M11x - WoW Performance, Issues, General Discussion

Hey everyone, i jsut bought this machine, the m11x R2. Before this I had an MSI with a 9600 in it and it out peforms this machine without question in WoW.

Am I doing sometihng wrong? I thought I was upgrading but it looks like I down graded...

I am running everything stock and not OCing anything

 

If by 9600 you mean video card, I doubt video card is the problem.

 

yeah it was a 9600. Here are the specs of my MSI 620 that I used to have:

Brand MSI
Model GX620-001US
Part# 9S7-165113-001
General
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26G
Screen 15.4" WXGA
Memory Size 4GB
Hard Disk 320GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Video Memory 512MB DDR3
Other Features Gaming Bag
CPU
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed P8400(2.26GHz)
CPU FSB 1066MHz
CPU L2 Cache 3MB
Chipset
Chipset Intel PM45
Display
Screen Size 15.4"
Wide Screen Support Yes
Display Type Wide XGA
Resolution 1280 x 800
LCD Features Glare
Operating Systems
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
Graphics
GPU/VPU NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Video Memory 512MB DDR3
Graphic Type Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HDD 320GB
HDD Interface SATA
Memory
Memory 4GB
Memory Spec 2GB x 2
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated
Communications
WLAN 802.11a/g/n Wireless LAN

 

Probably an Optimus issue, check the optimus thread for help.

 

This. If it isn't using the 335m then you might get issues, depending on your graphics settings. I don't doubt the x4500 could handle it on lower settings, but if it is up there, probably need to make sure 335m is in use.

 

Yea it's gotta be an optimus issue with the 335M just not engaging, that 9600M is a slow card with less VRAM, the 335M will run circles around it.

 

I had the same issue trying to run Portal. It was running very laggy and choppy with bad visuals at first. What I did was went to Dell.com and downloaded and installed the drivers for both graphics devices.

The game is now running flawlessly (very high FPS) with everything maxed out. And it looks amazing.

Oh and BTW, my CPU (core i5) isn't overclocked either.

 

As the others said, check to make sure you are using the 335 via the NVidia control panel. Also, *do not* run in a window at full screen in the WoW interface settings. Uncheck that and you'll get far better performance.

 

Rahzer, i had the m11x R1 and WoW worked flawlessly(50-60fps). I now have the M11x R2 and WoW is horrible(14-35fps). its just an optimus issue. Just wait a bit for nvidia to release a new/fixed driver.

 

Have you tried installing the new Driver?

NVIDIA DRIVERS 257.21 WHQL

Its the new driver that tackles some Optimus issues.

 

i have the new drivers with the .inf mod still bad performance

 

. what's going wrong with R2 !?!!?!?!?!?

 

So glad I read this. I'll hold off until there appears to be a fix. Thanks for posting and please keep us updated.

 

As an avid wow player most find the problem to be with the CPU when using multiple cores. Tab out of the game open task manager, right click wow and check affinity is using all the cores.

To change the way the CPU uses the cores you need to manualy configure the config file found within the "W TF" folder bay adding "Set AffinityMask "85" to the end of the file (without the first quote) 85 is for the i7 cpu's you may need to go through some wow forums to the correct one for your CPU.

 

Yup I checked all that.

Thanks for the screenshot! I installed the new drivers and I see a slight increase in performance. I don't know if its an optimus issue or a CPU issue. It is a new system so I guess time will tell.

If there are any updates on the WoW front post them here

 

Ok. Just received my machine and i had WoW transferred to it immediately from my external HDD. May not be as awesome as i would have wanted it, but im gettin reasonable frames of about 30-60 in Dalaran.

This was done with the nVidia Driver from the Dell website. So its not the new driver from nVidia(257.21)

 

There's nothing wrong with the R2 and WoW. I get 50+ fps..

 

you running ultra settings?

 

Maybe its a sign you should stop playing World of Warcraft....

 

Lol if you play it casually then its fine.

Heres an update after fooling around. I updated to the newest nVidia driver and it is chacked in the control panel to use the card when WoW is on.

Here are two screenshots of my FPS in dal



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

same i get.

 

I've discovered your problem... you're a lock

 

Did you manage to get this working any better? Is anyone having any luck with 25 man ICC on the R2 (particuarly keen to hear about performance during Deathwhisper and Festergut)?

 

I had similar issues today with WOW, I had to re-install drivers, as the verde mod drivers stopped using the 335M for gaming?! Im back on the dell drivers and performance is good, have not done any major raids though but questing etc is fine.

 

I'm still dealing with FPS issues...I don't know whats up with this performance

 

Is that raiding Rahzer or in general?

 

I tried WoW last night on the R2. I get about 25-35 FPS in Dalaran at 1920x1080 with most details on medium to high. It is similar but not quite as good as what I get on my Quad Core with an 8800GT.

 

Use the optimus tools to be sure the 335 is switching on when you play WOW, I had to reinstall the old drivers as I said earlier. All was ok then it ran awful because it started using the intel graphics instead of the nvidia.

 

I'm having the same problems. i7 running wow constantly 20-40 fps. my 335 is being used, and i've tried using the beta drivers. still the same.

it's not supposed to be like this right? i mean its just a bug, and not a lack of hardware right?? cause im gonna be pissed if this wont run wow better than my old laptop, lol.

 

It sounds like it to me, 20fps is verging on unplayable for WoW.

 

Just in general. I have to stay out of major cities and such. Its really annoying to be honest. I thought this laptop would perform well when playing warcraft...

Just an FYI, I just tried the new beta drivers off Nvidias site that was released today and I still get crappy FPS.

 

Can someone who has WOW confirm a behavior I am seeing? Basically you can see it at the login screen where the snow is falling. When I run the game at high rez, 1920x1080, it seems like the FPS drops every few seconds or so. Basically if you are looking at the snow falling every few seconds it looks like it goes into slow motion for a bit. I can see this in the game as well if I stand near a wall. My FPS will be showing 60 and then every few seconds it will drop down to to 40ish and go back up.

Im using the latest Dell beta drivers and just wanted to see if anybody sees this while running wow at a high res

 

I notice this throughout the game entirely. I am starting to think that it is a CPU throttling issue rather than an Optimus issue.

 

It shouldn'd be CPU throttled, I noticed the cpu is no where near 100%. And at the login screen where the snow is falling nothing is going on. Its just every few seconds it seems to go in slow motion then speed up again.

 

Monitor the Turbo Boost and see if the frequency goes up and down when the FPS goes up and down.

 

I disabled turbo boost and overclocking altogether and it still does it. I'll try a fresh install of wow and drivers tonight. It seems like an issue just with WoW to me, and I know it does not do that on my desktop. It's just very strange because I can be in an area with nothing going on facing a wall and it will be a steady 60fps and every few seconds it will drop to 40fps and then return to 60.

Very annoying.

 

How can I monitor it? A program of some kind?

 

Ok, that's indeed strange. I would still monitor the CPU frequency though, to see it if throttles or something. Does this only happen in WoW, or have you observed it in other games as well?

I think there is something called Intel Turbo Boost Technology Monitor, which you can download.

Hopefully this is just an issue with WoW, and not other games.

 

I am going to get that utility tonight and see if the FPS drop periods correspond at all with the CPU frequency.

 

This really has to be an Optimus issue, there is just nothing else that would cause huge dips in FPS, and we know for a fact WoW runs fine on the M11X because it worked great on the R1. The R2 is the same except for the CPU and Optimus, I can assure you WoW is not using the CPU enough to cause any heat throttling, so it has to be optimus.

There is a post on the front page to an application that shows if Optimus is using the discrete or integrated graphics, I would recommend you get that and see. My guess is Optimus is switching back and forth between integrated and discrete over and over again, causing your dips.

 

One thing I noticed is that if I run WoW in a window at 1920x1080 the FPS drops every few seconds dont happen, although the overall FPS is lower because it is windowed.

Changing it back to fullscreen causes the FPS drops to start again.

I also wanto point out that if I run WOW at the native laptop screen resolution, the 1360xwhatever, this doesnt happen. It starts when I connect it to an external monitor and go higher, such as 1920x1080. Ive run this game at that resolution with a card less powerfull then this so I dont think that is the issue.

has anyone been able to reproduce this at 1920x1080?

 

Been lurking in the forums for awhile, finally got my i7 R2 the other day... issues with WoW. Now I realize of course that the xpac areas are more demanding, but I have no real FPS issues to speak of anywhere except Northrend...odd thing being, I get ~50 FPS flying in HFP, then I get 10 FPS standing still in Borean Tundra. My old (weaker) laptop gets ~40 FPS and ~30 FPS, respectively, in those zones with the same video settings. Reducing settings offers only a couple frames. Tried new drivers, reverted back, OC, no OC, TB on and off, etc. Monitoring the Optimus Test Viewer during gameplay was inconclusive. Will try the Turbo Boost monitor thing later, but it's doubtful that the proc throttle is going to cause these problems when you're stationary and there's not even any fighting going on.

 

Sounds like there might be choking in zones with heavy phasing.

 

I think viewing distance is something that chokes some systems too.

Although with this config, you shouldn't have any issues anywhere unless it's high population area.

 

Did some testing with the Intel Turbo Boost Utility. With a 156 OC (the highest my system will do without BSOD), the proc fluctuates wildly between 1.2 and 2.06 for several minutes upon first logging into a cliff area in Borean Tundra I set as a static test area. During this time, FPS also fluctuates a little more than usual, but stays above 30. After some time, the proc alternates between 1.9, 2.05, and 2.06 at a regular interval, every 2-4 seconds or so, and the frames dip down to about 15. Without an OC, the initial wild fluctation period does not occur, and it rolls directly into switching between 1.86 and 2.01 every couple seconds, with about a 15 FPS as well. Not sure if this is of any interest. However, I did notice that if I ran full screen, waited until I hit low performance, then windowed out, the proc would be shown dropping down to 1.2-1.5. Then, if I window back in, I can see it throttle back up to above 2 GHZ before the game full screens, and I will gain an extra ~15 FPS for a minute or two. This gain holds true even if I engage in battle, fly, etc. I tried reducing view dist. from max down to mid and gained about 25, however, after a minute that gain fell to only about 3 extra frames. Seemed like reloading the UI was responsible for the temporary performance increase.

tl;dr: appears to me that the processor is throttling down too low possibly? I think the processor is running high at first, but then starts slacking. It's still strange though, my other laptop is merely a 1.8 C2D and achieves superior performance, the lowest this has gone during gameplay is 1.86. Perhaps it's the instability? This totally sucks.

 

yeah those things gotta be sorted. Dont want more laptops with throttling issues.. so bloody annoying!

 

So far this just seems to be happening in WoW for me. When I load Crysis and output it to my monitor at hi rez, if I stand in one spot the FPS stays constant. In WoW it drops 20 FPS every few seconds even if you are looking at a wall (at 1920x1080)

This is a bummer because WoW is the main game I play.....on a side note it doesnt do this FPS drop, or isnt as noticeable at the laptop native resolution.

 

There has to be an issue here. My understanding of R1 is that it played WoW well and the only time it really had a bit of a sruggle was 25 man raids, particuarly ICC.

Surely there's nothing about R2 that should perform worse, if anything I was expecting to hear there was a small improvement. I'd planned to get it so I could take it to my boyfriend's on a weekend and we could play WoW together but frankly if it doesn't work very well I may as well save my money.

 

Is this a problem only when playing with external monitor?

If so I had similar problem with Heroes of Newerth. Optimus worked fine when I used the laptop screen but not when I used hdmi out.

To get it working I went to the nvidia control panel, and made Nvidia "high performance card" (something like that) as standard and added the game exectutable to be rendered with Nvidia. Those two steps did it for me, now I can play Heroes of Newerth on high settings in 1920x1080. For me it was very evident on the starting screen if Nvidia was working or not. Integrated was very choppy.

Also I made the external screen the main display in W7 when its connected, dont know if that is important though...

 

You mean that the game played choppy, or that Windows on the external was choppy (moving windows, etc)? The integrated card should handle HDMI and normal Windows usage perfectly fine, but I've heard worrying stories here.