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    NP9150 FPS decreased on battery power

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by Neobunny, Jan 10, 2013.

  1. Neobunny

    Neobunny Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just noticed that when I am on battery power, I get about 8-15 FPS when playing a game such as Guild Wars 2 (the game loads a bit slower too). When on AC power, the FPS jumps up to 70-80 FPS.

    Is there a setting somewhere that controls the GPU when on battery power? I have a GeForce GTX 670MX and Windows 8. Not sure what I need to look for.
     
  2. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    That's normal. You can adjust the power settings within Windows under Control Panel under "Power". Make sure the NVidia control panel is set to high performance as well.
     
  3. Neobunny

    Neobunny Notebook Enthusiast

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    In the Nvidia control panel > Manage 3D settings, I found "Power management mode". There are 3 choices: Adaptive, Prefer Maximum performance, NVIDIA driver-controlled. It is defaulted to Adaptive. Change to Prefer Maximum performance, correct?

    I checked Windows Power Options, under Balanced and found a Intel Graphics Power Plan, but nothing for Nvidia.
     
  4. Prostar Computer

    Prostar Computer Company Representative

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    Exactly! :) But typically, you don't want to run anything demanding when on battery. It's better practice to run off the AC power because of the power draw that the GPU takes.
     
  5. Neobunny

    Neobunny Notebook Enthusiast

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    So, I've been playing around with the Nvidia Control Panel and it is making absolutely no difference with low FPS when on battery power.

    I changed Power management mode from Adaptive to Prefer Maximum performance (in both Global and also tried Program settings).

    I checked Windows Power Options and neither plan has reference to Nvidia GPU (only Intel Graphics).

    I understand gaming on battery power will suck the life out of the battery and is not something I would normally be doing. Yet, I am curious why changing the Power management mode in the Nvidia Control Panel makes no difference.
     
  6. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    If you drew the full 180W load power from the battery it would melt and or explode if the thermal shutdown did not kick in on it.

    It's not a case of them deciding its just not worth the short life, it's keeping the device usable that those limits are in place.
     
  7. Zymphad

    Zymphad Zymphad

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    Seems logical enough to me. +1
     
  8. NovaH

    NovaH Company Representative

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    Sagers or any laptops aren't meant to game on battery power no matter how much you want them to. They're essentially desktop replacements when it comes to gaming. If you can get 45 minutes of game time on battery alone consider yourself lucky.