FPS drops while gaming (M90)

Every time I try to play a graphically intensive game like R6 or Oblivion my FPS goes from 30 to 5 for about 30 seconds every 5 minutes. Doesn't matter which resolution I am playing at...

Has anyone experienced something like this?

 

Do you have a virus scanner running? Every 5 minutes sounds like a scheduled process that's hitting the resources when the game wants them.

 

No, I tried killing all non-essential processes and there was no effect. This only happens in the games i mentioned above...NFS:C, FIFA07, C&C all run fine on max settings.

I'm afraid i'll have to reformat this weekend...

 

Maybe the game's resource files (the big packages specially) are too much fragmented, defrag , I hope it'll work.

 

tied that too... =((

 

What the drivers, specially the suspicious one's ?
Have you tried "Dell Decrapifier" ?
Try the lastest nVidia drivers, if you have Vista,you'll have to wait for a month to get "working" drivers.

 

actually that sounds like the videocard downclocking because it reached a certain high temp.

you should use RivaTuner to monitor the GPU temps (even in game, there is a on-screen display on the top-left of the fullscreen game)

Check this out:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=81852

 

I have XP and the latest drivers for Quadro FX2500M
What's Dell Decrapifier? Never heard of it

 

Hm...the symptoms seems to match
However, I have Dell fan control and the video card temp stays in the 80-85C range during gaming, even when the slowdown occurs. I'll try to cool down the card to see if it helps.

 

I have the exact same thing on my old Dell laptop, I'm going to update the gfx drivers now.

 

I've yet to have a problem, but I have the 1500M. I would suggest using the Dell drivers from dell.com. They are usually the best bet for the Quadro cards as the ones from places like tweaksrus are actually designed for the Geforce cards. Dell's defaults are usually the most stable (I believe they're in the 84.xx series). And 80-85C is not really that high for a 2500M, so I don't think that's the problem.

I would recommend a reformat anyway. When you get the computer, it seems like there's not much bloat on there (and there's not compared to most computers), but what is on there takes a lot of processes. I think it's the built in hardware-security suite they put on there...

 

OK.
I am 99% sure it's the heat that's causing the slowdown. This issue makes the laptop obsolete for high-resolution gaming.

 

I reformated the computer when I bought it a few months ago. I'll do it again this weekend but I don't think it will help. I am almost positive it's the heat. I wonder if this is a defect in my laptop or standard for all M90 with 2500M

 

hopefully you are using a notebook cooler, it helps... marginally at least.

The best 17" notebook cooler seems to be the Zalman ZM-NC1000. But its not very portable.

I use a Vantec LapCool4 for my 17" notebook, its portable and gets the job done.

 

I think it's ridiculous that I had to pay over 2k for a laptop that can not sustain the heat level of it's own factory clocked and configured hardware. It's like buying a sports car that can go 200mph but once you reach that speed the engine stops working and you have to drive at 50mph until it cools down...

I don't think a cooler is an option for me, i need portability =((
Thanks for the advice anyway

 

Umm, I would try and get the videocard replaced if this problem really is overheating.

 

I called Dell, they recommended installing the latest BIOS update.

Fixes/Enhancements
------------------
1. Added support for newer versions of the Intel processor.
2. Improved Express Card support for Vista.
3. Thermal control enhancement.
4. Updated message prompt for unmatched adapter & battery.
5. Updated Computrace ROM to support under Vista.

Let's see if this makes any difference

 

thats good to here, because you should not live with such a problem.

 

had the video card and the fan replaced today
as a result peak GPU temp dropped by 20C!!!
it was a factory defect after all =)

ps: 3dmark score increased by 30 points too =))

 

sweet, good to hear. keep that monster cool.

 

Awesome to hear. I'm surprised to hear it, because honestly, I didn't think 85C was too high, especially for a 7900GTX/2500M. But I'm glad to hear you got things worked out and all is good now.

 

perhaps the temp. reading is wrong
i was using the I8kfan app
rivatuner actually shows higher temps (about 10c higher)

Thanks to all for the advice and moral support! =))

 

You did add the +8C in I8kfan? You should be able to calibrate it with your stock nVidia control panel? I have a mild OC on my 7900 and see 81-82C with fan on high after a four hour run of Oblivion.

 

Why should I add 8C? Is that by how much 2500m is usually off? The nvidia panel I have does not give a temp reading =(

 

Search threads for the I8kfan offset and reasons if you wish, I think the program reads the same sensor as our GPU's are not that different? I'm still using stock CP that will give you temp read out that is read accurately but use I8kfan for logging.

Sounds like you had a bad thermal pad on the GPU. Post your temps if you get a chance.

Cheers