is one of the main factors to a successful benchmarking session ;)

[kemo]

Thanks mate :toast:
About time...I don't like sleeping ( weird huh ? :D ), and as I get more than what I need with 5-6 hours of sleeping, I can take my time on various stuff :)
Good preparation, testing the tweaks, looking for new tweaks & getting to know your hardware is one of the main factors to a successful benchmarking session ;)

usually i do sleep 5 hours in the Bad university (when studying is must) days but i look like a guy who just smoked weed :D

[massman]

Awesome work BenchZowner !!

This is what the community really needs :D

[N3RO]

My comparison with BenchZowner's LODs:

Run order: Nature-LH-LL-CH-DH-DL-CL

Edit: Reboot between each 3dmark run course..

X6800 DEFAULT
BFG 8800GTX DEFAULT

With LODs:

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3417/clodxp7.gif

Without LODs:

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6240/slodsbx1.gif

A big boost on Nature however a little lose on LL

[N3RO]

Anyone wants to test it again but with the news HD3850/70? :D

[dinos22]

-----------------------------
Now...who's willing to test all 49 possible test sequences ? :P

that's the next big step now :D

[potkit]

Now...who's willing to test all 49 possible test sequences ? :P

lol, i wish they were 49
in fact the are n!/(n-r)!
or 5040 sequences:(
that's pretty hard maybe someone should make a batch 3d01 bench tool that reboots after every run and allows order changing that would be the easiest way i think

[STEvil]

a script to run this might not be a bad idea.

edit

i'm wrong, nevermind my numbers lol.... script idea is still good though

[BenchZowner]

There's only ~30 actually since you want to keep Car Low for last all the time (forget darn formula to figure this out..)

Finding the optimal LOD to the decimal point would take a lot though ;)

And then it might differ between drivers... a script to run this might not be a bad idea.

I've tested all the decimal numbers.
So the numbers mentioned in this thread are the final ones.
The LoD settings don't seem to be driver version related, as those numbers seem to be the best with most driver releases that I've benched with.
Can't say I'm 100% sure, or that it's 100% driver-free though.

[metro.cl]

only up to 9?

I use 12 on DL not sure if it is the best.

[potkit]

for me it's 15 on DL
(using 8800gts)

@STEvil
yup forgot that we want buggy cl at the end xD

however they are still A LOT, 720 actually

[BenchZowner]

@metro.cl

I've tested up to 12, but it wasn't any better ( for me at least ).