Upgraded GW P6831FX Benchmark scores

Hey all, first post! I am a proud owner of a Gateway P-6831FX (for $1250 from BB, the DAY before it jumped to $1700 =P). I mentioned to one of my buddies I was shopping for a new laptop with my tax return, and he mentioned that one. Went to BB, fiddled with it for about half an hour, and bought it on the spot.

Now, I'm a computer technician by trade (Firedog) and I've been using PC's for over 20 years now, so I know my way around a system. This has to be THE best value for the money as far as an affordable (as in not $3000+) gaming laptop goes.

Anyway, I got it home, tuned it up (optimizing startup, processes, power profile, UAC, unloading bloatware, etc) and immediately ran WEI and 3DMark06. Got 4.7, 4.5, 5.9, 5.8, 5.2 and 6961 stock hardware/drivers. I then loaded Forceware 169.09 drivers and got 7086. From there I used nTune to overclock the 8800GTS stock 500/799 frequencies to 620/920 and got ~7300.

Now I've upgraded the stock T5450 CPU to the T7500. It's a jump from 1.66GHz to 2.2GHz, and 667MHz FSB to 800MHz, along with an increase from 2MB to 4MB of L2 cache. I then benched it with stock GPU settings and got 5.1, 4.7, 5.9, 5.8, 5.2 and 8115. Overclocked 620/920 got 9009.

So overall an increase in WEI of .4 CPU, .2 RAM, and non-overclocked-GPU 3DMark increase of ~1030

Today I will be upgrading to 4GB of DDR2 6400 (as crucial.com's memory tool says this system can take 6400), and I will post scores (note I am still running x86 32-bit Vista, and I know it won't recognize all 4GB). Eventually I will also be upgrading to a T9300 (or mobile quad whenever it launches, if this mobo supports it), and 2x 7200 RPM HDD's RAID-0. Also still trying to figure out what to install in the extra card slot (where the wireless is installed, there's 2 slots, one empty).

 

I've installed the OCZ 4GB DDR2-6400 800MHz Dual-Channel kit. Bios recognizes full 4GB, but Windows does indeed only see 3GB. CPU-Z registers all 4GB of RAM, and that they're capable of going to 800MHz, but were only running at 667MHz.

However, with Windows only seeing 3GB at the original 667MHz bus speed, you'd think there'd be no change in scores, right? Well, my RAM score in WEI went up to 4.8 (increase of .1), and my 3DMark06 score went up to 9050 (from 9009), so it is indeed a fraction faster.

So without a BIOS flash or tweak of some sort, the P-6831FX is capped at 667MHz RAM bus.

 

How much of an increase do you actually see in game performance, i know that the 3dmark score went up. Just curious if its that important to change out the cpu.

 

Well, I can say for sure Crysis runs better. Before the upgrade and tweaks, the "Optimal System Settings" button set everything to medium, now it sets everything to high! Runs pretty smooth from what I can tell (anyone know how to show fps?), even during intense fights or running through dense jungle.

Going to try CoD4 in a bit, will post when done.

 

Every gamer needs FRAPS! http://www.fraps.com/

 

RivaTuner has the option to show framerates too. Might want to check that out, as this also helps monitor your temperatures rather than just Fraps giving you a FPS readout.

 

Maybe you should read the FRAPS site , it does more than just post FPS.

 

Alright, I'm sorry about making that useless post. It's just that, for my use, Fraps isn't the best option. I usually have to use Teamspeak, and I've heard that Fraps sometimes messes up with your mic. Also, I never need record replays, or take screenshots via an application. Again, sorry for the biased and useless post.

 

I prefer to run built in benchmarks when available. Just one less piece of software to install and however small processing time you may have to sacrifice to benchmark in the background.

Still trying to get !##$@!!Crysis to bench under Vista. I'll have to go back and check the file paths as suggested.

 

Ok, was going to use FRAPS before I noticed the built-in benchmarks that Crysis comes with (in the Crysis/bin32 folder, CPU, CPU 2, and GPU). CPU and CPU 2 gave me averages of around 14FPS with all settings on high at 1280x800. GPU benchmark gave around 23FPS. Also after playing for about half an hour, GPU temp was around 60C, so not bad at all.

CoD4 maxed out at 1440x900, 4x AA and max AF, it rarely dropped below 50fps

This was all after upgrading and overclocking, don't feel like taking it apart again right now for the original benchmark, but I most likely will soon.

Now, on to RAID-0 SSD

Also, anyone know if these laptops are going to be compatible with the mobile quads when they launch?

 

Oh fine! Yours benches under Vista as well?

I'm outa here to find out why it can't find file after the GPU bench runs. I must have a path name problem then, worked fine under XP.

 

The benches RUN fine, but when I go to end them, it locks when I hit ESC. I have to ALT+TAB out and close the window manually, but the command-line benchmark still returns the results.

 

Finally, it wasn't the pathnames, they were right. UAC strikes again!

I like this over FRAPS as it gives you low, average and Max over a closed course. You can set a course with fraps but people tend to point somewhere and snapshot the screen, hard to log that way!

This is bone stock with auto settings on medium, blur custom, 1440X900. I will use these settings as a base line to check new T9300 or other mods.

==============================================================
TimeDemo Play Started , (Total Frames: 2000, Recorded Time: 111.86s)
!TimeDemo Run 0 Finished.
Play Time: 66.51s, Average FPS: 30.07
Min FPS: 17.30 at frame 1940, Max FPS: 40.91 at frame 74
Average Tri/Sec: 25425868, Tri/Frame: 845573
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.08
!TimeDemo Run 1 Finished.
Play Time: 68.81s, Average FPS: 29.06
Min FPS: 17.30 at frame 1940, Max FPS: 52.42 at frame 67
Average Tri/Sec: 24815264, Tri/Frame: 853792
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.07
!TimeDemo Run 2 Finished.
Play Time: 68.96s, Average FPS: 29.00
Min FPS: 17.30 at frame 1940, Max FPS: 52.42 at frame 67
Average Tri/Sec: 24774954, Tri/Frame: 854205
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.07
!TimeDemo Run 3 Finished.
Play Time: 69.11s, Average FPS: 28.94
Min FPS: 17.30 at frame 1940, Max FPS: 52.42 at frame 67
Average Tri/Sec: 24712958, Tri/Frame: 854018
Recorded/Played Tris ratio: 1.07
TimeDemo Play Ended, (4 Runs Performed)
==============================================================

 

I think it auto quits after the four pre-set runs? I'll look at it later.

 

Bummer about the 667.

The reason your RAM WEI score is higher is the RAM is rated for 800 MHz, in a 667 MHz it will run 667 MHz but with lower latencies - that is a good thing.

 

Oh, so it does! CPU-Z reports that the CAS latency dropped from 5 to 4, so now my RAM is running 4-5-5-13 instead of the stock 5-5-5-15. So yeah, now I can see where the improvement came from.

What do you guys think about adding something like a 4GB express card for ReadyBoost? Think it would make any difference at all?

 

Tried out my 8GB Sony USB drive for ReadyBoost. RB would only allow 4GB to be used. Anyway, ran Crysis GPU benchmark at medium spec 1280x800.

23.52 min FPS
36.71 avg FPS
54.76 max FPS

No change in 3dMark06.

 

Updated T9300 Crysis benchmarks here;

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=218971

 

Crysis is such a mediocre game. Its not worth the trouble.

I played through Orange box with 16x AA and 16x AF until E2 which I need to dial back to 8x on AA and AF. TF2 is awesome too.

 

Yeah, Orange Box is incredible, the Half-Life series is one of the best of all video-game history. Ever since I was in the closed beta for Half-Life 1, I was hooked, I knew it would revolutionize the industry. Anyways, yeah I also run OB maxed out with 16xAA and 16xAF, and with my upgrades/tweaks/OC I have yet to see it drop below 60fps, every game of the OB collection.

Bought Bioshock today, going to try it in a bit, see if there's any built-in benchmarks (will FRAPS/display fps somehow if not), and I'll post later on with results. I also want to check out UT3 on this thing, along with Supreme Commander. Eh, maybe next paycheck...

Any word yet on FX mobile quad support, or thoughts on adding an ExpressCard for ReadyBoost? (...or would a high-speed SD/MMC/MS/XD memory card be faster?)

 

Agree, but this thing hurt my old 7900GS which had NO problems with Orange Box I enjoyed Far Cry much better.

 

Still running great, just recently upgraded to 174.31 nVidia drivers. Runs about equal to 169.09 from what I can see so far, thing is these drivers don't mix right with nTune, so I can't overclock, which means I'm stuck at the stock 500/800, instead of my OC of ~600-620/900-920. Will run 3dMark soon and post results.

Also, ANY opinions at all on adding an ExpressCard or memory card for ReadyBoost, and whether it would make any difference at all? Or how about any updates on mobile quad-core? (and yes I already know about the Sager with the desktop quad-core. I'm interested in true mobile quad, i.e.: Centrino Quad)

 

oohhh SSD nice


the will not be compatible with the mobile quads because they apparently have a different pin layout or something. Wait and see for more official coformation though casue this may be incorrect.

 

I'm running an 8 GB Lexar ExpressCard SSD in my machine. Using half of it for ReadyBoost. The machine seems a little quicker, but I do not have numbers to back that up...strictly based on my opinion.

One thing has happened that I want to pass along. Twice now, the machine has "lost" the SSD. I eject and re-insert, and Vista tells me there is an error with the card. I have ended up reformatting and starting over again with the SSD. Talked to Lexar about it last night and they told me the problem was that I had an SD card plugged in at the same time. I took the SD card out and I'm trying it that way. But still, it's a little annoying. What am I supposed to do when I want to use the SD?

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