Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 and Aero slow?

I have an HP laptop that runs Aero a bit sluggishly, most noticable when minimizing windows and such. Is there anything I can do to make it run smoothly? I find it rather annoying seeing it "lag" when opening a window.

I notice that if I repeatedly minimize and maximize a window, it will eventually speed up and not be sluggish. I think the matter is similar to this one, but doesn't have a solution(?):
http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php/t-196730.html

My laptop has 2GB of RAM, with the Go 6150 of 64MB. I "set" the VRAM in the BIOS to 128MB, and found the graphics to run marginally smoother, but anyway. Would allocating virtual page file help? Is there something else I could set to keep the computer running Aero smoothly? Thanks a lot.

I believe I have the most updated nvidia driver as well.

 

I'm afraid your GPU is TOO low-end, and that's your problem. I guess the best thing you could do is turn off Aero.
I have lesser RAM than you ~ 1GB and I have a 6800GS. And Aero runs more smoothly than I had imagined. So it HAS to be your GPU, and since it can't exactly be upgraded, you're best off disabling Aero.

 

The thing is, Aero runs well some of the time and not so well most of the time. There WAS once (before I system restored, because of other reasons), when aero ran perfectly without any lag. I don't know what caused it however, I remember when I ran the test to find its index performance score, it was lower than it is now. What I'm saying is:
First there was the time when I got the computer, straight out of the box (bad Aero performance). Then a time when I did something (I don't know what I did exactly) = lower index score, but better Aero performance.
After that time, I system restored 'cause of other reasons = how it is now, possibly back to out-of-the-box performance.

It's a shame since I don't play games much, but would like to not have to see the lag everytime I open a "big" window. I like the way vista aero looks as well. *Shakes fist at himself for not knowing how poor Go 6150 is when he bought laptop*

Aside from my initial question, does anyone know if I can overclock the GPU?

 

Try updating to the latest drivers. That might help.

 

Try disabling the transitions, the ones that make windows fade in and zoom to maximise etc. You can still keep the glassy aero then.

Right click my computer, somewhere in an advanced performance tab (on XP at least)

 

I have 6100 ...same as 6150... U must update Video Drivers.. the Factory drivers are just TOO BAD for Vista.. your graphic card can easily handle Aero although not recommended.

 

Yeah, I suggest going onto laptopvideo2go and getting the latest driver for you GPU
174.20 Only if you have Vista 32-bit or go onto their site and find the latest one there
~Try setting up a PageFile
~Try ReadyBoost

I vagely remember having aero issues as well but I fixed it somehow, sorry but I can't remember

 

What should I set the pagefile to if I want to try that? I have 2GB of RAM so I'm unsure how much of a benefit (even if marginally would be good actually), there'd be. Currently, there's 2217MB allocated whereas it recommends something like 2800+. Should I set the pagefile to minimum and maximum 2800MB+? Or turn it off to decrease hard drive activity?

I do have vista 32-bit, and I believe my driver is updated (through windows update), but I'll give the 174.20 a try. I'm also already using readyboost.

Lastly, I was wondering. If I was able to overclock the GPU, would that help?

I appreciate all of everyone's help.

 

I have a similar laptop (HP with the 6150 and 2 GB of RAM) and mine runs aero perfectly fine. I am not using the newest video driver from windows update because I was running into the same lag issues and I kept getting a blank screen when the screen would do a refresh. I am currently running driver 7.15.10.9759 (according to device manager). One thing you might try to is going into the nvidia control panel and setting the graphics mode to "performance" and see if that does anything for you. I noticed when I had it set to let the program decide the settings I would get some pretty bad performance in some programs. Its something to try..

 

I already put the 3D graphics to "performance" and I don't see a difference at all actually. May I ask if the driver you're using allows scaling? The thing where if something runs in full screen, but is not meant for widescreen, you have the option to have black bars on the side so the image isn't distorted.

Edit: I just tried the driver from laptopvideo2go and did not see any difference. It is exactly the same as the driver I had already? At least, I don't see any differences at all. Nvidia control panel looks the same as well. Same Windows Experience Index as well.

 

According to my Comp engineer friends.. Pagefile should be double of RAM.. so keep it 4 GB

 

It's my understanding that you get more performance from a smaller page file, preferably on a separate partition. No page file is ideal (and you could probably get a way with it on 2gb RAM) but some programs refuse to cooperate with no page file. I use a 1gb PF for my 2gb RAM.

 

Page file is double RAM? I always thought it was half of RAM. I've read various things about page file from having none to decrease hard drive activity, from having too much isn't beneficial, etc.

I kinda doubt adding more of a page file helps with Aero's performance though...

Would it be a good idea to try changing my minimum and max page file to the reocommended amount? Or having no page file?

 

No page file means your OS goes for your RAM every time you need to get data, this can be a bad thing if you don't have enough on your system and the OS can't compensate by using the HDD pagefile as its backup.

 

I don't see an option in the control panel for scaling but I do remember running across it a while ago somewhere. I know when I am watching a movie it puts the black bars on the side if its a full screen version...

 

I use 156.73 from laptopvideo2go without any blank screen issues. It has scaling options, as well as digital vibrance.

Aero runs super smoothly, as do Colin McRae Rally 2005 and GTR2. (Under W.E.I., I get 3.2 for Aero, and 3.0 for Gaming Graphics.)

 

Is this the driver you mentioned?
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15641

Isn't that for XP though?

 

ForceWare X 156.73 for Windows Vista 32bit

Remember, you need to go INTO the forums to view all drivers. I hate it when people mention, "Go to LaptopVideo2Go.com to get the latest drivers" when their site doesn't even list the most up-to-date ones.

The latest is 174.20 but I heard that 174.16 is better. Link

 

i had a notebook with that gpu and i used ntune to OC and everything played smooth!

 

I would try the drivers first but one thing to consider is in your OP you stated that you had to do a restore due to other reasons. Restores are not always perfect so a clean install might be in order. Your lappy should run Aero fine with 2gigs of ram, but maybe just turning off some of the effects would help. On the subject of the PF it's common practice to have 1.5x your physical ram. Personally I let windows manage it and not worry about it.

 

I tried the 174.20, but it seems exactly the same as the most updated driver that my Windows Update told me to update for my Go 6150. May I ask if you know how is 174.16 better?

ntune... does any version work? o.o;; I'm new to overclocking, (I don't even know what program) even though I think it might do the trick to make Aero run smoothly.

 

Bump. Still inquiring information about ntune.