z71v chokes/stutters/struggles on DVD and video playing

My laptop seems to choke up alot. I got it back in May2005 from xmeld. I really feel I have had this problem since I have got it. I tried the reformat, reinstall windows, but the problem persists. This is my first notebook computer so I have been unsure of what is normal. Now my friend just got a new laptop and his performs way better then mine does for basic things like playing a dvd. When I go to play a DVD or any video on my z71v the fans kick into high gear, and everything starts choking up, and if the video does play its skips like the notebook is struggling to play the movie. This usually happens when I have had my laptop on and been doing some tasks on it, when I restart it seems to play fine for a while then starts to choke up. Just doing generic tasks my notebook seems to struggle sometimes, and the fans get really loud as if the graphics or cpu is working real hard. This occurs often when just surfing the internet. I have checked processes, and there is nothing foreign going on to me, and i do not have any demanding tasks running when doing any of these task. The only thing I usually have open is AIM. I feel like something is overheating, or just getting too hot or something. I was wondering what other peoples experiences are with this notebook. Does your notebook do this with dvds, have you noticed anything like this? is this normal? Are notebooks out now just that much better, that they dont even blink in performing these types of tasks?

 

no your laptop definately has something wrong with it. It sounds like an overheating problem like you said but try these and report back here:

1) use a program called VideoLAN VLC to play DVDs
2) go into power settings and change the current profile to "Always ON"
3) use a program called Notebook Hardware Control and tell us the temperature of the CPU and GPU when your laptop is turned on and when the skipping starts.

 

For #1, I presume this is a program that just plays dvds better?
#2 I think I should have that set at that already, will check.
#3- I'll try this after work. and post temps. any ideas what temps for this laptop will be bad?

 

I realize that you 'checked' the processes. First thing to do whenever you encounter a slowdown of any sort is to remove a lot of processes. Then see if the program responds better (in your case, stops stuttering/choking/etc).

 

I ran NHC, played some videos. It spiked just a few times, cpu mhz went way up/maxed out, voltage increased, and %cpu maxed. At these points stuttering occurred. I then wanted to try a game to see how it performed. In counter-strike, it averaged 17fps on the video stress test. I see reports of people saying they get 40-80 fps, unsure if thats in game or video stress test though.

I do not see any GPU temperature in this program (NHC), i looked around in the settings and could not find anything?

Gautam, there are alot of processes listed, I am not familiar with most of them. Its ok to just end these processes seeing if it affects slow down or anything?

 

GPU temp i dont think is important anymore whats happening is that a background process is taking up so much of the CPU it cant process the DVD decoding properly.

Disable non essential processes using this guide http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=5787 , also keep an eye on the program causing the CPU to spike. Just end it and make sure your CPU stays idle for a while then watch a DVD. It should be smooth.

Post what the processes is as well, it may/may not be essential.

Regarding temps, unless the laptop feels hot to you dont worry about them. 30-50 is common 60-90 is hot and 90+ is dangerous for the CPU and GPU, HD temps are 60+ dangerous.

 

I ended every process that had my name tied to it, it didnt stop the choking. I had to restart. I have found another report of this on another forum, and the guys gpu was fried, same symptoms as me. However he provided no update, just says what the problem was, that his reseller was in the process of replacing it.

 

hmmm that is strange. To check GPU temps there should be a temps option in the Nvidia Control Panel.

Try uninstalling your video drivers and installing the ones from www.laptopvideo2go.com. They are pretty good and stable, i think the recommended one to use is 84.25 but i use 84.63 without a hitch.

Also if there are any BIOS updates for your laptop they might help fix the issues by updating the video BIOS.

Apart from that I cant really think of anything else apart from sending it in. Did it happen when using VLC? Its a lighter program than other DVD players so doesnt use as many resources. Also what was the program causing the CPU spikes? Does this happen in safe mode?

 

your HS could look like this:

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=138273

 

gb, Besides what rad said & SnoP cleaning. Have you ever opened it up, or R U unwilling to risk cancel a warranty? (Expired by now, or U bought an ext?)
How many processes R U running in Windows task Mgr? I have 45 while running SD1.4, Spyware Doc, AVG Free, 2 batteries charging, 2 WiFi connections.

May still have a plastic pad between CPU or GPU chip & Heat sink/cooler adapter, some OEM forget to remove it! Thermal pad OK, but not the thin plastic sheet, like backing on Velcro.

Also get SpeedFan 4.29 http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php.After install SF click configure, Options DISABLE Dell support, configure rest later.

Temps (F) as I post this CPU 115, M7V MoBo {local] 113, GPU (Remote) 142, i915PM Northbridge (Temp 1) 115,
HD 118, which is high because I have a USR 5410 in the PCMCIA slot.

I have been online about 1 1/2 hours, am running SF but not configured yet, NHC2 pr2 is limiting my 725 to 6x @ .700Vcore as I am real life testing last nites experiment to extend battery life to max while on line. U got NHC2 pr3?

With NHC enable the monitoring graph & watch the changes.

I have BIOS 2.12, GPU drvr modded inf 84.26