How to improve 3D performance with 23.xx+ driver

[Hans]

Many users would complain that their XP-333 sux @ 3D performance, especially 3D Mark2001 with the new Nvidia driver 23.xx+. This is due to a bug between Ali and Nvidia. After the installation of the driver, the AGP texture function is disabled regardless of the setting in BIOS. This will reduce the 3D performance by quite a bit, especially with newer games (memory demand).

Here is a little fix for the XP-333 users. (Most of u would know this :) ).

[Hans]

Open up 3DMark2001 (SE) and go to "System Info" then "Display Devices". Highlight your GFX card. On the right hand side, you should notice 3 values, "Total local video memory", "Total local texture memory", and "Total AGP memory".

When Ali AGP function is disabled, you should see the local texture memory != total local vidoe memory. Also, the total AGP memory is 0 MB.

[Hans]

Go and download Riva Tuner from here. (http://www.nvmax.com/downloads/)

Do the usual install, etc. Open up Riva Tuner and go to "Power User" tab. You need to open up a database that matches your OS and Det version. Riva Tuner's latest database has support for upto 28.32 version. But don't worry, it will work with 29.42 driver.

After the databased had been opened, find a string called "EnableALiAGP" under NVIDIA Detonator (driver version) (OS) System. Give it a value of 1. This will enable ALiAGP. You need to restart the PC for the change to take effect.

[Hans]

Fire up 3DMark 2001 again and check your AGP memory. It should be within +/- 1 of your AGP Aperture Size (in BIOS). The local video memory should equal to local texture memory.

[Hans]

Try out benchmarks at your will. Enjoy the boost in performance. :) :)

Here is a 3DMark2001 Comparison for before and after case. The difference is 32%.

Before: http://service.madonion.com/compare?2k1=3879317

After: http://service.madonion.com/compare?2k1=3935259

[Stove]

BRILLIANT Post Hans,
Unfortunately its not 100% reliable: some boards won't let the AGP work no matter what. I have the ver1 XP333, and every time I tried your fix I got blackscreen: no video in windows at all. Had to load Windows as "last sucessful" settings and then to a system restore point that worked. My system was XP333 v1, Athlon1200 (@1400), GeForce 2 MX200 32meg.
I fixed it by throwing away the GeForce and installing an ATI Radeon 8500LE :)

[Introvert]

THANK YOU!

i was here browsing for a new mobo. i think this will solve my problem with my iwill ka266+ as thats the exact problem it has.

heres hoping.... anyway i need a new mobo but this will get me fragging in the meantime

[must kill Dell adguy]

hey that's great advice man.....i pulled out my old kd266 out of under my bed and started on doing what's said above and it works fine.....pity the kd266 can't REALLY support XP chips (had to use dad's duron 850 chip) but i managed to increase my 3d marks dramatically!!! good stuff man!!!

[BlackFox]

Cheers for the advice there it was a good increase in the fps.

it did not work the first time but then after downloading new drivers off the iwill site got a very nice increase.

anyway if you can not get this to work go and download the new driver 1.07 for your IWILL motherboard.

[Stove]

they're up to 1.09 now aren't they? Anyways: I found the IDE drivers on the 107's and 109s are WAY fast, but too bloody buggy to be bothered with. The fact that it reports all the devices on your IDE as "SCSI" tends to stuff up burner software for starters.
But thats just me :)

[BlackFox]

yeah sorry you are right it is 1.09 my mistake