7900GS on Inspiron 1705: poor performance

re.

I have finally received my lappy!

Inspiron 9400
Core 2 Duo 7400 2.16Ghz
2GB 533Mhz RAM
100GB 7200rpm HDD.
7900GS 256MB video

Reformatted it, installed XP PRO/SP2 and decided to run 3DMark06 on my stock video card.

With 1280x1024, the first test started with 20FPS and dropped to 7-8, then to 2. The second test averaged 7-8FPS and dropped to 0. It was too unbearable and I turned it off.

Changed stock drivers to XTreme-G MobileForce 91.47-v2.50e, ran the test and the problem did not go away.

I then went ahead and overclocked it to 575/1100. Perfomance in 3DMark06 improved but just slightly. Started with 30FPS, then dropped again to 7-8. This time, however, I decided to wasit until the end and got a score of 2262. SM2.0 score of 649; HDR of 1340; and CPU of 1779.

I then downclocked it again. At idle and without fans running, GPU is at 74c (without the 8c offset). Once I turn the fan on, I can bring it down much lower.

What's happening? What am I doing incorrectly? Or is there a problem with the card/installation (factory install).

Thanks!

 

try the dual core fix that it posted on this website. also, try 3dMark05 and post the results. 3dMark06 is really nasty to current gen cards, so that doesn't exactly surprise me.

also, defrag the hard drive and run this test while on AC power and with power setttings to "Always On". that'll prevent your laptop from entering into any power-saving modes.

don't forget that it is JUST a benchmark. if you can play the games you want, with the quality you want (should be able to almost max everything out on anything), and the FPS you need...its fine.

just don't use the Dell drivers unless you have to.

 

Your card is downclocking itself because you are burning it out. My card Idles at 44 degrees C with a fan on slow in my 60 degree room with a cooling pad. And mine is overclocked! Try running 3dmark again with both your fans on high. If it still gives a crappy score then it is possible that your cooling system was poorly put together in which case you should call Dell and tell them to fix it or give you a new laptop. Or, if you dont care about warranty, you can AS5 your laptop up. By the way, I would not go voltmodding your video card because your power supply is probably only 90w and is about to thermally shut down with the merom and 2gigs of ram to keep happy. Get a 130watt one if you wanna do that.

 

The dell drivers are some of the most stable out there for the 7900gs and are just fine (although others are definately better for gaming). I would recommend troublshooting from there. Yes, 2300 is too low for the 7900gs. You should be getting around 4000 or a little less. My hottest temp ever was 82 degees so you are too hot!

 

no, 74 C is a fine temp for gaming, downclocking occurs at 95+

 

Tangent, he was idling at 82, not gaming at 82, that is a problem. Was that without the overclock? Log your temps all the way through your benchmarks and tell us what you get!

 

thanks to everyone who answered.

derelict: I forgot that I added +8C for GPU in I8kfan. so it is actually 72-74. should I instead deduct 8C?

with two fans on full blast, nothing running in the background, and 1280x800 resolution, I got a score of 4831. CPU: 1825; SM2: 1944; HDR: 1961. that's with 470/1150. GPU is at 44C.

when I changed resolution to 1280x1024, the score went down to 3587 (SM2: 1049; HDR: 1731; CPU: 1756). Fans were off and the temperature went from 54 to 74.

also, it's pretty hot in my room so it might somehow contribute to the overall temperature of the system.

would you guys suggest that I call Dell or this is something wrong with my software setup?

 

Everything sounds normal now. Be careful with your temperatures. I get a 3dmark06 score that is a little less than that(i think, i already packed up my logbook for going back to school!). Looks like you are OK. Enjoy your e1705! They are really nice machines.

 

derelict, thanks!

you are getting lower scores probably because you have a t2400 VS t7400; the latter adds 200 or so points to the overall score.

i'll run some more tests but it's weird that people are getting much higher scores and do not report such temperatures.

cheers and good luck @ school

 

dude, 3dmark06 makes any card choke.

 

Decided to reinstall Windows. My last installation was some image that I picked up that had all hotfixes/etc. integrated up until the end of August.

After the clean install, 91.47 Mobileforce drivers, and nothing running in the background, I get a score of 4399 (SM2: 1759; HDR: 1731; CPU: 1846) on 1280x1024.

Thanks for pointing out about 3DMarks' choking power; this is the first time I am using it and was expecting to get 50-70FPS on every test ))

Temperature, though, is still an issue (61C idle with +8C offset in I8kfan. Could be the surface of my table or the overall room temperature; however, CPU is 37 idle and other indicators are within reasonable limits as well. *sigh*

 

Wow those temps seem high my 7900gs is overclocked slightly 420/1100 and idles 48-49c load 61-62c.

 

I got 6233 mark on 3dmark05 and I'm downloading 06 now. Is this a good score for my stock 7900GS?

 

using what resolution in 3DMark05?

 

I have no idea, default i guess

 

It looks like a normal stock score. 3DMark05's default resolution is XGA.

 

i'm downloading 3dmark06 as we speak. will have the scores up tommorow

 

I got 8030 in 3DMark05 with a slighly overclocked card. Mind you, I have a T7400 and that adds some hundred points.