Performance problems with frame rates on a recently purchased laptop.
Performance problems with frame rates on a recently purchased laptop.
The weather is looking favorable.
Have you attempted to use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove all display drivers and subsequently install only the newest ones? I utilized DDU to eliminate and reinstall drivers, but it made no difference. High graphics settings remain unplayable. Furthermore, the frame rate drops reappeared after a restart and continued to occur over thirty minutes later – the FPS issues persist.
This seems unusual. I’m really hoping it's not a problem with the hardware, but let’s continue to investigate.
Have you been observing your system overall while gaming, excluding temperature readings? Using MSI Afterburner, check if the CPU and GPU MHz decrease when you experience a frame rate drop. Additionally, open Task Manager to see if any applications are unexpectedly consuming high CPU usage, potentially leading to a problem that appears to be related to the graphics card.
I'm puzzled by this. I’m hoping it isn’t a problem with the equipment, but let's investigate further.
Are you observing your computer’s performance while gaming, excluding temperature readings? Could you use MSI Afterburner to track the clock speeds of your CPU and graphics card during periods of low frame rates? Also, open Task Manager to check if any applications are unexpectedly consuming a lot of CPU power – this could be the source of what seems like a graphics problem.
I’ll gather these measurements tomorrow when I can use a second screen, which will simplify the process. Thank you for your assistance so far.
Let's investigate this further. I’m concerned it might be a hardware problem, but let's try to diagnose it systematically. Could you check your system’s performance while gaming, excluding temperature readings? Use MSI Afterburner to track your CPU and GPU clock speeds. Note what happens when the frame rate decreases – which values change? Also, keep Task Manager open and observe if any applications are unexpectedly consuming a large amount of CPU power, potentially causing a GPU-related problem that seems to be stemming from the CPU.
Here’s what I've noticed:
Typically, when experiencing consistent frame rates and no dips, my observations were as follows:
* GPU speed: 1162MHz
* Memory speed: 900MHz
Within Task Manager:
* Memory usage: 65%
* GPU usage: 95%
* CPU usage: 45%
During frame rate drops:
* GPU speed: Decreased to 900MHz
* Memory speed: Reduced to 800MHz
Within Task Manager:
* Memory usage remained at 65%
* GPU usage lowered to 30-40%
* CPU usage decreased significantly to 10%
I hope this information helps us identify the root cause!
This appears to be indicative of thermal limiting. The graphics card will reduce its processing speed momentarily when temperatures rise, then increase it again once the heat level returns to a suitable range. This is what causes you to observe a decrease in frames per second.
Furthermore, despite your operational temperatures appearing acceptable, the maximum recorded temperature reached 90 degrees Celsius, which is frequently the point at which thermal throttling occurs – typically around 85-90 degrees for most graphics cards.
The recorded GPU temperatures are as follows: Value: 61 degrees C, Min: 29 degrees C, Max: 90 degrees C.
I recommend testing for any potential heat problems by directing a desk fan toward your laptop and monitor temperatures, observing whether the maximum temperature decreases or if the system shuts down. If necessary, consider purchasing a laptop cooling pad – these are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Here is an example: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/enhance-lap...:212,loc:2
The visual appearance strongly suggests a cooling mechanism is being activated. When the graphics card reaches high temperatures, it temporarily reduces its processing speed for a short period to allow heat levels to decrease before returning to its normal operating frequency. This results in noticeable dips in frame rates.
Additionally, while your temperatures appear acceptable, the maximum recorded value reached 90 degrees Celsius, which is typically considered the threshold for thermal throttling – most cards experience this at 85-90 degrees.
The GPU readings are as follows: Value: 61 degrees C, Min: 29 degrees C, Max: 90 degrees C.
I recommend investigating the heat problem further. Experiment with directing a desk fan toward your laptop and monitor temperatures to observe if the maximum temperature drops or if the system shuts down. If that doesn't resolve it, consider purchasing a laptop cooling pad – these are relatively inexpensive. Here’s an example: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/enhance-lap...:212,loc:2
Could thermal throttling be a detrimental issue or is it simply a natural response to demanding graphically intensive games? You have a warranty on your laptop, so if a replacement part could address the problem, it should be covered. Furthermore, there is only one small ventilation opening on the bottom of the laptop; could this limitation be contributing to overheating by restricting airflow?
Reducing performance due to overheating is undesirable, as it forces the system to operate at lower speeds to prevent damage. Insufficient ventilation can also be a significant problem; if there’s only one limited outlet, adequate airflow may not be achieved. This could stem from a simple lack of ventilation or a malfunctioning fan, particularly in gaming laptops which often feature enhanced cooling systems. These machines frequently incorporate boosted fan speeds and strategically placed vents, yet some users still utilize external cooling pads while gaming. Could you please specify your laptop’s brand and model number?
Excessive temperature regulation is certainly undesirable. This occurs when a part hits its highest temperatures and subsequently reduces its processing speed to prevent damage from overheating. Poor ventilation can also be a significant problem; if a laptop has limited airflow through a single small opening, insufficient cooling may result. However, manufacturers often design laptops, particularly gaming models with their turbo fan features and adequately sized vents, to address these issues. Despite this, some users still use external cooling pads—as I previously referenced—to enhance laptop performance during gaming.
Could you please specify the manufacturer and model of your laptop?
Here’s the Amazon link to the specific model I purchased:
https://www.amazon.com/X556UQ-NH71-VivoB...am+512+ssd
I will be testing the cooling pad and will report my findings shortly.
androbourne :
Yeah that's not really classified as a gaming laptop. So it wont have as good of a cooling systems as a real gaming laptop would.
I'll keep tabs on here, good luck with the pad!
Yeah my last one was specifically for gaming so it had a much better cooling system. I mostly got this new laptop for school as I am going starting college next year and wanted something powerful with a good batter life.
I tried the cooling pad, it keeps the temperature at 86 to 88 degrees C, just low enough to stop the fps drops.
Can the prolonged high temperatures be damaging to the computer? I cant imagine that consistently high of a temp is good for the laptop. And if so is there anything more besides the cooling pad I can do?
Thanks again for all your help!