CPU running slow, lag in css

Hey
I just bought an acer aspire 5023WLMi earlier today.
It has an AMD Turion 64 ML-32 processor (think 1.8ghz it says..)
an ATI mobility Radeon x700 PCI-E with 256mb dedicated ram.
100GB HDD
1gb DDR Ram
Wlan and stuff..

But when I try to play cs: source, I get a pretty nice framerate with high settings, 50-90FPS..
But it doesn't feel that smooth, and I get some pretty nasty lagspikes..
I think it's because when I start the game, and console shows up, it says my processor is running @ 800mhz. I have it plugged in, but it still runs at 800mhz. It's especially on "larger" maps it lags (dust2 was pretty laggy, even with every gfx settings on low, while fy_buzzkill ran ok)
Do you think the CPU speed is the issue?
If so, how do I change it back to normal? (I'm not gonna be overclocking)
Please help. Thanks

 

change your power profile to like desktop and see what it does play with your power profiles. I use rmclock to setup custom profiles when im gonna game or just surf the net.

 

hmm, ok. Where do I do that?

But now I found out that my PC is ****ed
I start cs: source, and when joining a server, the screen went as if the graphics card had blown up or something.
So after trying different things and stuff, I decided to turn off the machine.
When I did that, some windows with programs closing showed up...
One of those windows was called: "Virus Detected!"
And I could see my anitvirus (trend micro) was sending some kind of message.
I bought this laptop used, 4 months old.
I'm thinking about reformatting, do you think I should?
It would be kind of nice maybe, also to know that the computer is clean. (Which it apparently isn't, as it is.)

 

A reformat on a computer bought used is probably always a good idea. Seems like you have either a) a heat-related issue or b) a messed-up Windows installation. Given the symptoms you describe, I'd try reformatting, then running Windows update, installing the latest drivers, etc. and see if that helps. It should. If not, it could be heat, or just the general issues Valve is having with the Source engine as of late (you should see how bad the fog/smoke effects look on the 8800 series, not to mention how bad the performance is).

 

I haven't reformatted yet, but it's still a bit laggy, but it' really not much.
It can just freeze for half a sec every 15 mins or so..
I downloaded some CPU and GFX drivers, and I already have the latest BIOS.
I also installed a program where I could adjust how many mhz my CPU was running.. (Although it should change itself.)
BUT when I run system requirements lab thingy, it says that almost every game from the year 2004 and up will run kinda bad on my PC, because of my processor speed. It says I have a Turion 64 ML-32 1.8ghz rated at 2.06ghz,
and that can only fulfill the minimum requirements of games, only games that are years old shows up as "recommended".
Is this true? Is my turion 64 ML-32 1.8ghz a sucky CPU?

 

Your Turion 64 isn't a bad CPU, but it isn't the best. It is about as fast as my Pentium M 1.86GHz.

As for CS:S, what is your ping on the servers you are playing on? If you create a server and play with a few bots, is there still lag?

Don't always listen to the system requirements lab thing, it usually is off in some way. The Turion 64 can run any modern game as can my Pentium M. The 256MB X700 is a capable card but is a bit outdated.

You do know that you didn't exactly buy 'new' technology. It's two generations old.

 

It's also not meant for the newest games..
Besides I got it pretty cheap. About 140$ more than the cheapest notebook u can get on the net (new), celeron processor, 512mb ram, 40gb HDD...
And it's 4 months old...
So.
Also, because I bought it used, I can sell used for the same price
Maybe I'll do that if something used shows up like geforce go 7600 and core2duo.. But we don't really have that much of that in Denmark.. Except the zepto 6214W, but I'm not very fond of that 14.1"..
ASUS are pretty expensive here.
About twice as much money as newegg.. :s

 

I didn't have that information before; you made a great deal then. You could look at the Zepto 2425W, it's a rebadged Compal HEL80.

Let us know how you make out with CSS.

 

omg man... You say the turion can run any modern game.. What's my problem here?

I formatted the PC now, then with the original drivers css crashed.
I uninstalled them and installed latest drivers for CPU and GFX.
Dunno bout the motherboard, but it's latest BIOS anyway..

CSS runs with lag every 15secs or when someone comes in front of me.
Like it runs ok for 15sec, freezes for half a sec and then runs ok for 15sec and so and so...
What is my problem? The servers I play on have decent ping, and it also lags when I play against bots.

aw man, this sucks Can anyone help me, PLEASE?

 

eh...
My CPU is 75 degrees celcius, 167 Fahrenheit, when I play.
Could that be my problem?

 

That is the problem. You're running too hot. Try opening the thing up and dusting it out. It would also be a good idea to try to find a good cooling pad.

 

hm..
I don't want to open it up and lose my 1½ year right to send the computer in, if anything is wrong with it.
You think Acer would dust it out or get rid of the problem if I sent it in?
Could I try sending it in saying: i"t's laggy and I have no idea why" ?

 

When I run 3dmark03 my score is 5554.. Does that tell you anything?

 

What do you think, what should I do?

 

Let me ask you this - is your hard drive activity light blinking or on constantly when you are playing games? If so, then that's an indication you are running out of system RAM and Windows is starting to use the Page File on the hard drive. That is extremely slow and would explain your performance problem.

Nope, the Pentium M can handle temperatures up to about 95 - 100*C before it shuts down. 75*C is warm but not dangerous. You can check the cooling guide if you want to cool down your laptop some.

Could you run 3DMark05 for us?

 

His temperature is high for a Turion processor.

Your 3DMark 03 score is ok for a 128mb x700 I think.

 

it says my processor is 61 celcius when I have just started it up.
Maybe my sensors aren't that great?
no my harddrive doesn't really blink when I'm in the game.
It can blink every 20secs maybe, but it's not much.
It says I use 500mb ram, and I have 1 gig, so..
I'll run 3dmark 05 later today, and it's not a 128mb card, it's a 256 x700..
Thanks for the help so far.

 

ok, I ran 3dmark05. Here's what I copied: ( http://service.futuremark.com/orb/resultanalyzer.jsp?projectType=12&XLID=0&UID=7948815)

Main Test Results

3DMark Score 2602 3DMarks

CPU Score 3176 CPUMarks

Detailed Test Results:
Game Tests:
GT1 - Return To Proxycon 11.3 fps
GT2 - Firefly Forest 8.3 fps
GT3 - Canyon Flight 12.0 fps

CPU Tests:
CPU Test 1 1.6 fps
CPU Test 2 2.7 fps

all the other tests say N/A.
So does that tell you anything?
I think I'll try phoning Acer tomorrow. Hear if I should send it in or what.
What are your suggestions, and can you see on my score that my system lags?
Thanks.

 

That score is normal for a 256MB X700, so that tells us that there is nothing wrong with your card.

Have you tried playing other games with this notebook yet?

 

I tried playing BF 1942 (from 2002)
And it was a bit laggy :O
But that was with my old driver for GFX which caused CSS to crash, so I'm not sure if that counts. I gotta go now, but I'll try running it later.

BUT I got some new info that might help...
When I get those lagspikes I'm talking about, my ping rises from 25 to 50 (app) and when the lagspike is over (½-1 second later) the ping is normal again. My FPS may also drop when this happens, but it doesn't go below 40.. On my friend's internet which is great, get ping of 5 or something, it's the same. The same lag, didn't have net graph on, so don't know if my ping flew up then..
But the strange thing is that it also lags when I'm playing against bots..
I really don't know what to do :'(

 

aw man!!!
It doesn't even run BF 1942 fluent :'(
What the hell is wrong :'(
I don't know my FPS, but it's doing the same as in css, with lagspikes that lasts for ½ a sec.

 

backup your stuff and reformat and start fresh is the best advice I can give you.

 

Yeah, it's now time to do a reformat.

 

been there DONE THAT
allready reformatted, it was fresh when these problems started (they have been there since the very first day)

 

Which drivers are you using? Use the Driver Update guide and get the ATI Catalyst Mobility from ATI.

Also, are your power options set to Portable/Laptop in the Control Panel?

 

I'm using Radeon Omega Drivers 3.8.330 for my 256mb x700
and I installed AmdK8 05/27/2006 1.3.2.0 for my turion 64.
Downloaded it here http://www.amd.com/gb-uk/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13349,00.html
it's the one that says

AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16

And I have BIOS 1.20 (the latest)

Should I be using anything else?
What do you use, and what can you recommend?

 

it shouldn't be because my HDD runs with 4200RPM huh?
(I'm not even sure if it does, I think my model is a newer one..
It has 100GB HDD anyway..)
I phoned Acer, they said I could try sending it in.
So I think that's what I'm gonna do.

 

The hard drive, even if it is 4,200RPM, should not affect your in-game performance because it is not being used to do any of the action on-screen. It is only used to load game data before the game/level starts. There must be some sort of background program running that is interrupting your gameplay.

Could you provide us with a list of programs you have running in the background (antivirus, and so on)?

 

I too am having a little lag these days in CSS -- something I have never encountered before while playing. I still to this day think its the recent Steam update that is the problem.