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    G50vt-X6 Periodic Video Lag Problem w/ Gaming (Windows 7)

    Discussion in 'Asus' started by graham2017, Nov 5, 2009.

  1. graham2017

    graham2017 Newbie

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    Hey folks,

    I've owned my asus g50vt-x6 since March and have had no problems with it until recently upgrading to Windows 7. I currently have the games Team Fortress 2, Lord of the Rings Online, and recently Dragon Age: Origins installed. With vista x64, I could max out the video settings of each of these games with a steady framerate of 40+.
    Last week, I upgraded to Windows 7 (which may not be the culprit), and now each of these games experience dramatic video lag in bursts. I'll run any game, play it for 10-20 minutes, then the video will drop to about 0.5fps for around 5-10 minutes; this process repeats itself until I exit the game in frustration The interesting thing is the sound doesn't lag at all during this time, nor does the mouse or desktop / any other program running in the background. Even if I turn on the overclock in Direct Console 2.0, I still experience the lag bursts. I noticed in the resource monitor that my CPU usage (both cores) goes from 3% to 100% when I start the game (before or during video lag); memory usage is 2 out of 4gb.
    I'm relatively tech savvy, and understand that a high gpu/cpu temperature could be the problem. I also have the latest NVIDIA driver installed as well as all of the latest asus hardware drivers. The only problem with the prospect of it being an overheating problem is I don't know how to fix that without sending my pc off to asus for repair.

    If you guys have any insight on this, it would go greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

    James

    Specs:
    ASUS G50vt-x6
    NVIDIA 9800m GS 512mb (186.81 driver)
    4gigs RAM
    Core 2 Duo P8700
    Windows 7 x64 (Upgraded from Vista x64)
     
  2. CitizenPanda

    CitizenPanda Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Check your temps. If that's not the culprit, it would be Windows 7.
     
  3. graham2017

    graham2017 Newbie

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    Just installed speedfan with some alarming readings.
    GPU: 97C
    HDD: 43C
    Core 0: 75C
    Core 2: 75C
    Seems like my GPU fan just isn't working.. Anything I could do myself before contacting ASUS for a service request? But if temp is indeed the case, why would the in-game video be lagging and virtually nothing else on my machine? I can alt-tab out of the game (doing so right now) and run google chrome or any application with zero lag.
     
  4. NBRUser0159099

    NBRUser0159099 Notebook Deity

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    that shouldnt be the cause of lag burst, it will only downclock @ 108C i believe to cause a lag spike.

    my fix would be insatlling drivers. i know you said you did it...i saved my naive friend, who updated his drivers b4 he moved houses then forgot he updated his driver and in his new house started playing gamse and would BSOD whenever his gpu got stressed by intensive games (WoW didnt stress so ). this is a 8800GT btw. he tried new drivers 3 times. he had given up and decided to buy a new 300 series card when it comse out and scrapping the 8800GT. the only game he could play was wow cuz it wasnt intensive. then i asked him what message he got in BSOD, nvdisp.sys, which is driver related. he then looked up on driver installing, he realized that you needa CLEAN INSTALL em. this foolish mistake wouldve cost him a new 300USD gpu -_-

    end of story morale, check what you're doing, don't assume stuff, possibly retry what you've done. it would suck to send off a laptop to repair when u realize it couldve been such a simple problem...again, im not saying that u installed driver wrong, but it could be the problem as i notice most ppl suffer performance issues due to drivers.

    temps below 108C, the operating temps ofthe GPU, shouldnt cause it to lag spike tho. and since this happened RITE AFTER win7 install, driver is the most probable culprit.
     
  5. graham2017

    graham2017 Newbie

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    I did a clean install of nvidia 186.81 with the same problems as before. I did notice that speedfan showed me gpu at 60C and core 0&1 at 45C before launching the game. 10 minutes into gameplay, gpu and cpu temps jumped to 110C and 75C respectively. I'm guessing an automatic downclock could be the reason. Why my laptop is running so hot is beyond me though.

    Any further insight?
     
  6. hustheman

    hustheman Notebook Evangelist

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    where are you using your laptop, also have you cleaned out your vents recently?
     
  7. Duct Tape Dude

    Duct Tape Dude Duct Tape Dude

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    This is definitely an overtemp/throttling problem I think. Clean your vents and try propping up the back with something to get more airflow-- should solve your problem.
     
  8. graham2017

    graham2017 Newbie

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    I'm in my living room most of the time. It typically sits on a desk or my.. lap. But no, I haven't cleaned my vents or opened up the laptop at all. My next move is to open it up and put some arctic silver or the cpu and clean the vent, but I'm wary of voiding my warranty or something; I'm more than willing to crack it open if it doesn't.
    I idle between 60-65°C GPU and 45-50°C CPU. If I were to start playing DA:O, I'll begin playing at 90°C GPU and 70°CPU. 10-20 minutes in, I'll be 110GPU and 75°C CPU, and this is where the video stutters at 1fps for 5-10 minutes. The HDD remains at a normal temperature (40°C) constantly.
    I'm really hoping cleaning/thermal paste will do the trick.
     
  9. NBRUser0159099

    NBRUser0159099 Notebook Deity

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    o so you hit 110C? i thought it was 97C...dam that is a problem...similar to this guy.

    come to think of it, i believe both ur problems are the same...

    install 186.03 driver from nvidia nad try do new thermal paste (specially on the CPU, 75C is considered the upper limit to normal cpu temps, ur 25W P8700 should ideally be hitting max mid 60s), taht is how metallic fixed his problem.
     
  10. graham2017

    graham2017 Newbie

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    I opened up my g50 and wiped all of the dust off the fan and vents. I began unscrewing the cpu/gpu mounts when realizing i'd have to unscrew a lot of screws due to the snaking heat pipe with all of the mounts anchored to it. One of the screws over the cpu mount has a sticker that said "warranty void if seal broken/damaged." So, needless to say, I didn't have the chance to put any arctic silver on the cpu. I also installed the 186.03 driver.
    When I tested to see if anything changed, I launched dragon age in a window. With the game and speedfan open, I started at the same idle GPU temperatures, slowly climbed to 110°C in about 15 minutes then was downclocked which dropped the temp to 100°C. At 100, everything returns to normal and the temp climbs back up to 110. And on and on and on...
    Even with the thermal paste on the cpu, I have the feeling that I'd still be stuck with the same GPU problem. Any other ideas I should try before taking the dive?
     
  11. HaloTechnology

    HaloTechnology Notebook Consultant

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    you have to clean the vent try compessed air to remove all dust
    and some brush
    my idle GPU temp is 48 degreem
    under full load 86 - 80 dgree
    CPU 42 dgree full load and overclocked 65 degree
    room temp is 24
     
  12. Metallic

    Metallic Notebook Evangelist

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