M17xr2 Stuttering

So, I recently did a fresh format and windows install, and have found that I have some minor stuttering issues in games. So far, both starcraft 2 and WoW both have random stuttering with turning the camera or really anything. It is slight, but noticeable hitching. Sometimes it seems its texture loading, others really nothing prompts it. This was occurring before the format, and nothing has fixed it with much fidgeting. I have tried the three most recent drivers - I had stopped using the PC for about a month, so its possible some of this occurred before, but I don't think so. I'm wondering if I should roll back all the way to ati 11.7 or so, as I think that was the last time it was working pretty much perfectly. Could it be other settings? I have experimented with powerplay in CCC, run diagnostics, and other such stuffs. I don't know if I have missed something. Stealth mode isn't running, as its pretty intermittent, and otherwise I get 60-120 fps. Temps are also not the issue, as it runs at 50-60c under full load. I guess I am very concerned that it could be my ram or cpu, and since I just ran out of warranty, and I would not be able to easily replace the cpu. Please advise, I have run out of other ideas!

 

what driver version are you running now? did you try the new 11.10s?

 

Yeah, I installed them today hoping it would fix the issue, but it still persists, though perhaps a little bit reduced. It doesn't matter what settings I run the games on, the stuttering occurs no matter what. I had one more thing to add, and that was that when I ran Windows' memtest, I could not get the test to ever complete on advanced settings rather than the normal test, instead it would run indefinitely, and if I tried to alter settings it would essentially read out the options screen in a very slow, scrolling manner. As if it was slowing down. This is pretty frustrating.

 

My m17xr2:
i7 620m
5870s xfire
4gb ram
2x 500gb harddrives
win 7 64

 

what are your full specs?

EDIT: you beat me to it lol

 

what caps do you have installed?

 

Just the most recent, 11.4 or whatever.

 

The most recent cap is 11.9 Cap 4.
You might want to check those out

Official Page
Official CAPS alternate download

 

yeah thats what I mean 11.9 cap 4.

 

Did you do the VBIOS update?

I would try to revert to the stock Dell drivers, then try to update to 11.10 or w/e one you want. Do not uninstall the dell drivers just install over them.

 

yeah I have done the vbios a few times to make sure, it is updated.
I may try to do stock + 11.10. I thought I found the performance to be lacking but I'll try again.

 

Could this be memory related? Going bad? I can replace that easily and double it for the whopping sum of $50.

 

You can run a mem test to see if it is your memory. MemTest: RAM reliability tester for Windows

or here are some others

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/memorytest.htm

Memtest86 is supposed to be one of the better ones

http://www.memtest86.com/

Also if you want to upgrade your ram you should just do it. I am off to sleep I will check this thread in the AM. Post back after you run a memtest86 test That would be the most thorough.

 

For world of warcraft, I Just deleted my cache and all my addons, they were causing me to get 1 fps in combat and camera on not just my R3, but on my desktop, and a few other computers. That should fix it for wow.

No idea on sc2

 

No, Its not that simple of an issue sadly

 

Odd, I went back to 11.7, and had same issues. I then uninstalled and installed Dell stock, and am actually both getting really impressive fps, and no stutter. I didn't go any farther tonight, as its friggin late, but this is promising! From here, do you recommend installing the new 11.10's over the stock dell driver? That just sounds so...dirty to me.

 

For older games, stock dell driver is fine. Try updating to the newer ones, and see if the problems persist.

 

I am still running into stuttering issues. Which dell stock drivers should I use? Can I use the m17xr3 ati drivers? Or are those really specific to the r3?

 

On the support page, get the ones for the 6990. It's the same as the 6970.

 

I have 5870s though.

 

cant help u there.

 

Hmmm, Did you run memtest86? What are your temps like? what driver are you currently on?

 

Memtest never reported back any errors. Temps are always around 60c, and the problem shows itself no matter how long its been on. I have ben fidgeting with drivers, and am currently running the stock dell m17xr2 driver with the 11.10 on top. This is relatively stable, however i still get pretty bad stutter in, say, starcraft 2 in single player matches (thus NOT latency), where sometimes when events occur the game will halt for a split second and continue. Things like selecting units, units finishing building, opening menus. I have been sifting through different power options and nothing so far seems to affect it. thanks for your help, keep it coming!

 

Had a same problem back then using dual 5870 in R2.

My first one broke down and I spent lots of time dealing with the laptop itself (video card, mem, drivers). All in vain.
I didn't expect the charger was bad and it had a direct impact to my games.

Ask Dell if they can provide an alternate power adaptor/charger for testing.

 

I think you should run some tests on your HDDs next.

 

I have two power chargers, neither make a difference. I ran a long hdd diagnostic earlier today, and reran memtest, both were clear. I am going to install a game that was developed by blizzard, see if maybe it is something to do with their games. Other than that I'm running out of ideas.

 

Run Vantage and post your score. Look for stuttering there as well. Do you have an OC on the cards or CPU?

 

I don't have vantage installed, and I am not OCing any components.

 

Try Throttle Stop or OC'ing your CPU worked for my stutter issues for BF2.

 

Whats so crummy is that this is a new issue. It wasn't present until recently. So I guess it is hardware. But if it isn't the hdd or ram, I guess it must be gpu/cpu. Whats the likelihood of re-upping my warranty with dell?

 

I am wondering if this is just sort of a standard issue for a platter hard drive, and I had not used the pc long enough to not be used to it anymore. It really is just split second hitches, generally occuring when something new is occuring on screen. It Never happens if I just sit there in game. I have to be changing the camera or selecting something new.

 

Sorry for filling this up with my own posts - I have discovered that the stutter does NOT occur in at least one game - Space Marine. I'm quite relieved, though I will test several other games out.

 

I had stuttering problems much like you are describing happen to my M17xr2 earlier this year. The problem was occurring in WoW, SC2, and Black Ops.... Only games I had installed at the time. I called Dell and they dialed into my system and ran some checks and ended up sending someone out who replaced one of my 5870s as well as the CPU fan. It corrected the issue for me.

I have quit playing WoW since then and all other games I have played to include Crysis2 have worked great. I recently installed BF3 and it worked great the first 5-6 days but on Sunday I started having the really bad stutter again especially when I am looking around or going from zoomed scope and out again. Hope another card didn't go out on me....

I ran 3DMark06 and my stock run was 18961 so I don't actually think another card went out but damn this stuttering that has started since Sunday is driving me nuts in BF3...

You system still under warranty? Run 3DMark06 and see how your score is...

 

nope no warranty sadly. Any idea what kind of checks they ran? I ran the alienware diagnostics, and had no issues. A dying card was my fear, but considering it doesn't show up in one of my other games, perhaps its ok.

 

They were just checking to make sure the obvious things weren't the problem like stealth mode, crossfire, drivers, I think he just took a shot in the dark with thinking the 5870 was the issue.

I am actually kinda hoping one or both of 5870s do die before Oct 2012 since I renewed the warranty for one more year, but not until they no longer have 5870s in stock and would then have to upgrade it to something better under warranty.

You try running 3DMark06? I do remember the dell guy seeing that my score on 3DMark06 was only like 12500 when he realized one of the cards was probably bad.

 

Thanks for your experience. I am going to run 3dmark06, and I'll post my scores for interpretation since I don't do any benchmarking.

 

My 3dmark06 score is 15927. What should I make of this?

 

I think your 3dMark06 score is normal

 

Woo. Well I got quoted 328 for a final year of warranty service from dell, wondering if its still a good idea to purchase.

 

I had 1 year and recently upgraded for 2 years more next business day service. upgrade was 220 euro

 

While reviewing my 3dmark06 score, I noticed it says my score is LOW compared to other similar configurations.

 

compare with my score with 840QM and you are not far behind, your score is absolutely OK. I too get sometimes same notification in 3DMark11, sometimes is says that score OK, and also can say that video driver is not approved. Just compare with similair systems around and you will see

 

Hmmm. I still wonder why all of a sudden I would be having much better performance in dx11, with dx9 almost unusable. I had never run in dx 11 before now because IT had been the buggy api. I may still get the warranty just to have them check it out, maybe send out some upgrades in the process.

 

being under the warranty is a secure way. Do you have stutter in all games dx9, 10, 11? which games?

 

I only stutter in blizzard games. So WoW, SC2. I didn't get any stuttering when I ran 3dmark06, or in Space Marine. In WoW, stutter was Less noticeable in dx 11.

 

I experienced stutter in WoW, but that was on stock dell drivers. Can't say how it performes on any of 11.x AMD drivers, because I don't have that game I just tried it

 

Sure it isn't plain old Crossfire stuttering? Happens when FPS is around the 30 range, you want to be sure your settings in game have you close to 40 if not above it as often as possible. Try playing games you observed stuttering in with CF off.

 

SkittlesXD: Nope, I have tried xfire on and off. I get better FPS than 30 in everything, so I don't think I would have encountered that. With xfire off, stuttering seemed more common and occured in more of a pattern than with it on.

 

Damn €220 ($303) for 2 years... Cost me $297 to renew mine for 1 more year....

Been toying with the idea of building a new desktop and selling my M17xR2 having a year warranty with dell helps

 

looks like the warranty here (europe) is cheaper, but the systems.. mine was €3500 almost a year ago