Gateway P-6860 FX *serious* graphics card problems!!

Hi guys.

I am a relative newbie to more serious gaming, and bought a fantastic gaming rig - the Gateway P-6860 FX imported from the States. The spec is;

C2D 1.83ghz
4gb ram
Vista 64bit
I am using a Zalman NC2000 cooler

I got this laptop a few days ago as a refurb, and its great apart from my gaming performance, which is the reason I got the thing!!
I installed the game Deus Ex, which this machine should be able to *comfortably* play, however after around 30 minutes of playing I noticed some considerable lagging, and dropping in frame rate. I restarted the computer, played for another 30 minutes and got exactly the same thing.
I use speedfan to measure the core temperature, as I fear it was overheating, and this laptop with the cooler running has an idle core temp of 40-42c and when playing Deus Ex a temp of 60-65c..

I then installed and ran GTA San Andreas which again my top of the line video card should have no problems playing but had exactly the same problem. I then downloaded and used 3dmark to test my frame rates, and I averaged at 12fps.

I then downloaded and installed drivers from 3dguru.com, updating it to version 7.15.11.7485 and ran the test again, this improved the FPS to 19fps on the graphics test.

This is a real worry for me, as it appears people using the stock CPU with identical spec are getting 50+ FPS playing Crysis and the like, & in benchmark tests, whereas my identical machine is struggling to run the likes of Deus Ex!!

It scores 5.9 for graphics on the Vista tests, and 5.8 for gaming graphics so I know it *can* do it.

Please, please please tell me what I'm doing wrong, and how I can start getting the most out of this baby!! I'd really appreciate any help, especially from people who own the same machine.

 

I believe it's the conflict between the drivers and vista updates, I had experienced multiple times already. My advice is, try the older drivers like 175 series, they have less compatible issues.
At the mean time, monitor your clockings via rivatuner, you will see them dropping when that happen again.

 

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, but I don't understand this bit fully;

"At the mean time, monitor your clockings via rivatuner, you will see them dropping when that happen again."

I am aware that my FPS performance is poor, so there is nothing I can really do 'in the mean time' until I find the settings to make it start performing..

 

are you plugged in and do you have your power settings set to high performance?

 

sounds like your GPU is overheating.

SpeedFan is a poor application for notebooks, since it does not tell you mobile GPU temps.

use RivaTuner to monitor the GPU temps in-game.

if they exceed 90C... then thats the reason.

if so then read this.....

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If you are overheating... usually any temp over 90C degrees is bad.

when was the last time that you cleaned out the fans and vents thoroughly...?

if never, then thats why.

1) remove battery
2) remove/unscrew the panels on the bottom of the notebook to get to fans and vents ( if possible, if not its okay)
3) use flashlight to look through vents for the dust (if you cant see the light on the other end, then the vents are clogged up)
4) go outside, get some compressed air (cans or compressor @ 50 PSI) and give the vents a good airing out all directions ( concentrating on the vents)
.... you might want to brace the fan blade(s) when airing it out (with a toothpick or paperclip to prevent it from spinning out too much)
.... or use short bursts (1-2 secs) of air instead of bracing the fans.
5) go get some Q-tips and swab the fan blades and the area around it
6) then go do a second airing with compressed air (all directions again focusing on the fans and vents) to push out the dust that was dislodged from the Q-tips

7*) Now go use the flashlight again and look through the vents (shine the flashlight from the fan, you look through the other end) for anymore dust clogs.

8) Then start up the notebook... and let the fans cycle up (use the Fan Toggle at max speed if your system has it) to push out any other dust that might have been stuck.

If all goes well you should be able to close up the notebook and...

you're done.

*repeat this step until its cleaned out.

Thats pretty much it.

Just make sure to do this every two-three months... it should take about 15-20min per cleaning if you want to be thorough.

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Gaming notebooks are a new thing, you must realize that you have to take some extra care of them over typical use notebooks:

1) Battery: to maintain the longevity of any rechargeable battery
- you must NEVER overcharge it [especially for long durations of time] by keeping it plugged into AC
- when it reaches 100% you should unplug it and let it discharge to 5-15%, then plug it back to power
- OR you can just charge it to 50%+ and remove the battery and store in cool place.. not the fridge [remember to use it occasionally 3-4 time a year to charge and discharge it].

2.) Heat: to prevent a healthy notebook from overheating
- ALWAYS use the notebook on a clean, hard & flat surface
- NEVER use on soft surfaces (laps, beds, couch, etc.) that can block the fans on the bottom
- RECOMMENDED to be used on a notebook cooler... namely the Zalman ZM-NC1000 or ZM-NC2000
- check your fans underneath occasionally (at least once a month or two) for any dust clogs [clean them out with Q-tips and air cans/compressors]
- ALWAYS monitor the temps (CPU, GPU, HDD, etc..) to watch for fluctuations, which would indicate overheating by dust usually

By doing these simple things, your entire system will easily last for more than 3 years.

 

Gophn speed fan works for me, but I agree it is wrong sometimes and HW monitor is a much better application. Make sure you have it raised atleast an inch, no vents are blocked, and you have blown out all the vents with compressed air. 177.95 drivers I ave ATM, and they are working great, no problems at all.

 

also you should try newer drivers from laptopvideo2go.com