3D Mark Disappointment. Can I improve?

[TitusCicero]

I scored aprox 10000 with 3DMark06 and it said in comparison of other like systems that scored 11000. Considering the specs of my computer do you guys it is a good score or if it should by better?

So I am also wondering if anyone has suggestions on how I can speed the machine up without OC'ing it?

Here is the specs: (I try to leave just useful information from msinfo and CPUz)
General:
Computer specs:
1 Patriot Viper 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS24G8500ELK - Retail
1 GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
1 XFX PVT88PYDD4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

THe Details:

OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Ultimate
Version 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Model P35C-DS3R
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz, 2400 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. F4, 9/7/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.0.6001.18000"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 4.00 GB
Available Physical Memory 0.99 GB
Total Virtual Memory 8.21 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.12 GB
Page File Space 4.29 GB

ATA IDE Drives :(

Name NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0611&SUBSYS_23301682&REV_A2\4&39BD1753&0&0008
Adapter Type GeForce 8800 GT, NVIDIA compatible
Adapter Description NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
Adapter RAM 512.00 MB (536,870,912 bytes)
Installed Drivers nvd3dum,nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2umx.dll
Driver Version 7.15.11.6932
INF File oem13.inf (nv_NV3x section)
Color Planes Not Available
Color Table Entries 4294967296
Resolution 1280 x 1024 x 85 hertz
Bits/Pixel 32
Memory Address 0xF6000000-0xF6FFFFFF
Memory Address 0xE0000000-0xEFFFFFFF
Memory Address 0xF4000000-0xF7FFFFFF
I/O Port 0x0000A000-0x0000AFFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 16
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\nvlddmkm.sys (7.15.11.6932, 9.71 MB (10,186,016 bytes), 4/4/2008 12:33 AM)

CPUz:
Chipset
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel P35/G33/G31 rev. A2
Southbridge Intel 82801IR (ICH9R) rev. 02
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 4096 MBytes
Channels Dual (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency 533.4 MHz (1:2)
CAS# 5.0
RAS# to CAS# 7
RAS# Precharge 7
Cycle Time (tRAS) 16
Command Rate 2T

Memory SPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM #1

General
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) PDP Systems (7F7F7F7F7F020000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number PVS24G8500ELK

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200 266 400
CAS# 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 4 5
RAS# Precharge 3 4 5
TRAS 6 8 12
TRC 11 14 21

EPP profile 1 (full)
Voltage level 2.300 Volts
Address Command Rate 2T
Cycle time 1.875 ns (533.3 MHz)
tCL 5.0 clocks
tRCD 5 clocks (9.25 ns)
tRP 5 clocks (9.25 ns)
tRAS 15 clocks (28.00 ns)
tRC 30 clocks (55.00 ns)
tWR 8 clocks (15.00 ns)


DIMM #2

General
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) PDP Systems (7F7F7F7F7F020000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number PVS24G8500ELK

Attributes
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 200 266 400
CAS# 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 4 5
RAS# Precharge 3 4 5
TRAS 6 8 12
TRC 11 14 21

EPP profile 1 (full)
Voltage level 2.300 Volts
Address Command Rate 2T
Cycle time 1.875 ns (533.3 MHz)
tCL 5.0 clocks
tRCD 5 clocks (9.25 ns)
tRP 5 clocks (9.25 ns)
tRAS 15 clocks (28.00 ns)
tRC 30 clocks (55.00 ns)
tWR 8 clocks (15.00 ns)


Thanks for any help.

[randomness]

does it really matter what score u get in 3dmark06??? its the real world games that u play which count the most!

OMGOSH, i got 10000 marks less than a computer with a 5GHZ core 2 extreme with 3 8800GT in tri-sli. my computer must be so crap...

i get lyk 900 3dmarks less...and my system has same components if not better,i think my comp is underperforming.

it could be random processes interfering in your benchmark.
it ould be settins such as AA anf AF which are switched on without u knowing. this is relevent especially in un-registered versions of 3dmark06

[TitusCicero]

Originally Posted by randomness

does it really matter what score u get in 3dmark06??? its the real world games that u play which count the most!

OMGOSH, i got 10000 marks less than a computer with a 5GHZ core 2 extreme with 3 8800GT in tri-sli. my computer must be so crap...

i get lyk 900 3dmarks less...and my system has same components if not better,i think my comp is underperforming.

it could be random processes interfering in your benchmark.
it ould be settins such as AA anf AF which are switched on without u knowing. this is relevent especially in un-registered versions of 3dmark06

lol...can you blame me? I just spent around $900usd upgrading my machine and would like to know why it's performing 1000 points less on a 3dbenchmark in comparison to like machines. Wow, just call me a consumer!

The board I chose scored top notch on TomHardware.com for best ddr3 board (for when I want to upgrade) and all the other hardware is good too.

You do have a point. I am not sure how relevant 3DMark is to real world applications. I know for a fact it bombed on my CPU cuz it didn't use all 4...but neither do the games for the most part. For the most part I am satisfied with the game performance, which is not to say that it couldn't be better. Which benchmarks do you suggest?

I didn't know the free 3dmark performed differently than the retail version? However if AA was turned on it would compare it to like tests with like machines when I checked the stats, right? So even if it was turned on I would still be wondering why my system scored less.

Someone on another board mentioned the ATA IDE drives I am using and suggested to get rid of the swap file since I have ample RAM. I just couldn't bring myself to upgrade to SATA yet. I got rid of the swapfile and will try out the performance soon when I get home. I am skeptical though if it will effect the 3DMark score.

[randomness]

I still dont think removing the swap file will be a good idea, since if you run out of RAM, which i know u definetly will, ur comp will crash due to insufficient ram. Unless u ahve around 8GB or >6GB then the swap file can be removed. but to be on the safe side leave it as it is, u CAN reduce the size of it to free up spce but thats about it.

Remember, other ppl who benchmark have different hardware to yours! in order to actually get those high level 3dmarks, you have to hav a very similar system, if not faster! OBviously, ur IDE hdd WILL hamper the speeds in wat ever benchmark which needs hdd input.

Well, wat do u mean by upgrade? was it a complete system overhaul with new case,mb,ram,cpu etc? or just upped some parts of ur system.

[casecutter]

Getting rid of the swapfile will not do anything except cause major problems with your OS. Whoever told you to remove it is a moron. I don't care if you have 16Gb of ram, there is no need or benefit for removing the swap file since Windows is designed to look for it anyways.

3D Mark 06 free version runs exactly the same as the pay version. The pay version just allows you to change settings.

Lastly, having a score only 1K lower is meaningless as well. There are so many factors as to how the scores can vary it is mind boggling. If you want a higher score, start tweaking and overclocking that thing. Running it stock will get you nowhere fast in 3D Mark scoring. There is nothing short of overclocking that is going to give you a dramatic increase in your score.