OT: Need Help with Radeon 8500LE Settings (Long)

Hi Guys, I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following settings: Mobo: Epox 8Kha+ CPU: Athlon 1700XP RAM 512 Megs of DDR2100 OS Win 98SE Video Driver: Catalyst Driver 2.1 (Would changing to 2.3 really make that big a difference?) BIOS Settings: AGP: 4X AGP Aperture: 64 (Changing this to 128 locks up my system). AGP Driving Control: Auto AGP Fast Writes: DISABLED (Should this be enabled?) Within Rage3D Tweaker, here are my settings: D3D: Main settings: Custom (as follows) Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference Smoothvision: Application Preference - Performance Texture Preference: High Quality MipMap Detail Level: High Quality VSync: Always Off OpenGL: Main Settings: Balanced Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference Smoothvision: Disabled Texture Preference: Quality MipMap Detail Level: High Quality VSync Always Off I can't find where to set Anti-Aliasing On or Off, so I don't know what it is presently set at. Any suggestions for tweaking these settings to maximize my framerates would be greatly appreciated. The sims I run most are GPL (I know that the max rate there is 36), F12002, LFS Demo, NR2002, GP4, and F12001 Mods. And, yes, I turn everything that's running in the background off. I run everything at 1024x768 at 16 bit color. As always, thanks for your help, guys. Bert

Hi Guys, I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following settings: Mobo: Epox 8Kha+ CPU: Athlon 1700XP RAM 512 Megs of DDR2100 OS Win 98SE Video Driver: Catalyst Driver 2.1 (Would changing to 2.3 really make that big a difference?) BIOS Settings: AGP: 4X AGP Aperture: 64 (Changing this to 128 locks up my system). AGP Driving Control: Auto AGP Fast Writes: DISABLED (Should this be enabled?) Within Rage3D Tweaker, here are my settings: D3D: Main settings: Custom (as follows) Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference Smoothvision: Application Preference - Performance Texture Preference: High Quality MipMap Detail Level: High Quality VSync: Always Off OpenGL: Main Settings: Balanced Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference Smoothvision: Disabled Texture Preference: Quality MipMap Detail Level: High Quality VSync Always Off I can't find where to set Anti-Aliasing On or Off, so I don't know what it is presently set at. Any suggestions for tweaking these settings to maximize my framerates would be greatly appreciated. The sims I run most are GPL (I know that the max rate there is 36), F12002, LFS Demo, NR2002, GP4, and F12001 Mods. And, yes, I turn everything that's running in the background off. I run everything at 1024x768 at 16 bit color. As always, thanks for your help, guys. Bert

BRH wrote:

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> > Hi Guys, > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > settings:

8000 is about right I'd say, so it's a good score to aim for The only thing I can think of is, have you installed your VIA 4in1 drivers ? Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy http://www.theuspits.com "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" --Groucho Marx--

You can clash your card with a regular 8500 bios and whammo. instant clock/memory speed increase up to 275/275 and can be overclocked to 300/300 without any problems (at least for me). I think the LE version runs at 250/250. Also, check out rage3d.com and download their tweaker. You can change a lot of stuff with it that the control panel will not allow you to do. BRH wrote:

Quoted text (61 lines)

> Hi Guys, > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > settings: > > Mobo: Epox 8Kha+ > CPU: Athlon 1700XP > RAM 512 Megs of DDR2100 > OS Win 98SE > Video Driver: Catalyst Driver 2.1 (Would changing to 2.3 really make > that big a difference?) > BIOS Settings: AGP: 4X > AGP Aperture: 64 (Changing this to 128 locks up > my system). > AGP Driving Control: Auto > AGP Fast Writes: DISABLED (Should this be > enabled?) > > Within Rage3D Tweaker, here are my settings: > D3D: > Main settings: Custom (as follows) > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > Smoothvision: Application Preference - Performance > Texture Preference: High Quality > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > VSync: Always Off > > OpenGL: > Main Settings: Balanced > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > Smoothvision: Disabled > Texture Preference: Quality > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > VSync Always Off > > I can't find where to set Anti-Aliasing On or Off, so I don't know what > it is presently set at. > > Any suggestions for tweaking these settings to maximize my framerates > would be greatly appreciated. The sims I run most are GPL (I know that > the max rate there is 36), F12002, LFS Demo, NR2002, GP4, and F12001 > Mods. And, yes, I turn everything that's running in the background > off. I run everything at 1024x768 at 16 bit color. > > As always, thanks for your help, guys. > > Bert > > > > > >

Yes, I've installed the latest 4-in-1 drivers, and changed all settings within Rage 3D tweaker to "Performance". That only raised my score to 4188. I think I'll try re-installing DirectX 8.1 next, then perhaps look for newer video drivers. Goy Larsen wrote:

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> BRH wrote: > > > > Hi Guys, > > > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > > 8000 is about right I'd say, so it's a good score to aim for > > The only thing I can think of is, have you installed your VIA 4in1 > drivers ? > > Beers and cheers > (uncle) Goy > > http://www.theuspits.com > > "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" > --Groucho Marx--

Yes, I've installed the latest 4-in-1 drivers, and changed all settings within Rage 3D tweaker to "Performance". That only raised my score to 4188. I think I'll try re-installing DirectX 8.1 next, then perhaps look for newer video drivers.

Quoted text (25 lines)

> > Hi Guys, > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > 8000 is about right I'd say, so it's a good score to aim for > The only thing I can think of is, have you installed your VIA 4in1 > drivers ? > Beers and cheers > (uncle) Goy > http://www.theuspits.com > "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" > --Groucho Marx--

Did you fully uninstall the old drivers first. rms [email hidden]

DOH! It appears that I was running 3DMark2001SE in 32 bit color. After switching the settings to 16 bit color, and re-installing my drivers, and updating to the latest 4-in-1 VIA drivers, and adjusting all Rage3D Tweak settings to "performance", and enabling Fast AGP Writes in the BIOS, I get a score of 8409. So, I assume that was the problem and that my videocard is running up to spec. Thanks to all for your suggestions and help. Bert Goy Larsen wrote:

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> BRH wrote: > > > > Hi Guys, > > > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > > 8000 is about right I'd say, so it's a good score to aim for > > The only thing I can think of is, have you installed your VIA 4in1 > drivers ? > > Beers and cheers > (uncle) Goy > > http://www.theuspits.com > > "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" > --Groucho Marx--

DOH! It appears that I was running 3DMark2001SE in 32 bit color. After switching the settings to 16 bit color, and re-installing my drivers, and updating to the latest 4-in-1 VIA drivers, and adjusting all Rage3D Tweak settings to "performance", and enabling Fast AGP Writes in the BIOS, I get a score of 8409. So, I assume that was the problem and that my videocard is running up to spec. Thanks to all for your suggestions and help. Bert

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> > Hi Guys, > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > 8000 is about right I'd say, so it's a good score to aim for > The only thing I can think of is, have you installed your VIA 4in1 > drivers ? > Beers and cheers > (uncle) Goy > http://www.theuspits.com > "A man is only as old as the woman he feels........" > --Groucho Marx--

Ian, Thanks for the suggestions. I've already been using 3D Rage Tweaker. I discovered that the reason for my low 3DMark score is that Hardware T&L is disabled (in order to run the LFS Demo). I disabled it weeks ago, but can't remember how I did it, and I can't find the option to enable/disable it in the Tweaker anymore. Do you know how to quickly enable/disable Hardware T&L? If so, I can use some exact instructions. Thanks! Bert Ian Eichendorf wrote:

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> You can clash your card with a regular 8500 bios and whammo. instant > clock/memory speed increase up to 275/275 and can be overclocked to > 300/300 without any problems (at least for me). I think the LE version > runs at 250/250. Also, check out rage3d.com and download their tweaker. > You can change a lot of stuff with it that the control panel will not > allow you to do. > > BRH wrote: > > > Hi Guys, > > > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > > > > Mobo: Epox 8Kha+ > > CPU: Athlon 1700XP > > RAM 512 Megs of DDR2100 > > OS Win 98SE > > Video Driver: Catalyst Driver 2.1 (Would changing to 2.3 really make > > that big a difference?) > > BIOS Settings: AGP: 4X > > AGP Aperture: 64 (Changing this to 128 locks up > > my system). > > AGP Driving Control: Auto > > AGP Fast Writes: DISABLED (Should this be > > enabled?) > > > > Within Rage3D Tweaker, here are my settings: > > D3D: > > Main settings: Custom (as follows) > > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > > Smoothvision: Application Preference - Performance > > Texture Preference: High Quality > > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > > VSync: Always Off > > > > OpenGL: > > Main Settings: Balanced > > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > > Smoothvision: Disabled > > Texture Preference: Quality > > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > > VSync Always Off > > > > I can't find where to set Anti-Aliasing On or Off, so I don't know what > > it is presently set at. > > > > Any suggestions for tweaking these settings to maximize my framerates > > would be greatly appreciated. The sims I run most are GPL (I know that > > the max rate there is 36), F12002, LFS Demo, NR2002, GP4, and F12001 > > Mods. And, yes, I turn everything that's running in the background > > off. I run everything at 1024x768 at 16 bit color. > > > > As always, thanks for your help, guys. > > > > Bert > > > > > > > > > > > >

Ian, Thanks for the suggestions. I've already been using 3D Rage Tweaker. I discovered that the reason for my low 3DMark score is that Hardware T&L is disabled (in order to run the LFS Demo). I disabled it weeks ago, but can't remember how I did it, and I can't find the option to enable/disable it in the Tweaker anymore. Do you know how to quickly enable/disable Hardware T&L? If so, I can use some exact instructions. Thanks! Bert

Quoted text (65 lines)

> You can clash your card with a regular 8500 bios and whammo. instant > clock/memory speed increase up to 275/275 and can be overclocked to > 300/300 without any problems (at least for me). I think the LE version > runs at 250/250. Also, check out rage3d.com and download their tweaker. > You can change a lot of stuff with it that the control panel will not > allow you to do. > > Hi Guys, > > I know that this is off-topic, but many of you are very knowledgable at > > tweaking videocard settings to maximize framerates, so I thought that > > I'd ask this question here. I recently replaced my Voodoo5 with a > > Radeon 8500LE. Although I'm somewhat pleased with the increase in video > > performance, the improvement was not quite what I expected. This was > > confirmed today, when I ran 3D2001SE for the first time, and got a score > > of only 3981. From what I understand, this card should be scoring more > > in the 8000 range. So, I assume that my settings are way off, and I'm > > asking those with a Radeon for advice on what to change on the following > > settings: > > Mobo: Epox 8Kha+ > > CPU: Athlon 1700XP > > RAM 512 Megs of DDR2100 > > OS Win 98SE > > Video Driver: Catalyst Driver 2.1 (Would changing to 2.3 really make > > that big a difference?) > > BIOS Settings: AGP: 4X > > AGP Aperture: 64 (Changing this to 128 locks up > > my system). > > AGP Driving Control: Auto > > AGP Fast Writes: DISABLED (Should this be > > enabled?) > > Within Rage3D Tweaker, here are my settings: > > D3D: > > Main settings: Custom (as follows) > > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > > Smoothvision: Application Preference - Performance > > Texture Preference: High Quality > > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > > VSync: Always Off > > OpenGL: > > Main Settings: Balanced > > Anistropic Filtering: Application Preference > > Smoothvision: Disabled > > Texture Preference: Quality > > MipMap Detail Level: High Quality > > VSync Always Off > > I can't find where to set Anti-Aliasing On or Off, so I don't know what > > it is presently set at. > > Any suggestions for tweaking these settings to maximize my framerates > > would be greatly appreciated. The sims I run most are GPL (I know that > > the max rate there is 36), F12002, LFS Demo, NR2002, GP4, and F12001 > > Mods. And, yes, I turn everything that's running in the background > > off. I run everything at 1024x768 at 16 bit color. > > As always, thanks for your help, guys. > > Bert

BRH wrote:

Quoted text (11 lines)

> > Ian, > > Thanks for the suggestions. I've already been using 3D Rage Tweaker. I > discovered that the reason for my low 3DMark score is that Hardware T&L is > disabled (in order to run the LFS Demo). I disabled it weeks ago, but can't > remember how I did it, and I can't find the option to enable/disable it in the > Tweaker anymore. > > Do you know how to quickly enable/disable Hardware T&L? If so, I can use some > exact instructions.

In 3D Tweaker, it's under DirectX settings, about 2/3's down, it's called TCL Hardware Beers and cheers (uncle) Goy "The Pits" http://www.theuspits.com/ "A man is only as old as the woman he feels" --Groucho Marx--