Performance - 3D Mark 2001 SE Pro

3D Mark 2001 SESo let's see how bandwidth related to game performance, after all this site is targeted at you, the gamer. And although the difference is not something to write home about it does influence gaming somewhat. The results below where done with a GeForce4 Ti 4600. The DDR frequency looks a bit odd, but we tested it this way on purpose as changing the FSB to other values to get an exact 266/333/400 frequency would influence the benchmark results.

The Second Edition is a major enhancement to its 3DMark® benchmark solution, originally launched in 1998. Combining DirectX 8.1 support with the latest in 3D graphics, 3DMark2001 SE objectively measures how effectively a PC runs 3D graphics applications and provides users with an online results comparison tool that allows them to make informed hardware assessments and upgrade decisions

Using Remedy Entertainment's acclaimed MAX-FX Technology, 3DMark2001 demonstrates how to maximize your 3D gaming performance by using real-world gaming technology to test your system's true game performance abilities.

To be able to run the system at DDR400 we had to overclock the Front Side Bus towards 150 MHz, combined with the memory multipliers (2, 2.5 and 2.66) in the BIOS we are able to then set DDR400. That's why you see 400, 375 and 300 MHz instead of preferred settings like 266/333/400. The mainboard simply did not allow that.

150x2= 300 MHz DDR
150x2.5= 375 MHz DDR
150x2.67= 400 MHz DDR

So, does the memory frequency effect gaming performance ? Of course, more bandwidth always is important for overall performance. As you can notice yourself, the difference in MHz is good for a significant change in the end score on this system.

Remember one important aspect here. The Processor frequency never changed at all, the differences and changes in the benchmark scores are 100% based on memory frequency and their changes. The 100 MHz shift will get your another 1000 points clear and simple.