The Service Pack 3 Effect...

carrot1401

carrot1401

carrot1401

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Since Windows XP SP3 is now available to download (fileshack link to 317mb file here) I'd thought I'd see if it really does improve games. So just before I installed it, I fired up Trackmania United Forever, Company Of Heroes and the Crysis demo to see what the framerates were like before and after SP3.

The test rig used was all at stock:

Intel Core 2 Duo e8400 @ 3ghz
Gecube ATi 3870xt (factory overclocked at 810/1226)
4gb OCZ PC6400 ram (read as 3.5gb due to 32-bit Windows XP)

The screenies I upload are available here but as they're quite small I decided to just throw in the important numbers:

First up, COH at higest DX9 settings at 1280x1024 with 8xAA:

SP2: Average 63.2, Highest 77 and lowest 16fps
SP3: Average 61.9, Highest 79 and lowest 15

Next, its the amazing game that is Trackmania United Forever on the higest settings at 1280x1024 bar shadows (due to odd corruptions on very high and complex) and 8xAA:

SP2: 43.8fps
SP3: 43fps

Finally, I used the crysis demo benchmarks, both the gpu and cpu versions, all high at 1280x1024 but with no AA:

CPU SP2: 30.195fps
CPU SP3: 29.745fps

GPU SP2: 33.985fps
GPU SP3: 33.215

So there you have it, a slight DECREASE from SP2....for now at least
 
A bit of a pointless result as they are all within 1-2% error of margin, so nothing to worry about really. Service Pack 3 is only a roll out of all the updates into one (bar a few minor tweaks).

Windows XP SP3 combines all previously released performance, security, and stability updates. It also provides a limited number of new and enhanced functionalities, although it does not significantly change the Windows XP experience or bring most Windows Vista functionality to Windows XP. The goals of Windows XP SP3 are to:
- Provide a new baseline for customers still deploying Windows XP, to help them avoid the inconvenience of applying individual updates.
- Fill gaps in the updates users might have missed by declining individual updates when using Automatic Updates, and to deliver updates not made available through Windows Update.
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Thanks for posting your results.

I think I'll just wait a slipstream SP3 when i rebuild next rather than install over my current build because i used nlite to remove some things.
 
Just thought some people would like to know the facts and figures. a lot of sites were saying that it is suppose to improve results by a fair bit, hence why I have tried it now. However, its not as interesting as it was made out to be :rolleyes:
 
[ZiiP]carrot;11564969 said:
Just thought some people would like to know the facts and figures. a lot of sites were saying that it is suppose to improve results by a fair bit, hence why I have tried it now. However, its not as interesting as it was made out to be :rolleyes:
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oh, right:/
 
Billy G said:
Fill gaps in the updates users might have missed by declining individual updates when using Automatic Updates, and to deliver updates not made available through Windows Update.
Click to expand...

Should I read this as Genuine Advantage?


...not that I have anything to be afraid of!
 
Lol my post may of not been much a thankyou :p

Cheers for taking your time on this, appreciated :)
 
you're pretty naive if you say "if it aint broke don't fix it" when it comes to service packs

do you use windows update?

if not then there's tons of secuirty holes, so "it is broke"

sp3 is basically just a rollup from sp2 with a few network security enhancements


best way to compare would be to benchmark with a new sp2 slipstreamed install, then a new sp3 slipstreamed install, using the same drivers & hardware
 
A good service pack is never governed by the gaming performance.
A service pack is released to fix issue/bugs and security holes.
If your favourite games lose a few fps then tough - OS stability and security are a lot more important.
 
Yep microsoft have stated that this service pack contains all of the security fixes and other patches since SP2 was released. There are only a couple of new features (to do with corporate network authentication and other things from what I can remember).
 
Paracelsus said:
As for security holes etc, for folks with a router/firewall who don't download dodgy .exes, is it actually a real problem?
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Yep, there are countless flaws in the OS and the applications that run on it which can be exploited even if you do have a hardware firewall in place. Similarly, not all vulns require you running a dodgy executable downloaded via P2P or a warez website to get infected.
 
I slipstreamed the beta onto an install on my laptop last week, I never benchmark so I don't have any hard evidence. Everything just seems the same though, no performance increase (my eyes can see) in Crysis, Bioshock, ArmA, Guild Wars.

Still, it works and I'm not fussed if I need to do a reinstall for some obscure SP3 epic fail reason.

KingAdora said:
This is an outrage, less security holes but I lose 2fps? I'm going back to windows 95.
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:D
 
SP3 is a nessasity for security, it even closed an exploit that Vista SP1 does not.

I seriously doubt it makes gaming slower, thats 1 persons findings on 1 PC, (get scaremongering with every SP).

I would advise a clean install with a Slipsteamed CD with XP-SP3 anyhow (so does MS).
 
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