Gecube X800Pro journey to 13k!

[eva2000]

I received my RMA replacement Gecube X800Pro (original card had DOA fan on the heatsink) from Below-0.net in Australia the other day

The cards' pics are uploaded here. The pics are the original card, but it's virtually the same as the RMA replacement, only difference is the last 4 digits of the serial number and that the replacement card's fan works



System
P4 2.8C SL6Z5 3343A746 March 18, 2003
Abit AI7 17 bios
2x 256MB Kingston HyperX KHX3200K2/512 BH-5
80GB WD 800JB
550W Antec TrueControl PSU

256MB Gecube X800Pro
Official Cat 4.6 drivers from old 9800PRO install
WinXP PRO SP1 latest updates

Benchmarks

All stock - cpu stock, ram stock speed, card stock speed

2.8C @200fsb
ram @ 200mhz 2-2-2-6

3dmark2003 v340 = 9905



3dmark2001 = 19782



ignore the cpuz reports 1:1 divider as 5:4 when AI7 enables PAT via GAT.

Aquamark3 = 53,663



UT2004 Demo
Using Benchemall 30day trial I installed and ran UT2004 Demo and ran the default 3 map benchmark.

Still 2.8C @ 200fsb stock and X800PRO@475/450 stock

@1024x768
Min details: 181.66 fps botmatch (dm-rankin: 285.46 fps, as-convoy: 86.31 fps, br-colossus: 173.21 fps )
Max details: 126.23 fps botmatch (dm-rankin: 185.29 fps, as-convoy: 72.15 fps, br-colossus: 121.25 fps )

ATI Control Panel Overdrive Temp @ idle



1. For some reason when i first boot into windows, ATI Tool reports my X800Pro's core/mem clocks @ 472/445. But when i hit default button, they are corrected to 474.75/450 ?? Overdrive ain't enabled so shouldn't my core always be @ 475mhz ?

2. in 3Dmark2003 cpu test 1 and test 2, the image quality or edges seem to be jaggedy or kind of blurred on the edges compared to the rest of the tests in 3Dmark2003 ?? I'm using Samsung 152T LCD monitor with Analogue connection to my Aten CS-84A 4port kvm switch. Is this a catalyst 4.6 bug ?

[eva2000]

Overclocked

Here's the card overclocked @ 550/604 with 2.8C still at 200fsb stock speeds

3dmark2003 = 11,511
edit managed to tweak a bit more @ 558/600 = 11,551 haven't even oc'd the cpu yet!



3dmark2001 = 20,839



---------------------------------------------------------
Now time to overclock the cpu and ram while keeping the X800Pro @ stock speeds of 475/450 to see what I can get

3dmark2003 = 10,585



3dmark2001 = 24,392



Last but not least is overclocking both cpu/ram and X800Pro

First score with oc'd cpu/ram + video card and already hit first page of the Orb in 13th ranked spot

2.8C @ 280fsb
5:4
2x 256MB KHX3200K2/512 BH-5 @ 224mhz 2-2-2-6

Gecube X800Pro @ 550/600
3dmark2003 = 12,259

ranked #13 for WHQL approved driver users



3dmark2001 = 25,593



all i need to do is

1. fresh winxp install
2. cat 4.7 beta drivers
3. up the GPU core from 550 to 600

Update:
Just removed cat 4.6 official drivers and installed cat 4.7 betas - no wonder everyone is using them you get around 500+ extra pts in 3dmark2003!

1st run Gecube X800Pro @ 557/604 = 12,983

broke 13k yay

2nd run Gecube X800Pro @ 560/604 = 13,014



---------------------------------------------------------
Lazy way to get an idea of what the card does = ATI Tool 0.0.20

Find Max Core Speed with ATI Tool Temp in System Tray displaying

Core Temp idle = 36C
Heat Up
Phase 1 = 51C
Phase 2 = 55C
Phase 3 = 57C
Phase 4 = 61C
Phase 5 = 64C ended up artifact free = 576mhz on the Core

I know 3dmark can go higher without artifacts so at least that's a starting point.

Find Max Mem Speed = not sure if I should try given the ATI Tool 0.0.20 bug not being able to properly detect max mem clock so ATI Tool clocks mem way beyond what it can handle and burning out the ram. ATI Tool 0.0.21 lists the fix for this bug though.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probing temps under load
Got a nice infra-read thermometer from coolpc.com.au which I originally got for measuring the back heater of my Mach2 prommy so decided to probe around the X800Pro while it's loop 3dmark2001

The hottest part of the copper heatsink is the back end part facing towards the back of the video card = 37-38C under load. While the mid section of the heatsink was still only 32-34C under load. Meanwhile ATI Tool system tray temp is reporting 57-62C once i stop looping.

The hottest ram chips seem to be
1. the back side top 2 ram chips ~36-38C under load
2. the front side back 2 ram chips ~36-39C under load

While
1. the backside back 2 ram chips ~33-36C under load
2. the front side top 2 ram chips ~34-36C under load

Overclocked @ 550/600 the temps above you can add 4-6C to all measured spots on the card while under 3dmark2003 Nature test looping for 30 mins. The hottest part of the copper heatsink is still the back end part of the heatsink facing towards the back of video card. Hottest point on the PCB seems to be the clear PCB space between the front side back 2 ram chips measuring 43-45C

While @ 550/600 looping 3dmark2003 test 1-4 and stopping it after 10 loops each, ATI TOOL in systrem tray reports 62-64C

Would be nice if ATI TOOL, like MBM5 had a function to log to txt file at user defined intervals the GPU temps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Loan_abx]

NIcely done

[daos]

man thats amazing. my card cannot even get past 515, and it runs at 75c at that clock.

[RubiX³]

Originally Posted by Loan

NIcely done

[eva2000]

thanks guys... here's my latest full run.. managed to increase my score too at same clocks heh

Gecube X800Pro @ 564/605 = 13,087

[Ghostrider]

Originally Posted by eva2000

The hottest part of the copper heatsink is the back end part facing towards the back of the video card = 37-38C under load. While the mid section of the heatsink was still only 32-34C under load. Meanwhile ATI Tool system tray temp is reporting 57-62C once i stop looping.

Well, the temp inside the chip and the temp on the heatsink have to be different.

Well done! Nice scores.

[enroscado]

Amazing scores and... Amazing POST!!

[sammy2066]

very cool ....

[JoeBar]

Nice scores eva! Congrats!

[eva2000]

thank guys

thought i'd change my ram from 2x 256MB BH-5 to 2x 512MB BH-5 and do a 2.8C @ 250fsb 1:1 benchie to see how I compare (430mhz less cpu power than my 13,087 full run)

2.8C @ 3.5ghz
Gecube X800Pro @ 567/604 = 12,939

[Ghostrider]

Originally Posted by eva2000

thank guys

thought i'd change my ram from 2x 256MB BH-5 to 2x 512MB BH-5 and do a 2.8C @ 250fsb 1:1 benchie to see how I compare (430mhz less cpu power than my 13,087 full run)

2.8C @ 3.5ghz
Gecube X800Pro @ 567/604 = 12,939

I'd take the 1GB, 2.8C @250fsb 1:1 config. The gig of ram will give you an higher overall system performance compared to the higher clocked 512MB. And a 100points lower score isn't that bad But if you wanna try to get more 3Dmarks you will have to keep the old config. So what are you gonna chose: Overall system performance or 3Dmark-scores? :wave2:

[FightingChance]

How high are these scores as compared to an XT?

[Sierra_abx]

Originally Posted by eva2000

thought i'd change my ram from 2x 256MB BH-5 to 2x 512MB BH-5 and do a 2.8C @ 250fsb 1:1 benchie to see how I compare (430mhz less cpu power than my 13,087 full run)

Nice score, eva. You have BH-5 that can do 250FSB at 1:1?? How much Vdimm?

[Ghostrider]

Originally Posted by FightingChance

How high are these scores as compared to an XT?

Take a look at this thread (the posting that is shown and some below):
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showth...685#post792464

But don't wonder about their scores - their computers are not OCed and are running at stock speeds. Their cards as well.