Z2 Gaming - Throttles like crazy!

---Problem solved by receiving a replacement Z216GX/B---

The problem is not present in my new system. I can say, that the performance of the PMD stock is about on par with an overclocked Z1 330M.

Now the quest begins... Has anybody attempted to overclock the PMD? ATI tools says it can not find any ATI drivers. MSI Afterburner will allow me to adjust the fan speeds and push the core to 925 and memory to 1125, but it does not appear to do anything. This is after adjusting the .cfg file.

I have shot a follow up video. I was/am really tired, but have received sevreal requests for it.

Sony Vaio Z2 -Gaming Update- - YouTube

 

Weird, I have heard the cooling system had been improved..
It has 2 fans instead of one, maybe one of the fans isn't working.
Were you player with the intel HD3000 or with the PMD ?

 

Its not getting hot. I am running it off the PMD. The PMD fans ramp up with the Z2 and the game starts.

Its like someones turning on and off the bandwith every other second. Fast, slow, fast, slow..

I guess it could be the obvious - Crummy drivers. I hope this is not an issue with the lightpeak implementation.

Possibly C-States... Just dont know.

 

I'm not saying it's acceptable for this to be happening but just because the PMD comes with a decent GPU doesn't mean the new Z2 is for gaming as it's still an ultraportable and from many reviews the fans get quite elevated from just standard applications so the throttling sounds about right. Complex applications such as AutoCAD require a higher-end GPU as well as heavy editing programs so IMO this is what Sony is trying to position the Z2 for.

 

Thats is true. Although they did use Street Fighter IV for gaming demonstrations.

It will be fixed with driver tweaks and bios mods. I can say, from the times it runs smooth, 900p gaming looks pretty promising on the Z2.

The pain of early adoption.

 

Are we talking about CPU or external GPU throttling?

The reason I am asking is... I have a little biological neural network simulator I write as a hobby, and this thing takes 99%-100% of the CPU as soon as the simulation is started (it would eat everything you give to it - from 2 to 256 CPUs ;-).

I have not seen performance degradation during simulations yet, although I haven't performed simulations for more than few minutes on my Z2 so far... but the fans start sounding like a jet in couple of seconds into the simulation, so after 2-3 minutes CPU is as hot as it can get...

If it is an external GPU that performs the throttle - then I think it shows that Sony did a lousy job with the PMD.

 

The description you give sounds exactly like what we see in the DIY eGPU thread when the pci-e bus is backlogged.

In http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/600942-vidock-4g-light-peak-z21-possible-21.html#post7810483 we've discovered that the HD6650M is likely using a muxless setup for internal LCD rendering and it may well be only a x4 1.0 link. Same URL asks to do benchmarking of internal LCD versus external LCD (with HD6650M HDMI audio switched off) for 100% proof of that assertion.

If the PMD is attached in that way, then it means you'd get better performance if you attached a LCD to your PMD ports and set your game to run off that rather than the internal LCD.

 

It's not a gaming machine, so not a problem.

 

It is not operating correctly. Just because you dont plan to use it for games, does not make it not viable to someone else. I dont expect to play Crysis 2 maxed out, but It can handle it at 720p. The call of duty series should play like butter on this setup.

Like I said, there seems to be a confliction somewhere and I am sure it will be addressed at some point.

 

Anyone eles want to try their PMD out to see if this is an isolated issue? I really look forward to some results.

 

I think this is the most important thread with respect to the Z2, so, bump.

 

Just tried it on an external monitor with the same results.

 

You could try using GPU-Z and Throttlestop to monitor and see whats happening when the throttling occurs. On GPU-Z go to the sensors tab and select the 'continue refreshing' option.

 

Check this setting just in case:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/604165-important-graphics-setting-z2-owners.html

 

I have the appropriate settings in place there. Still looking for the culprit...

 

^Have you monitored temps while this is happening?

 

ive such issues with and without pmd, even on old/non demanding 3D games, its annoying.
almost certainly a driver issue. some games just choke on the HD 3000 (no PMD) while they run just fine on another laptop with an HD3000 and regular drivers (not sony-ized ones)

 

That's your thermal strategy set to in Vaio Control Center? Yes, Z2 has it as well. Could be processor throttling if set to silent or perhaps balanced.

 

Perfomance / Vaio Control Center

High Performance / Windows

These are both set. I REALLY hope Sony didint clock the Z's down just for the sake of .5lb

Hopefully we track the reason/solution soon.

 

Are you gaming on the internal display? Did you check the ATI XGP settings in catalyst control center to ensure you have the ATI set to accelerate the internal LCD?

PLEASE get some temp readouts!

 

This is the GPU-Z at idle.

 

This is after 5-7 minutes of painful gameplay with Black Ops / 900p, 2x AA, No vsync or shaders.

Weird that it shows the GPU load at average sitting at 19%. Considering I just rebooted and jumped right into heavy gaming.

 

I just got my Z2 yesterday, and have done a few really quick gaming tests.

• Civilization 4 (a few years old now) - 768p using integrated graphics, 1080p using internal LCD and PMD - flawless smooth execution in both cases
• R.U.S.E. (new, demanding game) - same tests, same results
• CoD 5: World at War (newish, demanding game) - PMD + internal LCD at 1080p - ran fine, but a little choppy; PMD + internal LCD at 768p - flawless smooth execution.

These obviously are not comprehensive tests. But so far, I'm pretty happy with both the integrated graphics and the PMD, and am not seeing the bursting behaviour. I guess I should try again at 900p.

 

I disagree that it's not a problem, even though I agree that the Z isn't a gaming system first and foremost. The problem is, it's got an AMD Radeon, a consumer-oriented GPU (not a professional-oriented GPU like a Quadro or FirePro), so potential buyers wouldn't know that the eGPU was solely intended for AutoCAD and the like instead of gaming. And someone else said that noted Sony actually used footage of gaming on the machine in promoting it.

It's not a dedicated gaming rig, but I think it's fair to say that Sony has given out the impression that it's an ultra-portable that can also game when you get back home and hook up the eGPU. If that's not accurate, that's Sony's fault for creating the misunderstanding, and not a "buyer beware" situation, in my opinion.

 

This is a shot in the dark, but all of my games are ran through Steam. Are you installing them via retal CD's or using Steam?

 

Anyone with BFBC2? I can get ~45 fps at 900p on the lowest settings on my Z1's 330m (OCed). If you get at least that, it's fine since the 6550M is better

 

Will load it on tonight.

 

I'm using Steam as well. But we're playing different games at different resolutions, so no big surprise we're seeing different results!

I will try CoD 5 at 900p - that should be a more reasonable comparitor...

 

I get lag and shutter even in MW2 @900p. The Z1 rips through this ganesh with no sweat. In addition to that, the 3000 HD plays it smoother.

There is an issue here.

 

Issue solved

 

Excellent video. Now I see what you've been seeing. I don't have Black Ops, so can't do a comparison. (The latest CoD title I have is World at War. I don't know how the engine has changed in the meantime.)

 

Thanks for the video...This is distressing...Hopefully my custom configured Z2 coming next week won't exhibit this...1600x900, 8GB RAM, i7, 256GB SSD...I will be sure to test when I get it...Because it will be going back to Sony if I get results like this...

Y2J

 

Help us help you.....what are your cpu temps when this is happening? Have you run throttlestep? Are you running internal display? External? If external, is the lid open or closed?

 

What about if you run the game using the Intel graphics (disconnect the PMD)? I know you'll have to dial down the graphics a bit, but if it still happens then it might rule out the PMD.

I would also try enabling / disabling certain graphics features in the game to see if it's a certain type of feature that causes the "pulsing".

Sorry I can't really help myself, I'm not using my Z21 for gaming (nor do I have a PMD).

 

that looks pretty bad, do you think your PMD might be defective?

 

Couple more questions for you. Is your pmd laying flat or upright? If flat, is it laying on the correct side? (feet down) If upright, is it standing in the right direction? (dvd eject button on bottom)

 

That looks my Z1 before I discovered thermal strategy. It was throttling but yet the temperatures were still quite low. I think it is Sony's coarse strategy to reduce load by having long periods of 'do-nothing's.

 

In the video, its upright with the eject button on the bottom. I have also tried it laying down in the appropriate position.

What would you like me to monitor the CPU temps with?

Using the internal display and get the same results with external with lid opened or closed.

I have tried throttle stop. If you have some throttle stop settings you want me to try, I would be willing to try them.

 

realtemp should work. You still haven't anwwered. Internal or eternal display? If external, is the Z lid open?

 

See above... ^

 

I'm just thinking that from looking at the video, it looks like there is a bandwidth starvation between the PMD and the Z (and since all the recommended settings have been set).

Have you checked the cable to the PMD for any signs of damage?

 

Why don't you run this program for us and report your #'s

http://developer.amd.com/Downloads/PCIeSpeedTest_v0.2.zip

 

If there was any damage to those tiny strands of fiber, it probably wouldn't work at all. There is just about no tolerance for faults in fiber.

 

I am running this right now. It seems to be stuck on the 1073741824 test. Is the PMD suppose to be running during the test? The fans have not kicked in on the PMD at all...

It plugged in and attached, connected the proper way, but I dont hear anything but the Z fans.

 

It'll run forever (i think) if you let it. Just stop it and post your #'s please.

 

Here's a bonehead question, how do you stop it and retrieve the numbers. Like pause so I can cut and paste?

 

you can do a screen cap with a ctrl-alt-prtscreen and paste into paint. You can end the process in task manager if you'd like. Or just tell us what the bottom (most recent) line of #'s shows.

 

Here are the requested results...

 

Did you guys try to play Quake Live on the HD3000?
It doesn't even work.

On the ATI it has weird graphic errors.

 

your #'s look fine. Now it's time to research temps....