Seriously Weird Problem

This really has me confused here and I'm hoping for some input from you guys. I have an MSI GX630 (Athlon X2 QL-60, Geforce 9600m GT, Win7 x86). Here's the issue. I've been running 3dmark06 to benchmark the graphics and I've been getting lower than average scores for my specs. I should be getting around 5000 points and I was only getting around 4000 points. Until today, when I decided to run 3dmark again. This time I got 4900 points. Meahwhile I have not changed anything since the last run. The only difference this time is that the system was in standby before I ran the benchmark. I thought this was strange so I restarted the system and ran 3dmark06 again, and again my scores were around 4000. So I put the system in standy, resumed, then ran it again, and voila...4933 points. I tried this 4 times already and everytime the system resumes from standy it performs considerably better in 3dmark06. Windows is a fresh install with all the latest drivers. I've actually installed Win7 x64, Vista x86, and Vista x64 with all types of different video drivers including Dox optimized, and they all scored low in 3dmark06 (anywhere from ~3800-4100 points). I never tried the resuming from standby run on those installations though but I can only assume that the same result would apply.

 

This is a Seriously Weird Problem

 

What are CPU and GPU temperatures like? Open HWMonitor or similar and run 3DMark06 twice and the check the temperatures under the max column.

 

It could be that the heat sink is full of dust, making the CPU and/or GPU overheat. Making the laptop under clock the CPU and/or GPU. You should clean it out, then re-run 3dmark06. With HW monitor running, like namaiki said.

 

Try upgrading your bios and use a notebook cooler.
By the way if you think that temperature is the problem, try using it in front of an ac and see if still u have low scores.

 

Tell me sir, what driver version are you running? 257.whatever it is, da?

By the way, if your in game performance is of no difference, then it really doesn't matter. Synthetic benchmarks are in no way a real indication of real world performance, and to be honest, we all only benchmark because we like to think we have notebooks that are better than others, and that we have nothing to do...wait, what?

 

Are you thinking powermizer issue? Because I am. Look at your clocks on GPU-z after a restart, then look at them after a resume.

EDIT: I had SOOO many issues with 257 that I went back to 197.something.

 

Yeah, the effect standby has had here clearly suggests this is an issue with power management software.

 

I was definitely thinking a powermizer or clock speed issue. Too many times I've seen this sort of thing crop up from various driver problems.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. It was Powermizer! I disabled it by changing a registry setting and all is well now. Weird thing is that this was happening with at least 3 different driver versions so I guess Powermizer has some real issues here. This along with ATI's Powerplay problems that I had with my GX640 says to me that video card power management should not be trusted. +REP points to you guys!