Low Framerates?

Hey all,

I don't know a ton about GPUs, so please help me out. I just bought a new laptop: ASUS G53SX. I looked at the following webpage for framerate benchmarks: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M - Notebookcheck.net Tech.

However, in BFBC2 I'm getting about 35-55 FPS in medium settings and 20-30 FPS in high settings. That's clearly way different than those benchmarks.

Is there a reason for this discrepancy? Anything I can do/tweak?

Thanks!

CPU: I7 2630QM
GPU: GTX 560M
RAM: 8GB DDR3
VRAM: 2GB
OS: Windows 7 64 bit
Resolution: 1920x1080

 

The G53SX has a GIMPED 128-bit GTX 560m GPU. This will perform to a lesser degree than a true 192-bit GTX 560m.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-gaming-notebook-forum/613215-g53sx-g74sx.html

Why ASUS decided to use such cards still baffles me.

 

Hey bro, I believed that your laptop carries the 2gb version of the GTX 560m, which I believed only has a 128 bit bus, unlike the one stated there on the Notebookcheck whereas it has a 192 bit bus and likely to have the 3GB VRAM on it.

Some people here in the forums tagged that version of GTX 560m as 'crippled' to it's counterpart. Although that card is still a powerhouse and I can't believe that you are getting only 30FPS in high settings. What Nvidia drivers are installed into your machine at the moment?

 

Well that's pretty frustrating... Anything I can do to speed it up safely?

 

Trying to update drivers now to LV2G drivers... I'll post any changes.

 

There are ways to improve your gaming experience, but be mindful into watching your temps, I suggest getting this gadget that watch both your CPU and GPU temps.

First is by using overclocking method, although I have no experience using it as some says that it will shorten the lifespan of your machine due to the sideeffect to an increase of temperature.
Secondly as that machine is also an Asus G Series same as mine, you may try using the Throttlestop software in order to increase performance while playing. I suggest try browsing into the Asus column of this forum to gain further ideas on it.

Both of these methods I haven't used, although with my card (GTX 460m) which is a bit older than yours, I'm not having any performance issue with BFBC2, just make sure all your drivers are up to date.

 

Updated drivers to the latest LVTG. Small increase in FR; perhaps 5FPS.

What is the generally accepted regarding overclocking? And what can Throttlestop do?

 

Well haven't really tested both, but here are some helpful links you might find interesting to read:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-reviews-owners-lounges/547044-asus-g73sw-owners-lounge-153.html

As far as I understood, Throttlestop works well to games like GTA4, and I saw someone from the G53SW forums that after using Throttlestop, his FPS increased while playing Starcraft 2. I believed you just need to select the profile 2 while launching the settings before playing the game. Although be wary as you need a power brick that can consume a lot of watts.

In the MSI Afterburner, not really sure on the whole process, maybe some people here that have an experience could help you out here.

 

I've been searching around with respect to the difference between the 192 v 128. Maybe I'm understanding wrong, but that doesn't seem to be enough of a factor to explain the lower framerates I'm seeing.

Against the benchmarks I cited above:
Medium: 40 fps v 90 fps
High: 25 fps v 67 fps

Is the difference in the two cards really enough to cause those discrepancies?

 

Because those are also MUCH cheaper than the 192 bit versions. As said, you get what you pay for. Even with excellent price/performance offerings from Asus, you still have to pay for it, a little bit at least. What do you expect for $1200? Also gives people an incentive and good reasons for spending $1400 on the non-gimped version!

 

Toshiba Qosmios use 192-bit GTX 560m cards. They start at $1100.
I think ASUS could do better.

 

With the options that Asus provides with the 560M with 192 bit, the Quasmio is around $1600. Except the G74SX still has the quietest dual fan cooling system that keeps even a highly overclocked 560M under 80C when playing demanding games like Crysis 2. One owner in Asus forum shown his 560M with a 20% overclock and it's still around mid 60c for his, which is as good as desktop cooling. And yet he claims it's still by far the quietest system he's heard.

Due to how G series are designed, these are truly laptops. You can play games anywhere without worrying about placing the laptop on your bed, different surfaces or your lap.

No doubt your Quosmio is a nice gaming machine, but I've seen them and heard their fans. The fans not to exaggerate too much, but difference to me is, my G73 fans are bud earphones, the Quosmio is a floor standing speaker.

This is something hard to appreciate when you haven't used the newer generations of Asus G series notebooks. So far in the Asus forum, those who have upgraded to Clevo/Alienware all have commented that they really miss the quiet fans of the G series and didn't realize how much it mattered to them now that they have louder fans.

The G74 cooling system is also cooler and quieter than my G73, so it must be blissful. That's the additional huge + you get with an Asus over the competitor performance/dollar offerings from MSI/Clevo/Toshiba/HP. It's unmatched.

Toshiba Qosmio X770 Laptop Computers - All Available Models & Configurations

And you can ask anyone in Asus forum, I'm a pretty disgruntled Asus customer, but the fan noise thing is something that nags on me, something I'll have a really hard time letting go of if I upgrade to another laptop next year. I just hope Asus steps up to the plate in 2012 and hit a home run.

 

the only thing i can think of that would give you almost half the frame rate would be that your either running on battery power or you are stuck in battery power mode. This has to do with nvidia's powermizer. i know there is a powermizer disable switch software although i havent used it in a very long time im not sure if its been updated or even if it still functions but maybe give that a shot or just plug your laptop in to the wall when ever you want to game on it.(assuming its not stuck in battery power mode)

 

Certainly not trying to game off battery power; the laptop is plugged in and power profile is high performance. GPUZ graphs don't show the clock speed of the card decreasing ever when I game; isn't that what Powermizer would do?