Help please? Sudden slowdowns.

Hi everyone,
I have a new Compaq v4000t. pentium m 740 1.73 ghz, ati x700 128 mb graphics. I love it so far but have run into an issue with the BF2 demo.

After about 2-5 minutes of play, my fps drops from an average of about 50-60 to low 20's-high teens. I'm assuming this is my processor stepping down or something but don't know how to keep it from doing this. High teens fps makes the game choppy and no fun. How can if fix this?

I always make sure my fan isn't blocked when I play. Is it getting too hot?

Also, I'm running only the demo and only in singleplayer mode so far...could that make a difference? Thanks again,

-Winterymix

 

Well, there are a bunch of factors that could lead to this. How much RAM do you have?

Also, I recommend downloading and installing the latest video drivers - the Mobility Catalyst 6.2's There's a link in the software forum to d/l.

 

I have 1.25 gb of ram. Also, the installer says the newest ati drivers won't work with my system. I saw somewhere that i have to use the ATI drivers supplied on Compaq's website because they modify them in some way. But I do have the newest on from there...which came out in Oct 05. I get great fps for the first several minutes I play, it's after that I'll get a sudden drop and they stay low.

 

You need to download the Mobility Catalyst drivers - the regular ones are for desktops, and will not install unless you crack them. It is easier to just get the Mobility Drivers. Check the direct link to download in the hardware section, or in the News Bits from Monday, which are on the front page.

 

The mobility drivers are what i tried. It downloads a utility to check your systems compatibility first, it said it wasn't compatable with my system and to check the manufacterer's website. I started checking around and found a post from someone saying compaq modifies the ati drivers somehow for the presario laptops and you have to download them from compaq's site. Is there any chance this could be heat related?

-Winterymix

 

Yes. Speedstep will throttle your CPU's frequency when things get to hot. DL speedfan or something to check your temp. You should be able to check what throtthling speed is enabled in your bios. Your knee temperatues might be there too, not sure.

 

try lowering the resolution in the in-game settings and run the game on low detail settings and see if it still runs slow at low settings.

Try using on a cool desk as well. Also, check out this site for mot information on overheating: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/143

 

Don't know if this is a solution for you, but whenever I play WoW with ac AND battery connected, I get temporary slowdown after about an hour.

It has never happened with the battery disconnected.

If it is heat related, the best solution would probably be to get a laptop cooler.

 

HP/Compaq's drivers are special in that they allow your computer to wake up from standby (literally, they turn the LCD on).

This is why i am still stuck with the ones shipped with my laptop instead of using the latest Mobility Catalyst because I need that functionality.

Darn HP!!

 

The drivers on hp's support page are probably newer than the ones that came with your computer.

I'm in the same boat. I wish I could use more recent drivers but dealing with compatibility issues isn't worth a few fps to me.

 

You must have gone to ATI's website. You did not follow the direct link to download:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=40199

It's in there. Following that link allows you to bypass the stupid checker thing.

And, the video drivers, whether they are from HP or not, will work if they are for an ATI card.

 

Ok, I think I've found the problem. My machine is getting too hot. I loaded RMClock to lower the voltage a bit on my cpu. My pentium m 740 was running @ 1.73ghz when i started BF2 up, like it should. After about 5 min of gameplay, my fps dropped like a rock and i quickly exited the game. Sure enough, RMClock showed I was only running @ about 800mhz in the system tray. After a few minutes, the clock shot back up to 1.73. Is this abnormal? I've seen posts from many other people using this exact model laptop for gaming, even specifically for BF2 and I haven't seen anyone complain of this. My fan is ramping up as it should during the game. After about 1 min of gameplay it kicks up to full blast. Any ideas? BTW, I'm not using a cooling pad of any kind, just stock cooling.

-Winterymix

 

It could be that your notebook is getting too hot, and then it cuts the clockspeed of the CPU/GPU so it will produce less heat.

Install ATI Tray Tools, see if you can see your GPU temperatures. Also, download MobileMeter, and have it run always on top (you'll see how to do that - it will be in options) so you can monitor the frequency and temperature of the CPU during games. Let us know how you make out.

 

Ok, had MobileMeter running while i was playing, slowdown occured @ 74c. I'm assuming thats the processor temp because it was the highest one. It may have dropped a point by the time i exited the program (which only took about 10 seconds) so it may be set to clock back at 75. Anyhow, is that extreamly hot?

Thanks,
-Winterymix

 

Winterymix, have you found a solution to your problem yet? I have the exact same issues as you.

Also, is it safe for me to use the Catalyst 6.2 drivers, even though it would cause some capatibility issues with my V4000T? I don't use standby at all.

 

No I still haven't found a solution, I'm getting ready to send my v4000t back to compaq for a refund. I'm pretty certain this is a design flaw because a friend of mine has exactly the same machine and his does the same thing. The processor is designed to throttle back at 75c, then it throttles back up once it cools to 65c. I have found many applications that claim to be able to disable this thermal monitoring, but none of them have actually worked. I'm really upset that i spent the money on this machine to get a high end graphics card so i could play the newer games, and it can't stay cool enough for me to use it. I might as well have bought a machine with a x300 or x600 in it because at least i might be able to play consistantly, even if it's at lower settings or fps. I even have a coolpad running under my machine and after 10 minutes of playing CS:Source or BF2, the processor throttles back to 900mhz and my game goes to hell. I'm really disappointed. I have no idea what i'm going to buy to replace it, i want a machine that can handle the higher-end games that i mentioned above, but only have $1100.00 to spend...and thats a strict budget, i can't go a dime more. :-/ Anyone have any suggestions?