Stuttering gaming performance on M11XR1

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums.
I'm using an M11XR1 that I got sometime last April and it was doing well until recently. Games (the more graphic-intensive ones, most FPSes) run fine for a while and then start to stutter at a fraction of the original framerate. Then it goes back to normal, and after some more time it stutters again. I have checked using GPU-Z that this is not throttling. Searches on the forums related to this have not turned up anything or at most unanswered queries. I have defragmented the drives and checked for spyware etc.

I am running on 4Gb of RAM, the GPU is a GT 335M, using a 64bit system and the processor is an Intel U4100 at 1.3GHz. Can anyone offer any help?

 

Hi Matthewesque,

Welcome to the forums!

Tried upgrading your drivers? Or maybe a power drain trick?

(Wait, how does one do a power drain on an m11x?)

 

All of them are supposedly up to date.
And my apologies, I'm a computer noob so I don't know what a power drain is - could you explain? My friend referred me here.

 

Run ThrottleStop in monitoring mode and turn on the Log File option. Go play a game and after your computer goes through one of these slow downs and then returns to normal, stop gaming, stop ThrottleStop and post your ThrottleStopLog.txt file somewhere convenient so I can have a look. You can upload it to Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire or Free large file hosting. Send big files the easy way! or maybe copy and paste it into a PM message if it is not too big.

It sure sounds like a performance throttling issue. The CKMOD and CHIPM columns in the ThrottleStop log file should always be showing 100.0. If they are not then you've got a throttling problem. This is often times triggered by high GPU temperatures. It will throttle the CPU down to a snail's pace to reduce overall heat. If this is the problem then cleaning your heatsink and fan and replacing the thermal paste usually fixes things.

 

ThrottleStopLog.txt

The CHIPM column displayed 50.0 some time into gameplay. I guess that's the problem then?

Thank you very much.

 

When that column shows 50.0%, that means you instantly just lost half of your CPU's rated performance.

Clock modulation throttling is basically telling the CPU to do absolutely nothing half of the time. That's why games suddenly get sluggish. As soon as this returns to 100.0, your game performance returns to normal.

The CPU temperature is up to 94C so that's a sign you need to pull your laptop apart and fix the cooling problem. The GPU is probably a little hotter. It's usually the GPU temperature that is the trigger for this type of throttling.

 

This may sound silly... but do you have your performance settings turned all the way up? Like when you right click on the battery icon. I once tried to game on power saver mode and ya, it was pretty bad.

 

That's your problem! The R1 CPU should never normally exceed 60c.

 

Code:

  DATE     TIME    MULTI   C0%   CKMOD  CHIPM  PWR_mW  TEMP
05/27/11 00:57:10   6.00   83.7  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:11   6.00   82.4  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:12   6.00   83.9  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:13   6.00   82.8  100.0  100.0       0   94
05/27/11 00:57:14   6.00   80.9  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:15   6.00   81.1  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:16   6.00   83.9  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:17   6.00   83.3  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:18   6.00   83.0  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:19   6.00   82.5  100.0  100.0       0   94
05/27/11 00:57:20   6.00   82.3  100.0  100.0       0   94
05/27/11 00:57:21   6.00   80.5  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:22   6.00   82.7  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:23   6.00   83.4  100.0  100.0       0   93
05/27/11 00:57:24   6.00   63.6  100.0   50.0       0   92
05/27/11 00:57:25   6.00   42.5  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:26   6.00   42.4  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:27   6.00   40.7  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:28   6.00   41.9  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:29   6.00   41.6  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:30   6.00   44.1  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:31   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:33   6.00   41.5  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:34   6.00   41.2  100.0   50.0       0   91
05/27/11 00:57:35   6.00   40.7  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:36   6.00   44.1  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:37   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:38   6.00   41.1  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:39   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:40   6.00   44.0  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:41   6.00   41.6  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:42   6.00   43.7  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:43   6.00   43.3  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:44   6.00   42.2  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:45   6.00   43.8  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:46   6.00   42.3  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:47   6.00   44.3  100.0   50.0       0   90
05/27/11 00:57:48   6.00   41.8  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:49   6.00   42.9  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:50   6.00   42.5  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:51   6.00   43.7  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:52   6.00   42.3  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:53   6.00   42.7  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:54   6.00   42.8  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:55   6.00   44.2  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:56   6.00   45.2  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:57   6.00   41.9  100.0   50.0       0   89
05/27/11 00:57:58   6.00   41.7  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:57:59   6.00   42.9  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:00   6.00   42.7  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:01   6.00   45.2  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:02   6.00   44.8  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:03   6.00   45.3  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:04   6.00   42.7  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:05   6.00   43.9  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:06   6.00   42.6  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:07   6.00   43.9  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:08   6.00   42.6  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:09   6.00   39.4  100.0   50.0       0   88
05/27/11 00:58:10   6.00   41.2  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:11   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:12   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:13   6.00   40.4  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:14   6.00   42.6  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:15   6.00   42.5  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:16   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:17   6.00   40.8  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:18   6.00   41.1  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:19   6.00   41.7  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:20   6.00   41.7  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:21   6.00   42.4  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:22   6.00   43.4  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:23   6.00   42.7  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:24   6.00   43.5  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:25   6.00   42.9  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:26   6.00   43.0  100.0   50.0       0   87
05/27/11 00:58:27   6.00   39.9  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:28   6.00   40.6  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:29   6.00   39.3  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:30   6.00   38.6  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:31   6.00   42.7  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:32   6.00   42.3  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:33   6.00   41.0  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:34   6.00   42.2  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:35   6.00   43.3  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:36   6.00   44.2  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:37   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:38   6.00   43.1  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:39   6.00   40.9  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:40   6.00   43.1  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:41   6.00   42.9  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:42   6.00   41.5  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:43   6.00   41.8  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:44   6.00   42.5  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:46   6.00   42.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:47   6.00   44.6  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:48   6.00   43.7  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:49   6.00   42.8  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:50   6.00   44.2  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:51   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:52   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:53   6.00   42.3  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:54   6.00   42.6  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:55   6.00   44.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:56   6.00   44.1  100.0   50.0       0   86
05/27/11 00:58:57   6.00   41.6  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:58   6.00   41.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:58:59   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:00   6.00   42.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:01   6.00   45.3  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:02   6.00   45.3  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:03   6.00   43.9  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:04   6.00   44.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:05   6.00   44.7  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:06   6.00   43.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:07   6.00   39.7  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:08   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:09   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:10   6.00   42.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:11   6.00   40.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:12   6.00   39.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:13   6.00   39.7  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:14   6.00   40.7  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:15   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:16   6.00   41.8  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:17   6.00   40.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:18   6.00   41.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:19   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:20   6.00   43.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:21   6.00   40.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:22   6.00   40.6  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:23   6.00   40.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:24   6.00   41.9  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:25   6.00   42.0  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:26   6.00   40.6  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:27   6.00   42.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:28   6.00   42.8  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:29   6.00   40.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:30   6.00   38.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:31   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:32   6.00   40.3  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:33   6.00   41.7  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:34   6.00   41.0  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:35   6.00   40.2  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:36   6.00   40.5  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:37   6.00   41.1  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:38   6.00   42.6  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:39   6.00   38.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:40   6.00   39.9  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:41   6.00   41.1  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:42   6.00   40.4  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:43   6.00   40.0  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:44   6.00   41.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:45   6.00   42.1  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:46   6.00   42.4  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:47   6.00   40.9  100.0   50.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:48   6.00   39.1  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:49   6.00   40.7  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:50   6.00   40.6  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:51   6.00   42.2  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:52   6.00   40.2  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:53   6.00   40.8  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:54   6.00   40.9  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:55   6.00   39.3  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:56   6.00   42.3  100.0   50.0       0   84
05/27/11 00:59:57   6.00   42.9  100.0  100.0       0   85
05/27/11 00:59:59   6.00   76.2  100.0  100.0       0   85
05/27/11 01:00:00   6.00   74.7  100.0  100.0       0   85

Did you look at the log file he posted?

CPU core temperature goes up to 94C, Chipset clock modulation throttling starts at a rate of 50.0%, C0% which is a measure of how hard the CPU is really working drops in half from 80% down to 40%, CPU cools down and two and a half minutes later, the CPU is allowed to go back to full speed. The CPU will heat up and repeat this throttling cycle over and over again. The log file shows exactly what the problem is.

 

the R1 throttles too? i thought throttling was due to turboboost?

 

every computer throttles if it gets to hot... lol.