extremely low 3dmark w/ NF7?

[dreggory]

Okay, I recently purchased an Abit NF7 (not S) and AMD Athlon XP 2600+/333. first off, wouldn't even POST...kept getting repeating long high beep error code. a tech supprt call to Abit IDed this as a memory problem, so switched RAM (2x256 sticks of GeIL pc3200 ultra) from slots 2&3 to 1&2 on MB. spent the first week unable to boot or install win xp, finally tried setting FSB to 133 and was able to get everything set up. After this, I started to run into IRQ errors with my USB mouse when running 3D apps. switching to ps/2 fixed it. after hours of experimenting with FSB and voltages I was able to run stable with 166 FSB @ 12.5x (stock 2600 speed) with 1.75v core (CPU interface enabled), 2.7 memory, 1.6 chipset, 1.5 AGP. (after reading various posts, tried cutting 3rd L12 bridge. CPU POSTed at 133 FSB athlon xp 2000+. still can't hit anywhere near the high FSB speeds I should, even after going as high as 1.775v core. highest to date is 170 @ 12.5x.)

My problem is this: in every benchmark I run, my system is running VERY slow! SiSoft sandra and Dr Hardware both show my CPU rating below an athlon xp 2400+/266, and my highest 3dmark to date is ~9500. I've got an MSI Geforce 4 TI4400 running the 40.72 drivers (seem to run the best for me). I've tried enabling/disabling ACPI (yes, reinstall of OS between), AGP fastwrites, all the different beta/WHQL/etc. drivers for MB and Geforce. flashed to beta 13 bios, still no help. (on a side note, I did get usb working after installing xp sp1, then Nvidia nforce drivers). My cpu runs 38c idle ~45c load (after bios 13) with an alpha 6035 HS/stock sanyo denki fan.

Any ideas? maybe time for RMA?

dreggory

[DriveEuro]

I have no problems with my NF7 at all. I say that I love this damn mobo...It is great. Although my floppy drive doesn't work with this mobo.......No matter what floppy cord I use and even after re-sitting the power connector to the floppy. BUT I LOVE THIS MOBO!

[snowsl]

Okay, I recently purchased an Abit NF7 (not S) and AMD Athlon XP 2600+/333. first off, wouldn't even POST...kept getting repeating long high beep error code. a tech supprt call to Abit IDed this as a memory problem, so switched RAM (2x256 sticks of GeIL pc3200 ultra) from slots 2&3 to 1&2 on MB.

Well done.

spent the first week unable to boot or install win xp, finally tried setting FSB to 133 and was able to get everything set up. After this, I started to run into IRQ errors with my USB mouse when running 3D apps. switching to ps/2 fixed it. after hours of experimenting with FSB and voltages I was able to run stable with 166 FSB @ 12.5x (stock 2600 speed) with 1.75v core (CPU interface enabled), 2.7 memory, 1.6 chipset, 1.5 AGP. (after reading various posts, tried cutting 3rd L12 bridge. CPU POSTed at 133 FSB athlon xp 2000+. still can't hit anywhere near the high FSB speeds I should, even after going as high as 1.775v core. highest to date is 170 @ 12.5x.)

I would assume you are trying to run a usb kb too. That is a known issue with NF2. One of them needs to be a PS2 (you already figured that out). You may want to diable spread spectrum for agp and pci and pci enhance. I also have cpu interface disabled. I'd try the spread spectrum stuff as that helped me. Other than that I would look at the ram. That is not the best ram in the world and you may be timing it above its capability. Try 7-3-3-2 or 7-3-3-2.5. Also cutting the bridge on the processor has worked for others. Other NF2 boards are having problems with the 333 chips.

My problem is this: in every benchmark I run, my system is running VERY slow! SiSoft sandra and Dr Hardware both show my CPU rating below an athlon xp 2400+/266, and my highest 3dmark to date is ~9500. I've got an MSI Geforce 4 TI4400 running the 40.72 drivers (seem to run the best for me). I've tried enabling/disabling ACPI (yes, reinstall of OS between), AGP fastwrites, all the different beta/WHQL/etc. drivers for MB and Geforce. flashed to beta 13 bios, still no help. (on a side note, I did get usb working after installing xp sp1, then Nvidia nforce drivers). My cpu runs 38c idle ~45c load (after bios 13) with an alpha 6035 HS/stock sanyo denki fan.

Those temps seem pretty high to me for that bios. My load temp is 31C with that bios. Are you sure that thing is on right and not turned 180 degrees. I'm not sure what to say except make sure you have the latest drivers. My 2400, xms 3200, and ti4200 get 14,000+ at 208X11, 5-2-2-2.

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=5686073