dv9500t Gaming woes....

Hello all!

I just got an HP dv9500t. I love the laptop except the Vista part which I dumped and put XP on. Specs on it are as follows:

• XP SP2
• 8600M GS 256MB (Forceware 167.26)
• Core 2 Duo 2.2 T7500
• 120 GB 7200 RPM Drive
• 2 GB DDR2
• HD-DVD ROM/DVD-R/W

Now I knew going into it that this book wouldn't be a top gaming book, however I thought it would run all newer games decently. I can barely run Call of Duty 4 on it and it is killing me. Here are the settings I am running Call of Duty 4 at with frame rate drops around 26 FPS..... BTW I also have the texture settings cranked all the way down.



Also, here is my 3dmark 06 score. (may be helpful)

OC'ed to 650 Core and 540 Memory



Stock settings - 500 Core and 400 Memory




All right after all the jazz my problem is this. Shouldn't I be able to run COD 4 better than what I am getting? I am trying to figure out if it could be a driver issue or some type of incompatibility. ( I have tried the newest Forceware as well) I guess comparisons with other books would be helpful, so if anyone could post their COD 4 settings.

Any help would be immensely appreciated!

 

Even though you only have 16 stream processors, with your OC, you should be able to run it at 800 x 500 (16:10 aspect ratio) with most settings turned up no problem...

The best advice anyone can give you right now would probably be:
Give the latest drivers a try. Or at least give 169.04 a try. I can speak from experience that it does indeed increase performance as compared to the older drivers.

Get the modded .INF files from www.laptopvideo2go.com

 

Thanks I will try it, the only thing that concerns me is I lost my ability to Over Clock when I had any newer driver installed.

 

The updated version of Rivatuner supports OC'ing 169.04, and nTunes also supports OC'ing the newer drivers, as well.

 

I installed 169.09 and still, COD 4 runs on the lowest settings with some frame rate drop. Also, I have now lost my ability to over clock I am going to revert to 167.26. Anyone else have any ideas or can someone with a similar setup let me know their settings, this all may be normal for the card.

 

I have an even slower graphics card. I would at least turn off shadows. Shadows tends to chew up the most frame rates next to AA.

 

Thanks, I turned shadows off seemed to help a bit but still it looks horrible and still frame rate drop to below 30 FPS.... I guess I am out of luck and it is normal. Wish HP had a 8600M GT in their lappy's I would send this back.

 

this is not normal

 

Care to elaborate?

 

Try the 163.44 drivers and see if they help. They are the next best thing compared to the 169 series beta.

 

Thanks will give them a shot.

 

maybe u should post a DXDIAG....that may help some of the wizards on here solve the problem...

 

yeah that doesnt really seem normal, i mean, if people can run cod4 decently on an 8400 gs, then an 8600gs should be no exception...

like #12 said, post a dxdiag ^^

 

Well it sounds like something is definatley wrong and you should be able to play at high/medium settings cause I've been running Call of Duty 4 on mine with the following very smoothly.

AAx2
1280x720
shadows on
textures --- Extra
depth of field ---on
specular map resolution --- High
dynamic lights --- Normal
Number of corpses --- High
ragdoll ---on
bullet impacts---- on
water detail --- normal
model detail --- normal

I'm getting around 45-60 fps on average....I have 169.12 drivers I got from laptopvideo2go a few days ago.

 

I just ran it at max settings and got 30-40 fps, a good drop in fps but it's still very playable.

 

I have a 9500t (vista) COD4 Runs fine. Seems way overclocked also. I clocked mine to 600/1200/480 2950-3dmark06 but settled on 600/1200/450 for 2850-3dmark06. Seems like your really pushing it, doesn't the driver ever crash? By the way I use 169.04 driver.

 

I'm using 169.12 and i've only had a few times when the game wasn't cooperating, the fans run quiet loud during gameplay and it gets real warm but other than that it runs fine.

 

VERY much appreciate all the feedback guys.

Here is most of the DXDIAG report.. (if it isn't what you are looking for let me know) I will try the 169.04 driver, also I have NO issues at the clock speed I listed, I even bumped it higher and 3dmark ran Ok but I was getting about 79-81 Celsius. At those clock speeds it is about 76-79.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/18/2007, 18:23:13
Machine name: MOBILE
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv9500 Notebook PC
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 426MB used, 3512MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: The file nv4_disp.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: DirectSound test results: All tests were successful.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 8600M GS
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0425&SUBSYS_30CC103C&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.6726 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/8/2007 14:36:00, 5755264 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: No
WHQL Date Stamp: None
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/8/2007 14:36:00, 7399936 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4765-11CF-CA69-C71000C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0425
SubSys ID: 0x30CC103C
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0268&SUBSYS_103C30CC&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5497 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 10/16/2007 18:38:30, 4615168 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider:
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: All tests were successful.

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5497 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 10/16/2007 18:38:30, 4615168 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

Description: Modem #0 Line Record (emulated)
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x20
Format Flags: 0x0

 

Yes please let us know your results after installing the 169.04 drivers. Those temperatures are fine; they are a bit warm but not dangerous. 90*C and up is dangerous. Your temperatures could be helped with a cooling pad; take a look at the Zalman ZM NC-2000.

 

The 169.04 drivers didn't make any difference. I read on another forum where someone is having the same problem only in multiplayer, I am going to see what my frame rates are in single player.

*EDIT* I can run the single player on 1024x768 with frame rate drops to about 32-33 FPS. So it seems as if it runs a little better in single player mode. Maybe I will reinstall (even though I just did) next week when I have some time during Christmas.

 

Try lowering the your clock speeds. I'm not saying 3dmark06 wouln't run when I put my clocks higher but at some point though trial and error there was a limit to increasing the clocks before game performance(not 3DMark06) would actually decrease. Humer me and use rivatuner to clock the card around 600/1200/450.

 

When I did the test last night with the 169.04 drivers I ran COD 4 at stock clock settings, with no change.

Thanks again everyone for your help/input.

 

Well I have to commend HP, I am swapping my dv9500t for a better 9700t which has a 512 MB 8600M GS... hopefully COD 4 will run better on this new machine. HP's service was quite outstanding in swapping my laptop and getting a $30 credit!

 

hmm...wonder if I should try that. It's been like 3 months though. I got the 2 year super warranty though. I wonder if the 512 will make much of a difference.

 

Not sure, I was still under the 21 Day return policy. Worth trying though!