M11x 3dmark06 HDMI vs LCD Screen

I usually have my system hooked up to my hdtv when I am at home and I have been benchmarking the system with 3dmark06. My su4100 is overclocked through bios and I had been getting around 5910 consistently. I thought perhaps the fact that I haven't optimized the system was the reason I haven't been getting a higher score. (I actually like the aliensense login! ) I also noticed that my tv was always showing a 1080p signal regardless of the resolution I had the laptop set at. I figured perhaps the laptop was upscaling the picture for me automatically and that had to be affecting performance in some way. Sure enough, when running the benchmark after unplugging it from the tv, I popped right up to 6425! That is quite a bit of difference and thought I would share my findings with you!

 

The resolution 3DMark06 will run at is whatever is defined within the app itself. Doesn't matter what the native resolution is.

 

Hooked up to an external it's running at 1280x1024. On the M11x it's a smaller resolution. 1280x768 I believe. Also freeing up CPU cycles would help by disabling Alien Sense and other servcies

 

Yes, its running at the same resolution regardless of how its hooked up. However when its hooked up via hdmi its being upscaled to 1080p which takes some processing and I am getting a much lower score via hdmi vs lcd. The upscaling is definitely being done by the computer and not the hdtv.

 

"However when its hooked up via hdmi its being upscaled to 1080p"

Define "its"

 

The M11X with nvidia graphics enabled is automatically upscaling all output to 1080p when hooked up to my Sony Bravia HDTV via HDMI.

 

but it changes when 3DMark06 starts...right?

 

I just went back and double checked and you are right. It only upscales the desktop for some reason, but changes to the actual resolution programs request. So I guess the difference I saw in benchmarking was for a reason other than upscaling?! Sorry, I thought I was onto something...

 

It's for the reason explained by DR650SE above. You're running at two different resolutions depending upon which monitor is active.

 

nothing's being upscaled.

the reason you get a higher score on your m11x screen is because the m11x doesn't support 1280x1024. 1024 is too high for its maximum 768, so 3dmark06 shows 1280x768 as the maximum res.

conversely, when connected to an hdtv capable of supporting 1024, the resolution 1280x1024 (which is the default for most benchmarking) becomes available to you.

basically, you're getting a higher score because of the difference between 1280x1024 and 1280x768, not the difference between 1280x768 and 1900x1080.

when running 3dmark06, I'll guarantee the resolution (during actual benchmarks) isn't 1920x1080, unless you've manually told 3dmark06 to run at this resolution. of course, the resolution is 1920x1080 when you're on your desktop inbetween each benchmark, but this has no influence on your score.

 

My desktop resolution on my laptop is set at 1366x768 native resolution. I then plug in my hdmi cable and the desktop is displayed on my tv as well. The laptop is still displaying the same 1366x768 resolution, however my hdtv is showing it is receiving a 1080p signal. Thus the laptop is upscaling the 1366x768 resolution signal before sending it to my tv. I have verified that the picture on the tv is the same 720p image as the laptop, but blown up to 1080p.

As DR650SE first stated, the rest of your explanation is the real reason. Thanks for all of your feedback guys! I will be less hasty to jump to conclusions in the future!

 

For what it's worth, if you overclock the GPU, you can hit 6500+ 3DMark06 at the 3DMark06 default setting of 1280x1024 if your hooked up to an external since thats the only way you can run 1280x1024.

 

Thanks DR650SE! I think I am done benching this little beauty for the moment as I now have a better idea of what it can do. Playing Metro 2033 for two hours last night on 'normal' settings impressed me enough! There are computers with a much higher 3DMARK that struggle with this game.