G73JH - Assistance needed

Hi,

I've lurked these forums for quite a while for various fixes (GSOD and keyboard lag) but my recent troubles have finally forced me to create an account and ask for assistance.

Basically, I stutter during certain games and in windows. My computer will lock up for a second or two and then go back to what it was doing. Sound stutters as well. Rebooting doesn't help. A list of situations in which these freezes occur:

- While playing the mmorpg Aion
- While playing Call of Duty: Black Ops (very rarely)
- While playing League of Legends (With the sound turned on from ingame options, the stuttering becomes unbearable and almost constant, with it off the stuttering is more dispersed and less frequent)
- In Windows (lag opening folders, drop-down boxes, even while typing this)
- Playing an .avi file (Note: doesn't happen while watching anime [.mp4])

NOTE: Transferring the .avi file to my external hdd and playing it from there erased all stuttering

I'm running BIOS version 213, GSOD proof vBIOS, stock clocks on GPU with powerplay disabled.

Now, before you tell me to "look at the threads linked in the sticky!!11", I've already looked. Some people had similar sounding problems but none of their solutions worked for me.

I'll provide you with a list of things with which I've tried to remedy this situation:

- Clean reinstall of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
- Also used a can of compressed air to blow out dust (designed for electronics)
- Updated HDD firmware first to SD24, then SD25.
- I've tried multiple ATI drivers: 10.8, 11.2, 11.3, now on 11.4 preview mobility mod, as well as the "stock" ones on the ASUS G73JH product page
- Ran memtest to check for errors, 500% pass 0 errors
- Ran SeaTools from DOS and performed both short and long tests, both Passed
- Multiple Defrags
- Multiple virus scans
- DTC Latency checker sometimes reports max spikes at 4000~
-> Disabling various devices (atheros, sound card, etc)
- Tried various versions of Realtek drivers
- Fully updated chipset drivers
- Disabled core parking

EDIT: Temperatures: CPU idle 51c and GPU 65c~

It's late so I might have forgotten to mention something.

Probably worthy of noting is that after my clean reinstall, installing 11.3 catalyst drivers caused a BSOD, multiple to be precise...

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I sincerely hope someone can help me with this. Games are unplayable and this stuttering is really irritating.

(I realize there is a rather new thread concerning stuttering in a G72GX and although our problems are similar in nature, I decided to make a new thread. I apologize if this somehow inconveniences anybody)

 

If you have a 2nd harddrive. Do a clean windows install and see if you experience the same stutters. I'd suggest checking your smart data on your current hdd while your at it as your temps are fine and its persistent after a clean OS install.

 

Unfortunately I don't have a secondary harddrive at my disposal. Not too keen on buying one without being sure it's the hdd that's the issue. Seatools gives me a PASS on its SMART test.

 

Well since you have issues in windows, even opening files and using webpages, I would probably rule out game issues or video card drivers.

Although blue screens after a clean install is a red flag LOL.

Have you done any over clocking, and is the CPU fan running?

 

Do you stutter in safe mode?

If plugging in an external doesn't cause lags then maybe you have a faulty hard drive. The only way to tell is to either transfer your hdd to another laptop or put a new one in.

 

As you didn't specifically list it in your "I tried" section. . .

Have you tried updating your realtek sound drivers?
[yea, I know it's a long shot, but if enabling sound in some software makes it worse it's a possibility]

I realize it's possible you're outputting via HDMI, in which case this step would not apply, but you don't mention using external sources so just to be safe

The other thing you can try is open task manager [right click your windows bar and select "start task manager" Click on the "processes" tab, and see if something's not spiking to 100% CPU usage and back down. If so, make a note of which process it is and can go from there.

 

use driver sweeper and remove anything published by Creative from your computer

 

A couple of people on Guru3D forums reported BSODs when they tried installing the 11.3 catalyst drivers as well. I'd still consider it a red flag as well though lol.

No overclocking and yes, the CPU fan is running. Temps would be skyrocketing if it wasn't.

Didn't notice any stuttering in Safe Mode, not that I was there for long. Just to simply use Driver sweeper after having uninstalled drivers.

I've tried several different versions of realtek sound drivers. From the ones recommend on asus website to the latest ones, with one version from in between.

No, I'm not outputting through HDMI.

Also, nothing in my Task manager is spiking when these stutters occur.

Completely uninstalled them before reinstalling windows and never installed them on this fresh install.

 

Do a clean install of your video drivers. Un-install via the Catalyst Control Center, do a reg sweep with CCleaner, and run TwL's bat file cleaner. I'd usually stay as far away as possible from Driver Sweeper unless absolutely necessary.

Guru3D.com Forums - View Single Post - Definitive Guide to Uninstalling ATI Driver files.
Save that into a .bat and run it.

Then re-install either 11.3 WHQL, or the 11.4 previews. Both rock stable.

I re-iterated this as you didn't mention if you managed to clean install your drivers without a BSOD. Good luck.

 

I might as well install them again using the bat you gave and ccleaner.

I read somewhere that Driver Sweeper caused some issues at one point but it had been reported as fixed. Why do you still recommend staying away from it?

Thanks for your contribution. Much appreciated.

 

Run nb_probe from asus and see if it shows any errors. It might help determine if the problem is hardware related or not. My second guess would be creative.

Asus downloads

 

Done, no errors. Everything seems to be fine.

No creative installed.

Done, didn't help.

 

Have you ran memtest?

 

I remember seeing something related but on someone's desktop. He had stuttering in windows and games but did not have it when in safe mode. Tried everything to no avail so he replaced his GPU and all went away.

Might want to consider an RMA to replace gpu if all else fails.

 

I have found that if you have any type of gadget that monitors your GPU running...... the ati crap .bat file does not uninstall all the registry entries. This has caused warnings to appear on the install of new catalyst drivers.


Just a thought.

 

Yes, 500% coverage and 0 errors

I'm beginning to think I just might have to RMA. Really don't want to as I'm a student and need my laptop.

Don't have gadgets running : /

 

I small update:

I've just finished downloading portal 2 and will see if it stutters during gameplay as Super Meat Boy doesn't.

 

portal 2 for PC?

 

Maybe the hard drive is dying?

 

Yeah.

It stuttered right after load times or at the end of a map when Glados started talking. Sometimes stuttered after a death.

Tests seem to indicate it's fine but since I don't have an extra one I can't make sure.