FPS getting lower with overclocked PC...help

**ArcticFox** · November 14th, 2003, 08:44 PM

I figured since I had bought some the most OC'able parts around:

2500+/333 FSB
BFG Ti 4200 128mb 4x
Asus A7N8X-DX
Coolermaster X-Dream HSF

I would play around with overclocking. So the end result is I'm now packing a 3200+ and a 400Mhz FSB with stock voltages and a Ti 4200 at 275/535 or something like that (not at my PC right now). But I've been running this comp at these speeds for some time now with no overheating issues whatsoever, and my 3DMark scores skyrocketed initially but are now stable, and have now only been fluctuating with driver updates. Here's my problem - ignoring 3dMark scores, why the hell do I sense my FPS in games is getting lower than it was when I first OC'd it? I swear my framerate is lower than it should be, and I have a theory why: My power supply is an Enermax single-fan 300w, and I'm worried that I need to grab a 400w for extra headroom and more stable voltages.

I haven't really tried underclocking it from my settings now, except for one time I slapped my proc back to a 3000+, then a 2800+, and my GFX card was 300/545 but I want it to last as long as possible so I clocked it back down a little bit (lowering my 3DMark scores, but who cares).

Does anyone have a reason why problems arise in things like Halo, where I have most things cranked down and run at 800x600 with 50-60fps in some places but like 30 in others? Or that I was able to run CS at 1280x960 with 4x AA and 8x Anisotropic filtering even at my non-oc'd clocks, but then I fire it up one day and I have framerate troubles even though I'm running in a window? It's mostly back to normal now in terms of CS, but I still don't have that great of a feeling about it. I also think that Warcraft III isn't running as well as it was.

Please guy's...I need advice! I hate to have my freind let me use his 430w Antec to run tests, even though I know I'm getting one of those as soon as I have an extra $70. Does this seem like a power supply issue, and I should back off on my clocks until I get more juice?

**Omardeth** · November 14th, 2003, 09:46 PM

how about benching it to see . sense
is not a good way to figure anything out

**ArcticFox** · November 15th, 2003, 12:28 AM

Well I mentioned above that my 3DMark scores have not changed except for in the case of driver updates. But I'm just curious to see if anyone has seen this before, and if my suspicions on faulting my power supply's meager 300w would do it. Could starving a system of power reduce speed? My system has NEVER crashed, even with overclocking, I should add that in.

**Omardeth** · November 15th, 2003, 12:36 AM

i wouldn't think so . if you aren't getting anuff power it wouldn't slow fps it would crash your system . 300w doesn't mane anything if the rails are high . some 300w have 8a on the 12v rail some have 14 or 15 .
so because u have a 300w powersupply doesn't mean it isn't strong anuff to work you system .

**ArcticFox** · November 15th, 2003, 12:40 AM

Well I'm not aware of the headroom on each of the rails, but my voltages are within reason. So you don't think a power supply problem could cause this?

**beppodmime** · November 15th, 2003, 12:52 AM

No. If the PSU was in fact not up to snuff, things would just get weird (random reboots during heavy activity tasks like gaming or video editing). Your system wouldn't slow down, it just would be problematic.

The only thing that I can think of slowing down your framerate is the driver differences. But, as Omar said, using sense alone isn't necessarily enough to quantify a drop in framerate. Another thing that could be dropping your framerate, are background programs installed now that weren't there when you first set-up your system. And if your system seems to be hitting the page-file frequently, that ain't gonna help performance either.

**ArcticFox** · November 15th, 2003, 12:58 AM

Well it sounds like the PS problem has been ruled out, although I do plan on purchasing that Antec True430 for all the power-sucking things I wish I had. I guess since 3DMark is the only test I run, I'll buy a copy of UT2k3 or Quake3 and start throwing around benchmarks. Is their anybody that has experience this problem, and has facts/numbers to back it up?

**pinoy87** · November 17th, 2003, 10:29 PM

You did say that your 3dmark scores are about the same still and has only fluctuated because of drivers right?

Well then that means that your fps aren't getting lower. 3dmark runs actual game engines and looks at the fps and gets a score from that. So if your score is still about the same then your fps are still about the same.