The lowere score is probably due to ATI's default settings. I don't remember the settings from the version you had installed previously so I can't tell the actual differences. There are a few setting that I find changed when I update my drivers. One major thing is V synch is set to application preference. I don't think 3d mark (either verson) actually enables it when benchmarking, but forcing it OFF in the control panel always helps me...
- AthlonXP 2600+ (Non Barton) - Stock clocking
- Kingston 2x512MB DDR PC2700
- Maxtor 120GB 8MB Cache, 7200RPM
- ATI Radeon 9500Pro 128MB (Got this baby running @ 9700 pro specs w/ no adtnl cooling)
- Catalyst Driver 4.4
- DirectX 9.0b
- Windows XP Professional
Scores:
3DMark2001SE: 14962
3DMark2003: 4325
Also, these benchmarks are pretty much used to simply show a gain or decline in performance after I've tweaked or oc'd somthing(s)