Burnout Running badly on a 9600M GT

Guys, I just installed Burnout paradise on my computer and after hearing about how well optimised it is, I am very disappointed

I have the game @1280x800 with settings on high, no AA and no SSAO
normally the framerate is in the low 20s, but whenever there is traffic, or I go fast ant turn, the FPS drop below 20
This also happens when I crash or break a sign etc.
Even enters single digits at times

This performance seems really bad, when I have read people with 8600M GTs getting better performance on the same settings
Any ideas why it is running so bad

I am using 179.28 drivers and specs are in the sig

This is unplayable and the game looks to be awesome
Please help

 

I found this post on Google that seems relevant:

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/Video.aspx?videoid=148904

I'll try it myself as soon as I get a pad (my old PS2 USB one won't work in Vista64).

So worth trying that driver revision perhaps?

 

Yeah, I am getting the latest DoX drivers as I speak and I'll try with them

My performance should be a bit better than his though, as I have DDR3

Strange though
The framerate doesn't even hit 30 for me, it only went that high once I think

 

Well i have 9600M GT DDR2 and i havn't had any problems yet.
I am using the latest nVidia Beta Drivers.
Settings ingame are at 1280x800 all on medium configuration.

Have you tried lower settings and see if that makes the difference?
Maybe your laptop is set to some sort of power saver mode?

 

Wow i'm running 1280 x 800 all medium with 30 - 60 fps with a 8400m GT(overclocked).

Driver: Dox's 180.84 version 1.1

Check your nvidia control panel and make sure you have it set to performance(not balanced or quality!)

 

Thanks for the input guys, but I got it fixed

I tried a different gaem and dead space that usually plays really well was lagging at around 13 FPS

I opened up Acer ePowerManagement, and started to check everything
Now the CPU speed when the laptop is in high performance and plugged in was set to minimum, no wonder there was so much lag even on high performance mode when plugged in

I set it to max, cranked all the settings on burnout as high as they go (SSOA off) and I am averaging 45 frames per sec.
In really demanding placed it goes down to ~37 and up to 60

Amazing, this game is awesome and runs well too