I think it would be a good idea to compile all the OS/software tweaking info into one thread to make stuff easy to find. I don't know everything so if you have anything to contribute please send it to me and I'll edit it in and give you full credit.
GENERAL TWEAKING
Start > run > msconfig > disable ALL un-needed start up processes and applications. For a dedicated benching partition you really only need the ones that have "yes" under required but I leave USB PnP because I use a USB key to save my screenies and scores and I also use a USB mouse.
Another way of doing this is (the easier way) is to boot into diagnostics mode which can be selected from on the first screen when you run msconfig. This works just as well pretty much but I don't like it. Seems to take a while longer to load on my opteron.
disable all screen savers, power saving, and windows themes. Also set a blank background. Set screen color depth to 16 bit and not 32 bit. Resolution to 1024x768 is best from what I've heard but I use 1280x1024 so I can fit everything for pictures.
control panel > system > advanced > performance settings > adjust for best performance
As for which OS version to use for what:
win xp + DX9 for pi 8m, 32m (I think) 3d03 and 3d05
win server 2k3 /w max mem tweak for pi 1m
win 2k SP4 + DX 8.1 and ricky tweak for 3d01
Running in real time:
An easy way to gain some 3dmarks or miliseconds in pi is running the benchmark in "real time" priority. To do this just hit control + alt + delete, go to processes, find the benchmark, right click it, and set the priority to "Real Time". While you're at it you should close any processes and programs that are running and not needed. After all that don't forget to close explorer! You can open it again by clicking "New Task..." on the Applications tab and typing "explorer" without quotations.
Thanks to TinTin for posting and OPB for the tweak.Originally Posted by TinTin
3D MARK BENCHMARKS
Run order for 3d01:
dragothic low
lobby low
car high
dragothic high
lobby high
nature
car low
From everything I've seen, this is commonly agreed on as the best run order for 3dmark01 tests. Car low is run last because it can vary by a lot, usually 30-40 fps from what I've seen. After your first car low, save your score incase the next run crashes or the first run was your best. Keep running car low until you get a good score. You'll know it when you see it
The "Ricky Tweak" AKA multi CPU ACPI
Control panel > system > hardware > device manager > expand computer > right click "ACPI uniprocessor PC" > update driver > don't go to MS update, chose to install from list, select "ACPI multiprocessor PC" > install > reboot
This tweak will make your CPU slightly more efficient for 3dmark (3d01 mainly) but will increase heat output slightly. DO NOT use this tweak for super pi/pi fast (Thanks to Stephen and Jason for confirming this)
There is also the MPS Uni processor tweak which is supposedly better than the ricky tweak without heating the CPU up. Thanks to SIOUX for this tip, I hope to try it shortly!
driver tweaking:
both nvidia and ATI drivers have sliders for image quality settings. Set these to "best performance" under D3D.
DRIVERS:
ATI 3d01: catalyst 4.12's
ATI 3d03/3d05: catalyst 5.10's. The latest drivers are usually best. I've tested a few today and 5.10's came out on top with my x800pro card.
NVIDIA 3d01: 6800 series = 76.44 drivers 7800 = ???
NVIDIA 3d03/3d05: 77.72 for FM approved or the latest drivers.
Overclocking tools:
ATI TOOL: ATI tool is the most commonly used ATI OCing tool. Other than changing clock speeds it will let you change memory timings. A fellow overclocker found what seems to be the optimal timings for 3dmark on x800 series cards. They work well for me and others and gain ~5 FPS in 3d01's nature test for most people.
Credit goes to Eshbach over at xtremesystems and OCxtreme for testing many different settings of timings to find these :thumbsup:
RIVA TUNER: Rivatuner is the most comonly used Nvidia overclocking tool. It has a nice "power user" tab for advanced settings and can be used to unlock locked pipes and vertex shaders on cards like the vanilla 6800 AGP cards.
Under the "power user" tab there's some things we can change.
First we want to disable thermal throttling.
Go to nvidia \ overclocking and put a 1 next to "EnablePerfLevelForcing" then go to the clockspeed screen and set force constant performance level to "Performance 3D"
While you're there put a 1 next to "DisableInternalClockTest" and do the same with "DisableClockTest" under overclocking \ global.
These tweaks will disable thermalthrottling on 6800 cards. I'm not sure if 7800 cards have throttling as well. The latter 2 you modded will disable the need to test clocks before applying them if the name didn't give it away.
You can also set LoD under driver settings > directdraw and D3D settings. LoD is usually considered cheating though, especially on 7800 series cards where it can gain 1000+ points in 3d01, so be warned. It's a bit more accepted on the 6800 series where it is very difficult to get a good 3d01 score compared to an ATI x800 card.
There is also a program out there called NVtimings or something of the like that will allow you to change nvidia card memory timings but I have seen very little of it so if you toy around with it just be careful and I am not responsible if you damage your card.
PI TWEAKING
A trick for pi 1m is ms config > boot.ini > advanced > check max mem and set 104 > reboot
This ONLY works for 1m and must be unchecked before running any pi higher than 1m or 3d. Also, if pi crashes you will have to reboot. It can get .5s or so on a good 1m run though
As with everything else, set real time, close explorer and other processes, and hope you get a good time. Times can vary a bit especially in 1m where every milisecond counts so give it a few trys and keep the best!
RAM DRIVES:
I know Team Japan uses these but that's about it. Again, if anyone knows how well these work and how they work, PLEASE shoot me a PM/IM/email and I'll add it in. I'm quite curious my self as to how these work.
DOWNLOAD LINKS:
http://www.cpuid.com/ <- CPUZ and clockgen downloads
http://www.guru3d.com/ <- The number one source for ATI and Nvidia tools, programs, and drivers. They often have leaked beta drivers you can't get anywhere else.
http://www.futuremark.com/ <- Home of the 3dmark and PCmark series benchmarks as well as the ORB. Download links to all of their benchmarks can be found on their site.
http://superpi.radeonx.com/ <- SuperPi mod 1.4 /w anti-cheat and validation
http://valid.x86-secret.com/ <- CPUZ validation website
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/ <- sisoft sandra website. Commonly used memory benchmark program
http://www.lavalys.com/ < - everests homepage. Another common memory benchmark.
http://www.traumatic.de/pphlogger/dl...r_V0.6beta.zip <- latest version of A64 Tweaker (.60) a commonly used app to tweak A64 memory settings
That's all I have for now, I'll add more if I can think of it but that's about all I do. I said it about 10 times already but if you have anything to add please send it to me. I hope this helps some people out
I was posting this up at another site again and I saw our 3dmark tweaking guide here is old as hell so I decided to post it here.
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