topic Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s in PCs & Accessories

Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 07:13:51 GMT

hello

When I play any game (new or old: Red Alert2, quake4, doom3, ...) at start I have around 80 fps (minimum grapric details, 640x480). But after a while speed fall to 1-9 fps(I use Fraps).
After 2-3 minutes speed increase to 80 fps and than again fall, this repeat till I play.

I bought laptop in April and at start I games run smoothly at full details and 1440x900. Problem appear about 3 months ago.

What is the problem?

1gb RAM
Radeon x700 128 + 128mb
Pentium M 2,0 ghz

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:20:23 GMT

Do you have any applications running in the background? Try disabling antivirus apps etc. before running the game.

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:41:49 GMT

I already do so.
it was still the same!:smileycry:

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 08:55:22 GMT

Are you getting a lot of hard disk activity when the game slows down?

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:07:31 GMT

how do you mean? Example

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:10:13 GMT

Does the hard disk activity light stay switched on or flash a lot more than normal when the game slows?

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:28:41 GMT

the hard disk activity light flash the same as when game runs normally

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 09:40:45 GMT

OK, I think we need to find out what application is hogging the CPU when the game slows. Try pressing Ctrl - Shift - Esc when the game slows and then click the Processes tab to see which process is using the most CPU time. It might be difficult to do this during a game though

Another option would be to run something like the free trial of tuneup utilities to try and clearout any problems - this is a bit of a sledgehammer approach but it may solve your problem . . . .

Tuneup utilities link

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:07:39 GMT

game use 75% of CPU, next is system idle process with 20%.

I use system utility to clean up system but nothing is better

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

rich912 — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:43:16 GMT

It may also be worth checking out the CPU temperature, just in case your notebook is overheating; causing passive cooling to kick in, thus lowering the CPU speed…

Try MobileMeter

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 13:35:31 GMT

CPU temperature when playing is 95°C, in windows is 84°C

HDD temperature is 40°C

With alt+tab I left the game when it was slowing down and the CPU speed was 566 Mhz (Pentium M 2.00 Ghz)

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:56:24 GMT

Rich has spotted your problem, passive cooling (slowing the CPU speed) is cutting in at 95C. Your computer is running hot even at 84C - check to see that your cooling fan is running, clean, and that you aren't blocking any air vents.

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

kee-lo_ — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:05:54 GMT

Wow be very careful while handling it at that heat!

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:07:39 GMT

How do I check if cooling fan is runing? Do I need to open laptop?

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

robpaxton — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:43:31 GMT

You should be able to feel the fan blowing warm air out of the vent.

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:53:46 GMT

I feel the hot air coming out of the vent, but very slowly

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

rich912 — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 18:46:00 GMT

Buy a can of compressed air (known as an air duster) from your local PC shop and, following the instructions, give the air vents a clean – you will then hopefully see a huge reduction in CPU temperature…

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 18:11:19 GMT

I bought air duster and clean the air vents. There is no change, the temperatures are still the same.

I contact e-support from sony and I am waiting for reply.

The bigest problem is that in our country we don't have official sony vaio service (I bought it in Germany). And I don't know where to send it for warranty repair.

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

kee-lo_ — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:18:15 GMT

Hmm that could be a problem, you're not alone either, I've seen another guy from Slovenia with the same issue

Re: Performance problem in games VGN-A617s

ch33tor — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 11:44:33 GMT

I contact Sony e-support

Does anyone know how long does it take them to answer?