somewhat dissapointed with my IFL90

Ok, here's the deal. I ordered my IFL90 back around the first of June. Waited months to get it.... I think it was the end of August before I received it.

Here's my config.....
t7300
2gb ram
8600M GT
WSXGA+ screen (1600x1040?)
Windows XP SP2
Driver 6.14.11.134 for Nvidia card

I play Call of Duty online ALOT when I get a chance. I figured that this is a little older game and my new laptop would run this smoking hot fast.....NOT SO.
When I am in a setting where there is a lot of action (numerous players) the frame rate gets so bad that sometimes its like watching a slide show. I mean, it is horrible. I have gone in and adjusted the in-game settings (lower than even the recommended settings if you have the gave figure optimum settings). No luck there. So I have decided to overclock my video card (core 597, mem 507). I have had some luck with that but of course the temps are up (mid 70s) and I keep thinking "why do I have to overclock my NEW computer to run a game that is 4 years old???

I have a older AMD desktop that I built with one gig of Ram and a 6600GT card in it and that old desktop runs games better than my new $1700 laptop.

Is there any suggestions on what to do? I have thought about updating the bios and driver but not sure if that would really help my performance issue.

 

wellllll...... you do have to keep in mind these are notebooks... and have notebook video cards. which indeed, have gone a long way since a while back, but are still, well, just that - MOBILE video cards. therefore they have to keep a balance between powersaving and performance.

if you run vi$ta, that could be a problem, since it's a terrible resource hog (I just played halo2 demo on this one amd64 x2 4000+ 1gb ram 8400GS desktop, it would STUTTER at 1024x768 mid-level settings - that's a disgrace, the programmers really screwed that one up imho).

and yeah, blame the programmers ... it's crap code nothing else to be honest. are you running native res?

I don't really know how else I could help. I'd definetly get some arctic silver or so both on graphics, and cpu. I think also the fl90 has a separate chipset heatsink, so I'd smear some on that one as well.

the cooler, the faster, generally speaking.

cheers!

 

I would suggest you search google first because I've had some problem with 5 years old game (raven shield) before I found out it was game engine problem. There may be several reason contribute to what you're facing right now. Older games don't support duo core so they will give you headache and geforce 8xxx series driver is in conflict with some older game engine. I found a solution to my problem which was to edit ravenshield.ini and set "UseHardwareTL" to false and game run beautifully on highest setting and resolution I can to crank up to it.

EDIT: Update to most recent driver and newest patch could resolve your problem, give it a try.

 

well its somekind of driver problem im sure because u said "I have a older AMD desktop that I built with one gig of Ram and a 6600GT card in it and that old desktop runs games better than my new $1700 laptop." .
well my last PC was A64 3200+ and 6600GT . it was slower than my current laptop what is T7400 and 7600Go . By 3dmark scores and by real fps in games.

your laptop scores (or atleast should be) twice as much as mine in benchmarks so im sure it should be way way faster.
i havent tested old call of dutys but for example i just played CoD4 demo with 800x600 and most settings medium Im sure it couldnt be done with 6600GT videocard PC.

get ur driverissue fixed and dont blame ur nice laptop!
most of this-kind problems are caused by an error between computer and chair ...

 

I would update the system bios, I think 113 is out now with some performance improvements. Also update the the latest video drivers, the 8xxx series is still a new platform and the drivers are improving. I would also find a forum on the specific game and see what issues others might be having with new hardware ect...

 

dont forget the chipset driver!

 

I am going to wait to update the bios until I return home (traveling at the moment) because I don't want to be stuck out on the road without my laptop if it gets messed up.

The game patch is the most current one available. Have not really looked at the forums yet but will do so soon.

I went to Nvida's website to download and install the latest driver. I tried but ended up with "nVidia setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit." Ok.... so now I go to Laptopvideo2go website and learn that this is an INF issue (I think). Ok, so I read up on how to update my driver and think I will give it a whirl. But, it looks like 163.75 has an issue with PowerDVD (which I use) so I don't want to mess that up. How about 162.62, I will try that, but there does not appear to be an INF file for it. Wow, is this complicated or am I just making it seem harder than it is??

I am also trying to figure out exactly which driver 6.14.11.134 is (163.74, 162.62 etc. tried a google search with no luck).

Also, native resolution could be an issue but it is an issue that I don't understand fully. I have a WSXGA+ screen. Everytime I start COD it says that my computer settings have changed and would I like to have the game set itself up optimumly. If I say yes it sets all of the resolution settings in the game to ultra (or something like that) which I don't want (medium settings is for performance is what I want). I have looked at the screen res in the game and it is 1024x768. Don't know if this is good or bad.

I am rather new at digging deep into this driver issue but willing to spend some time on it.

 

try extreme-g modified drivers. those are the best

 

Well..... a little update here.

I have tried just about every video driver out there but currently using 169.04 because that seems to be the one that works best with my PowerDVD suite.

Performance is still very poor IMO.

Downloading new realtec codecs now, because when Call of duty hangs or quits the first indication is that the sound stutters. Time will tell if this helps.

Overall..... Still quite dissapointed in the gaming qualities of a $1700 laptop.

 

Wow... You paid that much? I got mine for 1004$... and the only thing different is hard drive, and I have the t7500.... >_>

 

I agree 169.04 works best so far. Did updating to bios 113 help ? I'm still on 112 and don't know which method of flashing to use. Let us know how the Realtek drivers go.

$1745.00 for specs below.

 

Hmmmm....well.... I just check the powernotebooks website and my configuration comes to about $1550. $1000 seems awfully cheap.

I haven't updated the bios to 113 eithe VCTR because I am afraid of fouling that procedure up. I may give it a shot this weekend though.
Will let you know about the Realtec drivers.

 

I guess the extra bucks comes from the warrenty and the brand name. **Shrug**

 

He has a faster and much larger hard drive than you, Windows XP, and a 3 year warranty from powernotebooks.com.

The 3 year warranty is superb.

And if you think 1700 is expensive, think of the poor fellows buying the repainted IFL90's from voodoo PC as their 15.4" Envys for 3500$.

 

Run 3D Mark and see what your scores are (3D Mark 05 and 3D Mark 06).

Different drivers will influence your performance by a few percent, but it won't make your card twice as fast. Everyone who thinks you can cure afwul performance by new drivers is just stupid.

What I think is that jurassicjet should try running CoD on the same resolution as his desktop, 1680x1050 is a lot more pixels than 1024x768 or 1280x1024.

 

emh... i even didnt think for 1 second that someone would play in that resolution. that pretty stupid to think that u can play games with good grafix @ that kind of high resolution with a laptop (im not talking about those 4+ kg desktop replacements).

i play everything 800x600 like i allways do

 

I do play some games (Day Of Defeat) in 1680x1050...but BF2 and recently MOHA in 1400x900 or so. The idea IS to go for better resolution if your laaptop is capable...o not?

 

Call of Duty is from 2003... The fact that it's a laptop doesn't matter, spec-wise it should beat an old AMD desktop WITH EASE.

 

Updated the Realtec driver and basically it didn't do anything, at least no performance boost and still hangs occasionally.

As far as resolution, I am playing COD at 800x600 (in game setting). This thing should smoke right along, but it is WAY worse than my 6600gt in my desktop.

I tried overclocking too which helps but it only works for a few minutes. As soon as the action gets intense it starts to stutter and then it hangs. The ONLY way that I can get out of that situation is to hold the power button down until it quits. Don't like doing that.
Is there a overclock ratio that I should be observing? Like a 1 to 1.3 or 1 to 1.25 or something magic like that (400 memory, 500 core).

All the game patches are up to date too.

Also, is there a program that could be utilized to trace the system or at least see what processor/memory is doing? I am using ATI tool and the temps are real good with that. (61-65 or so).

Maybe I got a bad video card. Or maybe this thing is not anywhere near as good as I hoped.

 

i got a similar config from ZZF for $1000. put it together myself and hop

i am still waiting to install some games and run test, but i am a big COD player too - so i will report back !

 

Have you tried a different game to see how that runs?

 

Yep..... played Far Cry on it. It was ok at medium settings but would choke at the higher settings.

I am wondering if maybe I got a bad Video card?

I waited over 2 months for this laptop and almost canceled my order (from Power Note Books) to buy a Asus G1S. I am wishing now that maybe I would have bought the G1s.

I am more that somewhat disappointed with this thing. It has essentially become a very expensive email checker. Heck, I can do that on my Crackberry.

 

Weird, I could play Crysis on all high cept for shadow and Volume Mectric Effects on 1280x800 and it ran decent. Maybe your card is bad.

 

Just checked their site, that barebone lappy with the T7500 CPU is already more than $1000.00, and I had yet to add memory, operating system, wifi etc... You work for them and got a special deal or something?

 

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006842 650$ for the wxga and

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006843 750$ with the wsxga...

add in the cpu for just over 200$ and ram for under 100$ for 4gb and a 250gb hdd for around 120-140 and the intel wifi card for 50$ or on other sites get the atheros one for 35$ which imo is a better card... and you have a heck of a system

 

so do this:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006843
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006854
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006858 x2 to give you 2gb

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T7500BOX
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-WD250BV

this comes to 1222.00
t7500
wsxga
8600gt
2gb ram
250gb wd scorpio
intel g wifi
a hell of a system for that price imo

 

Yeah, but add an operating system and shipping, which is more costly by buying from different places than getting everything from the same place in one swoop, and you're closer to $1500.00 than the $1000.00 floridaroxx said he paid.

Considering you can get the same from places like XoticPC already assembled, the operating system and drivers installed AND a three years warranty for just a few buck more, I don't really see the point of going to all the trouble of building it yourself and getting stuck with the bill if something were to go wrong.

 

most everything is free shipping or you can go to newegg and pay next to nothing for shipping... and as far as os simply get a oem disc or get a "education" version available if you look around for 69$ for vista premium.. this type of setup is mainly for those that want the ability to customize those type's of things.. imo i would def go this way as opposed to a pre installed os.. no bloatware no format as soon as you get it etc.. imo makes life much easier..

 

You don't get bloatware from powernotebooks.

Just FYI.

 

Well... I have determined that my particular computer is a POS. At least that's my opinion for $1700. Could have bought a lot of new woodworking tools or the wife a hot tub (would have gotten more "mileage" out of that investment

 

^_^... I guess it's time to use the warranty...

 

As a last ditch effort, maybe you could try disabling WiFi and see if your FPS goes up. I'm not a gamer, but I know that for audio, which is similar in a way has it's a whole lot of real time streaming data, it is mandatory to do on some lappy otherwise the audio stream glitches like crazy.

And I feel your pain, those thing cost a whole lot of money for a regular working man; for that kind of dough, they should work glitch free straight out-the-box.

 

One of the things that I have tried is overclocking. Now, there are two issues with that.
1.) Did I void my warranty by overclocking it?

2.) I have tried settings that numerous people have utilized and posted on this board. My particular video card seems unable to handle virtually any overclocking at all. It may run fine for a little bit but then it will start to stutter and freeze up. Heck, the other day I had it clocked to something like 405/650 while using Sketchup and it still froze. Very frustrating.

I guess it is time to call PNB tech support.

 

I'm wondering if you dont have a cooling problem? Like your gpu is looking itself in 2d mode to limit the temps...

 

I know how disappointed you must be. I bought a prebuilt desktop many years ago and it ended up being a very expensive paperweight. However, as I took it apart and rebuilt it over and over again gradually upgrading the parts, I learned and now I'm quite good at computer hardware (it's my job at college) plus I still have the desktop as my main computer at home and runs great.

Moral of the long and pointless story, bad experiences can lead to knowledge and world domination (hasn't happened yet....yet).