Sudden Game performance drop

System Specs:
Windows 7 64-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.40Ghz
4GB Ram
Nvidia Quadro FX 570m

I usually borrow game from my friends and when I do I have noticed a huge performance drop while in the middle of playing. Games like Sims 3, Starship Troopers and Command & Conquer 4 work fine. There are other games like Burnout Paradise, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit and Need For Speed: World all have this problem. I will install the games and they will work perfectly for the first hour or so, then all of a sudden the frame rate will drop dramatically to 10 fps or less to where they are barely playable or it will freeze and do a quick freeze with a sound stutter. The latest game this has happened on is NFS Hot Pursuit. I was playing for probably an hour or two and then I entered into a race and it started to act up. I figured maybe it was my system or something not being able to keep up with a faster display rate of a faster car. So i decided to try to go back and play a previous race where there wasn't an issue and it still acted up, now no matter what race I do it stutter and the frame rate will have spurts of good frame rate and horrible. I have tried defraging and cleaning out all the normal stuff and that didn't help. I also tried reducing everything to lowest graphics level in the game and its still horrible.

If it was my graphics card (which I know isn't the greatest) then I wouldn't be getting such great performance in the beginning and I'm also having the issue on NFS: World which doesn't have high end graphics. While running NFS: Hot Pursuit my machine only takes up 2.5gb of ram but my CPU is maxing out, so I'm suspecting that is my issue. How to I reduce the work load on my CPU while running these games or what is it about these games that are causing such a high load? Are there any other possible reasons for the sudden drop?

 

Sounds like overheating tbh, either the GPU or CPU are downclocking due to temps.

Try using HWmonitor during gaming and record the highest temps.

CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

 

Processor
Core 0 - 71C 159F
Core 1 - 73C 163F

Graphics Card - 88C 190F

I'm not sure what reasonable temps are but the Nvidia 570m are known to run hot, I have seen mine reach into the 90-92C range while gaming. I had a custom Temp program that I used to keep the fan constantly on at full speed in an attempt to keep it cool but during a recent update the temperature sensor no longer works so the constant fan trick no longer works.

 

That's the load temp, I presume? If so, temp doesn't seem to be the culprit. Maybe try to switch to another drivers? Quadro cards ain't exactly designed for gaming, so it might be picky about drivers when it comes to gaming.

 

If it isn't temps it could possibly be a memory leak.

 

I would try updating to a different driver and perform a clean install while you are at it. Here's how to do it:
Download DriverSweeper and CCleaner(both are free)
Uninstall your nVidia drivers.
Reboot and goto safe mode.
Run DriverSweeper and clean all traces of nVidia drivers.
Restart and run DriverSweeper in normal mode.
Run CCleaner and clean the registry.
Install newer drivers and then restart

Since temps are fine, I suspect it's a case of drivers not playing nice.
Try it out and let us know how it goes.

 

*Those are the load temperatures, its normally runs in the 70-80C range

Sounds like a good idea to me, the only problem I have is Nvidia branded the 570m as a business class graphics card so all their drivers are made for Autocad and 3D rendering (I think thats part of the issue, ince its drivers are made for 3D rendering the card gets bogged down when it comes to things like shading and shadow effects). They don't offer any "gaming" drivers, does anyone know where I might be able to get some custom or beta drivers that might work better?

I'll try doing a clean install and using Nvidia's official drivers but it would be great if there is an alternative available as a plan B.

 

Actually, the gpu's in question only provide better fps in viewports and not actual rendering (that bit is performed by the cpu - unless the software in question has been optimized to use the gpu for rendering - which to my knowledge they have not as only experimental programs exist that allow the gpu to take over the rendering process).

Hm... the thing is that this reminds me of the throttling issues on some of the gpu's with the 8xxx generation (and maybe the 9xxx).
However, I wouldn't put past the possibility that a software (bloatware or something else) might be causing this problem.

One thing I would first like to verify is... are the temperatures you quoted the 'load' temperatures (when you are running the games) or 'idle' temps (when you are just using the desktop, internet, etc...)?

If these are load temps, then they appear to be fine... however if they are 'idle'... then I would look into cleaning out the laptop of dust.

 

I reinstalled the drivers like Sgt. suggested and that seems to of made the game playable again but still not quite up the level of what it was in the first hour or two after installation.

I also re-did the temperature readings under load when I could play for longer and these are my new results, much higher.

 

your max temp for both gpu and cpu are v high, one or both are most probably throttling.
prop up the back of your laptop to get a bit more cooling, or just buy a notebook cooler that conforms to your lappy's intake ports at the bottom.

 

Well the T7700 rated to 100c so your 4c away from cooking it lol and I would imagine the FX 570m is about 105-120c.

You need to clean the fans on the PC it makes one hell of a difference, my 8800m GTS went from 86c to max of 60c when I did mine.

 

At those temps, you might be experience throttling to prevent the system from heating more. Canned air like everyone else said.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. I figured since I was bothering you guys on here I might as well do it right so I opened up my laptop and did a thorough cleaning. (Still had some air left over from the last time I cleaned it out)


Since cleaning it out I have had a good increase in performance. I not only got back to my original level but now I'm past it. I have been able to increase the graphics levels and switch my games to my native 1920x1220 resolution (no more jaggy hell for me) all while maxing out at 11C (20F) cooler.

I am going to look into a cooling stand but I am kind of weary on getting one. My friend got one made by Targus for his computer a while back as a present and it only last 2 months before it failed. Anyone know any good models out there on the cheap side?

This is the one I'm currently looking at Amazon.com: Cooler Master Notepal U2 Notebook Cooler with Two Fans R9-NBC-8PBK-GP: Computer & Accessories

Or If I wanted to go really cheap... http://www.amazon.com/Laptop-Notebook-Cooler-Pad-Fans/dp/B0032R6CPK/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1305001348&sr=1-6

 

I would go for the U2, since you can place the fans where they are needed