Problem with 8600m stuttering/slowdown found

I use hwmonitor, version 1.06 as the latest doesn't read my temps very well. It's out by at least 10C for my processor. Other than that ntune works for the gpu.

 

I'd highly recommend using RivaTuner since it comes with a handy screen overlay, thus allowing you to closely observe temperatures even while playing. I personally prefer that over studying logfiles but to each his own.

Here's a little tutorial on how to do it. Scroll down until it says RivaTuner.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=170472

 

Agree! Overlay and graph works well

 

I don't like studying log files either. I use hwmonitor as it shows a Max value for all my temps. Much easier for me.

 

I changes some bios settings.

Fan kicks in when CPU reaches 15 degrees = always
High speed kicks in at 47 degrees

And I installed 174.74 and riva tuner. Forced all clocks to the same (llow pwer 3d etc.)

Best performance in a long time. An then I monitored my temp and core speeds. Riva tuner says my core is at full MHz all the time. And I did easily reach 110 degree GPU core temp. And then the stutter came, and went away as soon as I got under 110 degrees. But still. Much better performance for me now than a couple of days ago. Stays cooler, longer.

 

That's good to hear!

I'm still trying hard to wrap my head around the fact that the G1s BIOS won't even let you do that

 

Is this with a zepto laptop? How did you change your bios settings?

 

I'll answer it. Look at his sig. and the avatar. Thats a 6324W.

 

That is somthing i don't understand, why don't zepto use the same bios features for all models? That would make the users able to setup there machinse to each and everyonce likings...... and at the same time get ridd of alot of complaints regarding when the fan kicks in, very strange.

 

Yeah I've been trying out the 101.08 driver and the 156.87 driver. Doesn't seem to have any difference. Both max out at 104 degrees, but most of all, no stuttering
But prefer 156.87 because it supports DirectX 10. hehehe. Until we find a stable 17x driver I'm sticking to this.

 

Hmm, great, so you'd know what he did to change his bios settings? Or is 6324W manufactured by a different vendor thus having different set of functions in bios when compared with 6625?

 

6324W BIOS has much more options / features compared to the 6625WD.

 

Hi! I changes settings for which temperature the fan is gonna kick in. Atleast WoW is ALOT more stable for me now.

Didn't know that. Thats too bad!

 

I have the same problem as CreX... When I start WOW everything is smooth and after a while it FPS goes WAY down! Thanks Zepto, I will never buy again from you.

edit: is there a way to up the fan speed with software like ntune?

 

A while ago I would of said "Speedfan" but now it doesn't seem to work with this hardware. I don't think there is any way to change the fan settings other than through the bios, I've even tried the dell program I8kfan, but it doesn't work either.
Any one know a software person who may be able to help us out?

 

Yepp.. I've monitored the temps. When it exactly goes over 110 degrees the fps droppes to around 10. Then after sme seconds when the temp goes to maybe 108 again, it's smooth.

 

I don't really feel like reading the whole thread so... can someone please answer wether the stuttering issue has ben solved? Does this issue go for all Zepto laptops?

 

156.87 driver works for me. some swear by 101.08 & 101.19. dunno about the others...

 

As of right now there are a few things we know (anyone is invited to correct me, if I'm wrong):

1) the stuttering is heat related and usually kicks in in the mid-90s.
2) if one was to find a way to prevent his GPU from reaching that temperature it is pissoble that it won't occur
3) most affected notebooks don't offer the possibility to adjust fan speeds in BIOS so 2) won't help all that much
4) some people claim having fixed the problem by reassembling their GPU-heatsinks with arctic silver and stuff.
5) the stuttering won't occur on some notebooks after having put it to sleep and having woken it up again. There won't be any stuttering, not even within the high 90s.
6) the older drivers don't really solve the problem since the framerates they produce are either within a range where the stuttering is not noticed so easily or the GPU is running way below its possibilities so it won't go that hot.

7) (my opinion: ) the best thing you can do about it so far is the following:
get the latest drivers availible, try the sleep fix and do anything possible to keep your GPU a little cooler (eg. laptop cooler or simply putting things under the notebook's feet to aid the airflow below the case.). Warning: There is no magic involved so don't expect this advice to work 100% butter-smooth.

 

So basicly, you can't use the computer as it is intended for? Damn, i want to buy the 6324w but the stuttering issue is really holding me back...

 

I've tested the 156.87 with furmark.

Basically I don't get stutters or mini-stuttering. Played through CoD4 demo & UT2004 demo without problems.

temps reach max 104 degrees without stuttering, at least according to furmark XP .

 

You might be lucky and get one that doesn't stutter. Personally I would advise you to hold off buying a laptop from anyone until later this year as there should be some good nvidia cards available that don't get anywhere near this temp. (I can live in hope, can't I?)

 

Hehe, naah, i need my laptop within two months so that's not an option. But wow, zepto lappys really seem to get hot. I mean, over a 100degrees!? That's insane, i imagine that will eventually hurt the gpu in the long run. Have anyone tried i cooler or something?

 

Well our new line of laptops will be released in the next couple of months, so might be worth the wait I'm looking forward to a lot of them actually

 

Hmmm Rene S, i wonder how the rest of us that bought a zepto this last year will feel about what you insinuate with that remark... if i read you right well then i will never buy an zepto again and i would not recommend you to anyone else so i hope i miss read you and that you will solv this issue with current model line as it is peoples money you are playing with.

 

Does that mean you're not going to try and fix the stuttering issue as you will have new hardware to deal with?

 

Well said, very well said. It seems the current problems get ignored till either the consumers forget / new line of laptops arrive

 

The remark was by no means meant like that.
I'm a tech freak just like a lot of you guys and I always look forward to new technology releasing. I've been working closely together with a team of people from Zepto regarding some of our new models and are just looking forward to seeing how this has turned out.

There is still focus on the current models and I know that a lot of effort are being put into our current lineup even though you don't feel like it. Of course we want open issues fixed for our current customers, no doubt about that. But as mentioned before we release updates when it has been tested thoroughly.

 

oki good. That will do for me... m8

 

Let me guess... the new line of laptops will have the exact same cooling system as these have? And no, cooling paste does not count as "improved" like it said between the 6214w and the new 6224w...

 

the new models are all new and have a completly different design so there should be a new cooling system as well

 

No new 6214/6224 models in the line up at all. Completely new machines in all aspects.

 

Alright, this is nice and everything, but may I remind some people that this thread is not about Zepto's shiny all new hardware but about Zepto's and Asus' totally not shiny present hardware. So can we please focus on the issue again, rather than listening to annoying promises?

Excuse me but this is really irritating me and considering the fact that this thread is full of utterly disappointed people, I can assume that I'm not alone.

 

Hehe dont put ANYTHING into the promisses given by Zepto.. it was the exact same "all new in every way" we got last year between the 6214w and 6224w, which turned out to be not quite so new afterall.

And I agree, stick to the post please, this thread was not made to be fooled by an upcoming line of laptops.

 

What kind of an idiot would buy a zepto after this thread?

 

They are still out there

But anyway, yeah, I too remember the promises made last year about the new models (being the current ones now) and all the worries that I had, concerning heat and everything related, has come true. Even though Zepto promised that heat issues would no longer be there.

This time around I won't be fooled so easily

 

So zepto... whats going on? anything at all ? or are just still just "testing"?

I think its about time that something happens here.. either give people a working fix, an option to get a whole new cooling system that fixes this or a refund. People have been fooled by promises about a "gaming laptop" with pictures of crysis on it...

 

Just some note about "graphic card experience"

I played half life a lot, with 1680x1050 (and about 30-40fps) and there was one room, when I looked at a special area, extreme stuttering occured. But when I left this area, it was gone. This was not just a drop in framerate, also the sound stuttered and in that moment, it was almost unplayable.
The same happened in "Episode I" of Half life2. But in Episode I, the graphic card was stuck with a lower framerate, so I had to reboot. I played Episode I in 1440x900 and stuttering was never a problem again.
Maybe going to 100% is a problem here. On 1440x900, it may work better (also I have "wait for vsync" activated, for optical reasons, I don't like tearing, this also enables the graphic card to pause for a little moment before the next screen is built) and so I can play hours without problems.

I also think that the penryn CPU doesn't produce so much heat, so there's more headroom left for the graphics card.

 

after reading Rene S' post i just feel like im being pissed at to be honest, you're advertising your new line of laptops in a 24 post thread which is more than enough evidence that there's something wrong with your current line of laptops?
We have been promised a fix for i dont know how long now and instead of providing status updates for the fix or releasing one, you promote other products from zepto.
Why should we even consider buying other products from Zepto when there's severe errors in the current line, which you cannot fix?

 

@Syre

Point is, you should NOT consider bying any zepto again! It's not just this line.. the line before had heat problems aswell - 6214w in particular.

 

Well it's just too bad that you have to put on an agressive face to get some feedback...
All we know is that they are supposedly working on it, but this line is getting close to have been on the market for a year - way too long with problems if you ask me.

 

My 6625WD overheats bad and is in for GFX replacement/repair number 3 despite it now sporting Penryn 2.5GHz since number 2 fail.
It lives on a Zalman (I know air via keyboard) and has been undervolted too since Sep 2007 and before 1st failure.

Machine has been away from me longer than it has been with me and currently has been sitting patiently waiting for service since 23rd April.

 

oh believe me thomas, i wont

 

I can see it was wrong to talk about the new line of notebooks in this topic, i can totally agree on that. I know nothing i do or say can change that, but about that what is done is done. It was in no way to piss on people that have bought our current line of notebooks.
We are still working on both the 6x25WD line and 6x24W line regarding BIOS updates.

 

This may be the wrong thread, but when working on new BIOS, will you also address the hibernation and mouse-plugout-behaviour and that USB stays powered-on all time when hibernated? (see my other thread)
Or is it chipset- or hardware related and cannot be controlled by the BIOS?

 

NinaMaya, I've already sent the information on to our Quality & Product Controller.

 

Hrmm, interestingly, i experienced this problem today for the first time - or what i believe is the originally described problem. My cpu temp was hitting 80 degrees at one stage which doesn't sound too healthy (using NHC). Every couple of seconds, my screen would 'shudder'.. very frustrating!

I haven't updated to the latest bios, although i believe it doesn't correct the issue..

(playing teamfortress 2 for about an hour, 1280x800, dx9, recommended settings; specs as in sig, 174.74 drivers)

 

Im running HL2 (normal + deathmatch) on native res all high exept no AA.
Gives me a framerate of 35-50. I do get random judders, but they dont occur all the time (some might also be of bad objects).

CPU: 83C
GPU: 93-96C (when it reaches 96 I get 2-4 sec judder)
BIOS 004 right now (about the same temps with 008)
Fan could go MUCH faster, and I really hope Zepto is going to do something about this..

 

will manually changing the gpu bios to a newer version provided by nvidia have any effect on the stuttering in your opinion?

zepto's latest version of 8600m gt 512mb bios is 60.84.41.00.16

nvidia's latest version of 8600m gt 512mb bios is 60.84.62.00.29

acer's latest version of 8600m gt 512mb bios is 60.84.62.00.29

asus's latest version of 8600m gt 512mb bios is 60.84.49.00.A1

 

If the problem is heat, then unlikely.

If the problem is bios related, then maybe.

Only way to be sure is to try it and tell but are the potential benefits greater than the potential losses (ie. bricking your machine).