6625 stuttering and overheating - solution!(?)

When I first read this, I checked to see whether it was April 1st !

THIS WORKS FOR ME !!!! (with 174.12)

My G1S is now almost comparable to my Desktop with 8800GT 512.

UT3 - SILK 1440 x 900 (max res) - Everything MAX
Crysis 1280 x 800 All Med, exc. phys & Shadw's Low. Was jerky, Now like watching a film
COD4 - 1280 x 800 - Good.

More importantly ....

NO JUDDER !!!!



Tyven - I can't express enough thanks for the Sleep trick.

Thomaskc.dk, Lord Phol, Negz, and anyone I forgot, I can only imagine that you're just as pleased as I am. OK, we shouldn't have to do the sleep trick, but at the moment, with results like this, I don't care, and really, I don't have the time to complain, because I've just become the proud owner of a gaming machine after all.

P.S. Thomaskc.dk - Many thanks for the link to this thread.

 

@ Icaru

Niiice to hear!!!! Then I'll have to try UT3 on mine as well. Since I've never been able to play it at all!

 

hmm the standby fix seems to work because when i test my gpu in a gpu-burner program the temperature escalates to 103ish degrees, but in games its still hanging and juddering at 95 degrees

edit: this is with the 174.12 drivers btw

 

try some other driver? 174 is know to perform differently for people. Try 169.28 for instance.

 

the 169.28's wont work either

 

Since we don't know WHY this works, I can hazard a guess and say it might be because your using XP. The vista sleep mode is quite different from XP afaik, so perhaps try vista?

 

that's a very good idea, i'll try that tomorrow

 

I was a bit sceptical when I first heard of this fix, mostly because it had only been tested on Zepto machines, and well because most fixes in general doesn't seem to apply to my laptop :x. Seeing this work on a G1S gives me some hope though! It could go either way, but I think it's worth a try so will probably give it a shot this weekend.

Thinking of going with the 174.12 since they seem to be pretty reliable.
Will let you guys know how everything goes, wish me luck!

Oh and a quick question, does the laptop have to be in sleep mode for a special amount of time or can you just pretty much wake it up directly after you've put it in sleep mode?

 

time doesnt matter, just let it go into sleep so you can see your powerbutton blink.. and wake it up, all you need to do.

Nvidia has just released 174.16 as offcial beta drivers, you might wanna give these a test instead, seems to be a few fixes since 174.12 (which performed fine for me, but had more screentearing than 169.xx).

 

about screentearing, you mean the horizontal tearing you get? I get these during games and watching movies. I tried enabling v-sync from nvidia control panel, it didn't help. any ideas?

 

No problem

I have actually written about the standby trick before, as a tool to increase performance, but didn't know it would end your studdering issues.

I've tried the new 174.16 driver and it performance well both in Crysis and in 3DMark06, just as 169.61. (>4100 points with special default resolution and standby fix enabled) Windows did however increase the gaming score from 4.6 to 5.0... whatever that means.

 

although installing vista seem to have helped, i still get the occasional jutter every 10min or so for 5-10sec in games like CoD4, i wonder if downgrading my bios will help? im using z15n011 atm
edit: if there's anyone with a 6625WD that has fixed the stuttering with the sleep-fix, i'd like to know your specs

 

Update...

I've been using the Sleep trick and playing without a problem.

I've been monitoring GPU temp for the first time, and found it reaches up to 101 degrees in intense applications. Normally between 96 and 100.

I'd be interested to know what other temps you guys using the sleep trick are finding, and if there are any concerns.

Thanks.

P.s. How does the standby trick work, is it a bug ? - I can't see any other logical reason why it should work. When it isn't enabled, who is causing the juddering, Microsoft, or Nvidia. Either way, doesn't the fact that an action invoked through windows to change a value mean that we could edit a registry key, and set this higher temp limit for all time without having to do the sleep trick ?

 

Icaru which zepto model do you have?

 

Sorry Syre, I should have explained, although this is a 6625 thread, I actually have an Asus G1S, but thankfully I was diverted to this thread by Thomaskc.dk.

 

ah no problem mate, just curious

 

Only logical explanation I can find is that it has to be some sort of BIOS error, concerning temp readings or something like that. Sleep mode sets something in action which gotta change something, and its defernetly not a driver thing! Microsoft would be silly to blame so here are back with the manufactorers.

Also keep in mind Toshiba and Compal already fixed this by BIOS update....zepto? any fix soon ?

 

apple too.

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macbookprosoftwareupdate12.html

Hopefully Asus and Zepto follow...

The more time that goes by the less chance of us getting a fix...

 

THATS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I'VE HAD SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THIS LAPPIE!

As soon as I've played for about 1-2 hours this start to happen. The air-vent feels like a dragonbreath or something, so extremely hot. The keyboard turnes alll nice and warm. And every ~10 minutes I get the 5-10 seconds lasting fps drop (10-15 fps).

However. This is TOTALLY solved for me by:

1. Having the lappie in air, standing with the front feets up on my external keyboard's edge.

2. The Sleep Mode fix

As the sleep mode fix works and it's clear it really works for everyone here. It most likely could be fixed by a BIOS update. Probably the temperature reading that must be changed. But for the time being, I don't mind doing the sleep fix.

 

Im actully getting occasional judders when Im running a BETA BIOS, I have to try to enable the sleep fix, altough Im pretty shure it has to do with CPU speeds, not GPU

 

I disagree... it fits strange well with the temperature of the gpu, my cpu has had different temps with or without cooler, vista or xp you name it. problem has always happend when gpu hit around 95 degrees.

 

Just to let you know there has been other problems with cpu speeds too so dont be so shure about the temp, altough it might be the case (I only get judder on really high demanding games like bf2 on max res, not in eg. wow).


A bit off topic but the 174.20 driver has a lot higher speeds in high-demanding games!

 

I wouldnt be suprised about the cpu readings in general, all im saying is I do not think thats the case with the stuttering problem, since it seems purely graphical and only happens on nvidias 8xxx series.(not entirely true, used to on 7xxx aswell).

Anyway, are zepto getting anywhere with there beta bioses? or are they just making more errors (feels a bit like with the lastest few).

 

Here we go.. im now running winxp sp3 and gaming has become somewhat better with the sleep fix. However.. im having my concerns because i have now after some hours of play hit the 110 degrees gpu temp. Not much.. but when fps dropped and stuttering was back.

Another thing is that ive read more people reporting that the newer drivers 169, 171, 174 drivers makes the gpu ALOT hotter than the older 167 drivers did, as much as 10 degrees! Which is quite wierd id say.

Anyway! what im trying to say is... Zepto ?!?! FIX PLEASE?!
nothing should be wrong at gpu 110 degrees when cpu is at 66 degrees, so talk to toshiba and make them tell you how they fixed it please

 

I have to disagree with the statement that the 171,173 and 174 series makes the GPU run hotter. I have it the other way round all the 167 and 169 make mine run very hot.
One thing to note is the amount/positioning of the thermal paste Zepto applied to my GPU's core. It was very thick at one edge tapering out across the GPU's core. I've replaced it with Arctic Silver and "adjusted" the copper heatpipe to give a better contact evenly across the GPU's core. I've steadily had the temp drop at max load (playing demanding games). Before I replaced the thermal paste I was seeing a max of about 100. Now I don't even get into the 90's, staying around 82 most of the time.
Might be something to look at.

 

That is indeed is very worth looking at, no doubt! What Zepto model do you have? 15 or 14" ?

 

14.1" 6324W same as you . I was truly shocked at the amount of thermal paste used and how badly the heatpipe fitted to the GPU. It was lifted along one edge by about 0.5mm!!!!!!
Much better now.

 

I have to agree with andy, the newer drivers do run a few C cooler for me as well.

Also I might add that the thermal throttling limit on my G1S is set to 110 C in my GPU bios, I don't know if it is the same for the Zepto but I would guess it is.

 

Well I must admit, it seems that 171 and 174 indeed does run a bit cooler. My 110 degree hit was indeed also with a 169 driver.

@Negz
Hmm ill have a look in my Bios...

Btw seen there are new forceware driver out from Nvidia supporting 9800m ?
174.31 at www.laptopvideo2go.com

 

Lol the drivers are a bit further than the hardware

 

maybe you should post a disassembly guide andy to help us ease the problem

edit:i found out myself, no wonder its hot i say, dried thick layer of smothered thermal paste on the core, applying arctic silver now

 

maybe a guide for Zepto would be in order then?
Edit: Syre, Once you have applied arctic silver and fitted the heatpipe back to the GPU, take it off again to see if it is seating correctly. It should of completely covered the GPU core evenly and look the same on the bottom of the heatpipe.

 

Good to hear, well please post your results!

My laptop is still burning to death here...

 

Thomas, are you still getting stuttering? I hope Zepto sorts something with the BIOS that finally fixes this one. The excess paste and poorly fitted heatpipe doesn't help but it can't be the only reason especially since other manufacturers have seemed to fix this problem with a BIOS update.

 

I havnt tried the paste and refitting heatpipe yet.. but yeah, my 8600m runs like crap compared to my girlfriends 7600go.

Zepto should have released a working bios a long time ago if you ask me... If they cant fix it themself, then they gotta seek help or support from other manufactors, like Toshiba who has fixed it. Its a VERY unsatisfying product at the moment.

 

apart from a small temperature improvement, sadly no difference

 

Has anyone put these findings on Zepto's forum? There isn't anything in the English section and as I can't read any other language I can't tell if there's anything there. I just thought we may get a bit further with it if the topic was running on their forum.

 

hmm i realize now it does seem like the heatpipe isnt covering the gpu core in the middle did you do anything to counter this?

 

Mine was towards the fan so I just very gently bent it a bit and kept on refitting it time and time again until I got an even application of paste. By the way Arctic Silver takes a little while to really reduce the temp. According to their website 200hrs bed in time!!!! but mine seems to of stabilized after about 3 days of normal use.

 

And what is your temps now then? non OC'ed

Idle?

Max load after serveral hours?

My gpu temps are around 65degrees idle and 95-105 max load.

 

after applying arctic silver 3, mine is 59 idle 103 max load, not sure its fitted properly like andy's is tho

 

Before:
Idle:55-60
DX10 Gaming:97-110
After:
Idle:45-57
DX10 Gaming:71-90
A good result I would think. I am glad to see that spending about 20mins fitting and refitting the heatpipe to get it parrallel to the GPU core has worked so well. It still doesn't have the performance I would like but I think that will come as newer drivers are developed- or Zepto find a cure for the stuttering (BIOS update NEEDED?!?!)
Don't forget that Arctic Silver can take up to 200 hrs of use to "bed in" properly (and perform at it's best).

 

Heh I guess this post is bit overdue, but anyways.
I did try the sleep fix, didn't have much hope in it, but thought what the heck. At first I went with the 174.12 drivers, these performed all right but there was still a bit of stuttering (and might have had some graphical glitches, don't quite remember ^^'). I continued on with the 174.20 drivers, these performed a bit better but I was still not satisfied. Then I remembered about all the driver problems I've been having lately and thought I might try one of those driver cleaner programs, to see if that helps out. I also went with the bit older 169.21 drivers since they've always given me good perfomance on this laptop.

So after cleaning up my registry, installing the drivers and starting up CoD4 I was anticipating the worst. But to my great suprise it worked! everything was buttersmooth, and all-around decent performance as well.
Haven't run in to any problems so far.

What I did note was that my gpu was reaching higher temps than before, think it got as high as around 104-105, I did expect this, but was still a bit freaky to see. Also not sure why the first 2 drivers I tested didn't work, but I might do some more testing if I dare. As it is now, I'm fairly satisfied, and really don't wanna mess it up too much.

Even though this is just a temp fix (would still like a permanent fix, from Asus or Nividia or wahtever) it's good enough for the moment, so a big thanks to you all posting in this thread! (and a cookie for thomas who redirected me here ^^)

 

Heheh glad to hear things are getting better for you aswell, and your welcome

 

Now the thing I wanna know is. Was the game running smoother cause the peeks wasn't as high. Or DOES the 169.xx perform better and keep the fps higher at all times?

 

I guess this was directed towards my last post.
Well the thing is I'm not quite sure myself. Don't think it had anything to do with the fps peeking higher (was about the same), what it could have been though, is some old drivers/left over driver registry conflicting with the new ones. Since after using a driver cleaner program before installing the 169.21, I have yet to run in to any driver problems.
I might have another go at one of the 17x.xx series, just to see if I can get them to work properly now that I've cleaned the registry and all.

But overall I have noticed better performance and less problems with the 169.xx series than the newer 170.xx, 174.xx etc, on this laptop so far. Remember that the same drivers won't always perform equally on 2 different laptops though.

 

People might want to test out the new 169.44 released by nvidia for crysis patch 1.2.

Link for 32bit vista:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_x86_169.44.html

p.s. all version are out, just remember to choose 8000 series in beta section, and not 9000.

 

Does it install without a modified inf file?

 

Thomas, I found this whilst looking through the forums.
Is nTune useful with 8400m GS???

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does it help with increasing battery time or better performance in gaming by over/under-clocking/volting???

I heard someone say on forums it makes the graphics choppy... So, is there any benefits of nVidia nTune??
Do you have ntune installed? I do, I am going to uninstall it and see if it is related to the stuttering issue....

 

Nope, never used Ntune actually. all my tweaking has been through Rivatuner 2.06 (now 2.07).

And yes, we have to wait for a modded inf i guess to be sure to have all the possible resolutions. unless you force install it in device manager in vista.

I myself is running winxp sp3 right now so... gotta wait a bit.