Advanced Tweaking Performance

Looking at the performance delivered on the previous pages by the Golden Sample edition from Gainward we wanted to look at it from a different angle. Since we just got our hand on a new processor, the Core 2 Duo E6700 we wanted to see what this could change on the gaming performance. So, we will use this new processor by first using the default setting and gradually overclocking it to a higher level. This is quite easily done by just adjusting the bus speed but keeping the multiplier fixed. The default bus speed of the Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 is set at 266MHz, which we will increase to 300MHz and 333MHz. This means the front side bus will increase from 1066MHz to 1200MHz and end up at 1333MHz, just like the newer Core 2 Duo processors that Intel will be releasing in the near future. Isn't that an interesting view?

Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (0x/0x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	146.9 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	130.2 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	76.5 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (2x/4x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	136.3 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	108.5 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	41.1 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

By using Half-Life 2 we get a good impression on the gaming performance of the system, by keeping the Gainward BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample at the default clock settings for both the core and memory. The first results we are reporting are those of the Core 2 Duo E6700 at default 2.66GHz clock speed, to be able to set the reference. These reference results will then be used to compare when we start overclocking the processor. We are both looking at the standard setting within the games, as well as enabling anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering which add some more complexity to the rendering of gaming graphics. Of course the more interesting part is still to come when we overclock the central processing unit to the level, and doing so we will have a good view on the difference in performance and the impact of the strength of the processor linked to the GeForce 8600 GTS accelerator.

Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (0x/0x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	159.1 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	135.8 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	78.2 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 3.00GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (2x/4x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	142.5 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	111.2 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	41.5 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

In our first attempt we increased the bus speed to 300MHz which results in a front speed bus of 1200MHz and runs the Core 2 Duo E6700 at 3.00GHz. Doing so we get a quite nice 333MHz increase from the default clocked Core 2 Duo E6700 processor and can now look at the effect it has on the gaming performance and more specially with Half-Life 2. In general we see a boost in the frame rates reported which is becoming less significant when we start enabling anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering visual features. When we also increase the screen solution the results are also closer to each other and the overclocking of the Intel processor doesn't make that much difference anymore. To that extend it seems a bit odd as a faster CPU should be able to process data faster and via that way also make the graphics card run quicker and smoother. From that look, it seems we are maxing out the G84 core and memory bandwidth processing capabilities and a faster processor wouldn't make much sense anymore.

Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 3.33GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (0x/0x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	168.1 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	138.0 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	78.5 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Gaming Results - Core 2 Duo E6700 3.33GHz - 2GB RAM
BLISS 8600 GTS Golden Sample (2x/4x)		Game Score
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1280x1024	144.2 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	1600x1200	111.4 fps
725/2200MHz (Reference)	2560x1600	41.5 fps
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Our next attempt, also our final go is boosting the bus speed a bit further to 333MHz, resulting in a front side bus of 1333MHz which is also the route that Intel is taking with their upcoming refresh of their popular Core 2 Duo processors. The increase on the bus speed, leads to having a Core 2 Duo E6700 processor running at 3.33GHz, which is 666MHz boost related to the default clock speed. Once again we see that the gaming performance is in favor for this setting, resulting in higher frame rates reported. The game play is smoother and allows faster interaction. While enabling the extra visual features update on the performance is less visible and at the High Definition reduced to almost no increase. This does concludes our first thoughts and assumptions; the GeForce 8600 GTS is limiting our system. So, if you are planning to upgrade you need to take into account that a mid-range CPU is best matched with a mid-range GPU, and that is exactly where the GeForce 8600 series will perform best.