Store Page
3DMark
All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews
3DMark > General Discussions > Topic Details
DonkCall 16 Jul @ 6:40am
2
Can’t Reach Excellent or Legendary Time Spy Scores – What Am I Missing?
Hey everyone,

I’ve been trying to optimize my PC to hit an Excellent or even Legendary score in 3DMark Time Spy, but no matter what I do, I keep falling short. My results consistently land in the Good range, and I’ve never been able to push beyond that.

My highest score is visible on my profile—achieved about a year ago. Since then, I’ve taken several steps to improve performance:

Full system disassembly and cleaning (cleared all dust)

Added three extra fans behind the CPU radiator for a push-pull cooling setup

Replaced thermal paste using liquid metal on the CPU

Updated all drivers

Tweaked BIOS settings for DDR5 6000MHz RAM speed

Despite all this, my latest Time Spy score was actually 1000 points lower than my previous best. That’s really surprising, considering the improved thermals and airflow.

Could something be bottlenecking my system? Or are Time Spy scores just naturally inconsistent?

I’d really appreciate any advice or insight from anyone who’s faced a similar issue.

Thanks in advance!
< >
Showing 1-15 of 17 comments
Drakub 21 Jul @ 12:33pm 
Are you just trying for the achievement for Legendary?
#1
DonkCall 21 Jul @ 12:57pm 
Originally posted by Drakub:
Are you just trying for the achievement for Legendary?
yes, at least excellent one but can't get any
#2
Drakub 21 Jul @ 1:23pm 
Originally posted by DonkCall:
Originally posted by Drakub:
Are you just trying for the achievement for Legendary?
yes, at least excellent one but can't get any
Everybody uses Timespy so it's very tough to be in the top percentile for that one. Try one of the lesser used ones like Solar Bay.
#3
DonkCall 21 Jul @ 1:28pm 
Originally posted by Drakub:
Originally posted by DonkCall:
yes, at least excellent one but can't get any
Everybody uses Timespy so it's very tough to be in the top percentile for that one. Try one of the lesser used ones like Solar Bay.
ok thanks , I am going to try that one
#4
DonkCall 21 Jul @ 2:16pm 
Originally posted by Drakub:
Originally posted by DonkCall:
yes, at least excellent one but can't get any
Everybody uses Timespy so it's very tough to be in the top percentile for that one. Try one of the lesser used ones like Solar Bay.

tried a couple of runs on Solar Bay but got ' Great ' score only not even excellent

https://gyazo.com/fc94d2f058157c4c2e4487610eeceb9b
#5
Drakub 21 Jul @ 2:55pm 
I would just go through and run every test. There's bound to be one you'll be higher in, assuming you have a good cpu and gpu.
#6
Tdubbs 22 Jul @ 9:32am 
Download regular 3dMark and use that.

There is a bunch of things you can do to eek those extra couple points out, but that's the easiest to start with if running through the test doesn't get it as Drakub said.
#7
DonkCall 22 Jul @ 10:15am 
Originally posted by Tdubbs:
Download regular 3dMark and use that.

There is a bunch of things you can do to eek those extra couple points out, but that's the easiest to start with if running through the test doesn't get it as Drakub said.

Nope , sadly there is no way to get higher score than that for me.
#8
xtremist 24 Jul @ 1:40am 
You won't get near legendary score without a lot of time spent on cpu and gpu undervolting and overclocking.
#9
Admiral 24 Jul @ 3:09am 
Originally posted by xtremist:
You won't get near legendary score without a lot of time spent on cpu and gpu undervolting and overclocking.

I got legendary score with stock 13700K and undervolted 3070 Ti. Now I'm only getting "Good" with stock 13700K and undervolted 5070 Ti. Oh well.
Last edited by Admiral; 24 Jul @ 3:38am
#10
Draxuss 24 Jul @ 4:01am 
Originally posted by xtremist:
You won't get near legendary score without a lot of time spent on cpu and gpu undervolting and overclocking.
:steamthis:
#11
Krówka 24 Jul @ 3:03pm 
If you want really high score, just use rare combination of cpu and gpu, for example get really old gpu and run it with modern cpu or the other way around as each combination of hardware has different scores. Got a lot of legendary scores that way.

Also when new benchmark is released people with older hardware rarely are quick to use that new benchmark, so running latest one on old hardware works too as long as you're fast enough.
#12
Draxuss 25 Jul @ 8:27am 
Originally posted by Krówka:
If you want really high score, just use rare combination of cpu and gpu, for example get really old gpu and run it with modern cpu or the other way around as each combination of hardware has different scores. Got a lot of legendary scores that way.

Also when new benchmark is released people with older hardware rarely are quick to use that new benchmark, so running latest one on old hardware works too as long as you're fast enough.
:steamthis: Too
#13
DonkCall 25 Jul @ 6:43pm 
Originally posted by Krówka:
If you want really high score, just use rare combination of cpu and gpu, for example get really old gpu and run it with modern cpu or the other way around as each combination of hardware has different scores. Got a lot of legendary scores that way.

Also when new benchmark is released people with older hardware rarely are quick to use that new benchmark, so running latest one on old hardware works too as long as you're fast enough.

This one sounds like a good plan, but I am not going to mount my old 1080ti, only because I can't plug it in with a 12VH power connector, not going to disassemble the entire PC... at least for now.
I just wanted to find a way to get at least an Excellent score with my current hardware, but it looks like it ain't happening if I don't overclock hardcore the entire thing.
Last edited by DonkCall; 25 Jul @ 6:44pm
#14
MancSoulja 25 Jul @ 7:32pm 
Originally posted by DonkCall:
Originally posted by Krówka:
If you want really high score, just use rare combination of cpu and gpu, for example get really old gpu and run it with modern cpu or the other way around as each combination of hardware has different scores. Got a lot of legendary scores that way.

Also when new benchmark is released people with older hardware rarely are quick to use that new benchmark, so running latest one on old hardware works too as long as you're fast enough.

This one sounds like a good plan, but I am not going to mount my old 1080ti, only because I can't plug it in with a 12VH power connector, not going to disassemble the entire PC... at least for now.
I just wanted to find a way to get at least an Excellent score with my current hardware, but it looks like it ain't happening if I don't overclock hardcore the entire thing.

Well of course you're not, it is a benchmark after all.

I've been using 3DMark for years and I've only every hit Legendary once, I can hit excellent with most setups, but with my current one, (7800x3D and 5080) I can barely hit great and my stock benchmark is well below average.
Last edited by MancSoulja; 25 Jul @ 7:35pm
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 17 comments
Per page: 1530 50

3DMark > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: 16 Jul @ 6:40am
Posts: 17

Discussions Rules and Guidelines