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    T61p strange video problem with WoW

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by GrA, Jun 28, 2009.

  1. GrA

    GrA Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've had my T61p for almost a year. Everything works fine until i start to play a little WoW on it. I have read some articles about the display card i use ( FX570 with 512M dedicated ram). It should be able to handle WoW easily. But in reality it is not doing so well.

    Hardware spec:
    T7500 2.2Ghz, 2G ram, 512 M dedicated ram for FX570, 120G harddisk.

    Operating system:
    Vista Home Premium.

    Other Software:
    Lenovo default package.

    I have turned all video settings to the lowest, but sometimes the FPS still goes under 10, which is unbearable. Usually if I am in a raid, it goes over 40fps for about 5 secs and then goes back to under 10fps for 20 secs, periodically.

    There was once I put two books underneath the computer and turn AC to the coldest, and fps remains about 60 in 25ppl raids and over 100 in arenas. But the next time i tried to do the same thing in a different room, it fails to boost performance.



    What could be the problem here? What am i suppose to do?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    GrA, Jun 28, 2009
    #1
  2. cloud_nine

    cloud_nine Notebook Evangelist

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    The Nvidia FX570 is a workstation graphics card. The drivers are not optimized for gaming, rather they are optimized for programs like CAD, Photoshop, and other rendering applications.
     
    cloud_nine, Jun 28, 2009
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  3. GrA

    GrA Notebook Enthusiast

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    Are you saying I should try some different drivers?
     
    GrA, Jun 28, 2009
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  4. cloud_nine

    cloud_nine Notebook Evangelist

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    cloud_nine, Jun 28, 2009
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  5. pacmandelight

    pacmandelight Notebook Deity

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    What resolution do you play at? You could try installing newer nvidia geforce drivers from laptopvideo2go.com with a custom INFs. The newer patches for WoW also improve the image quality but are slower performing.
     
    pacmandelight, Jun 28, 2009
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  6. GrA

    GrA Notebook Enthusiast

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    I tried varies resolutions and currently i am using 1440x900.

    going to try 174.16 in a moment.

    it seems quite old. Hope it works fine.
     
    GrA, Jun 28, 2009
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  7. GrA

    GrA Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just tested 174.16

    Logged in and I was in bank of Dalaran. Only a few people around. FPS around 10. No improvement.

    device manager recognize it as 570m still. Is it that the diver installation failed?
     
    GrA, Jun 28, 2009
    #7
  8. t30power

    t30power Notebook Deity

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    Have you checked your CPU/GPU temperatures using TPFancontrol? Your CPU might be throtthling down if it's being overheating. Temp around 90C+ mark is symptom there's air blockage on the heatsink pipes that need cleaning or for max performance change of thermal compound.

    Check your temperatures.
     
    t30power, Jun 28, 2009
    #8
  9. proxima_centauri

    proxima_centauri Notebook Consultant

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    I have the same laptop. You should be able to play WoW with every setting maxed out and on the highest resolution + in-game console graphics enhancement cheats.

    Back when I was playing I was using drivers from laptopvideo2go.com
     
    proxima_centauri, Jun 28, 2009
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  10. bfe130

    bfe130 Notebook Guru

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    I got a T60 with T2400 processor and X1400 with 125 on board memory,
    I got about 20FPS at Dalaran Bank o_O. I suggest u do a CLEAN install and get lastest driver avaliable see if there's an improvement.
     
    bfe130, Jun 28, 2009
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  11. pacmandelight

    pacmandelight Notebook Deity

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    Download a program called HWMonitor at this site: http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

    Measure your temps when you computer is under load. It is possible that your CPU could be overheating.

    Perhaps uninstall your Lenovo nvidia graphics drivers and install the nvidia drivers from laptopvideo2go.com. I have had success with those modded nvidia drivers on my bro's T61p.

    WoW is mostly a CPU-limited game. Make sure you do not have any processes or malware eating up your CPU cycles.
     
    pacmandelight, Jun 28, 2009
    #11
  12. GrA

    GrA Notebook Enthusiast

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    GPU temperature is really high, about 85C. The bottom of the laptop is burning.
    After I put a box underneath (pretty stupid way to improve air circulation), it seems to be running at better FPS. around 30.

    Add on to that, I am doing very normal work right now, firefox, tex editor, pdf viewer. The CPU and GPU temperatures are all 65C.
     
    GrA, Jun 30, 2009
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  13. mullenbooger

    mullenbooger Former New York Giant

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    85 isnt that hot (considering you are gaming) and shouldnt be hot enough to cause performance issues.
     
    mullenbooger, Jun 30, 2009
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  14. ctbear

    ctbear Notebook Evangelist

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    85C while playing WOW is not a good sign, to say the least. Load should not be over 80. The 70s are normal for a t61p underload.

    Open it up. Clean it. Try again. Come back with your new temps. If all out fails, I recommend you run a series of benchmarks and check for gpu stability. You very well may be on the verge of suffering the same problem other t61p users are going through as well.
     
    ctbear, Jul 2, 2009
    #14
  15. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'll admit it's not a great sign. It's barely tolerable. But it hasn't been fatal -yet. Do you have insurance? If so...send it in pronto.

    Renee
     
    Renee, Jul 3, 2009
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  16. mullenbooger

    mullenbooger Former New York Giant

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    It shouldn't cause performance issues until it starts to go over 100. Yeah wow isn't that taxing but 85 isn't going to melt the card.
     
    mullenbooger, Jul 3, 2009
    #16