Eventual Slow Framerate. Windows settings change needed?

[rough_wood]

I often have a problem where the game will be fine untill a sudden tick, then framerate can jump below 10fps, too slow to even safely land without a conveniently places VSI (even then it's hard).

I check ctl alt del, processes, and it Says system is using 50% of CPU instead of System Idle Process being almost 100%. I have a 2.5ish ghz duo processor. It says I am using 50% of my computers processing power.

Is there a way to avoid this? 15 minutes later my computer is still showing System as running way to high. This also happens with FSX after a while, so I don't think it is your software. I always have to restart to get everything back to normal.

Thanks

[The Fugitive]

It could be a number of things. Run a Dxdiag and post the first third here to see what drivers and computer resources you have. The other thing is when you run the cntrl, alt, delete how many processes are running? 20-30 is what is good, the more you have the worst it is. When you see your CPU running at 50%, see if you can spot what else is running at the other 50% and stealing your process power.

[Skuzzy]

Could be heat related.  Just a thought.  CPU's and GPU's have the ability to slow themselves down to prevent damage from heat.

[rough_wood]

I count 38 processes right now. I just formatted my computer and have XP Pro SP3. I am having trouble getting FSAutoStart to work, so the process number is probably higher than it would be. I don't know what Dxdiag is.

It does seem to slow down when the fan is going. I've felt this thing get much hotter without problems, but I suppose it could be a heating issue.

I just restarted, and tried a bomber run in an area with no one around, and no fires/smoke. It got as low as 4fps. It was so slow I had to hit B twice and in the process missed the carrier by 100 yards.

For FSAutoStart:

Path app to D:\Program Files\HTC\Aces High II\aceshigh.exe (yes I use D)
Besides that setting I have everything default.

Fully defragged. 2.2ish ghz, 2GB RAM, 256 Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M.

Thanks for the help so far. Real quick response.

[SKColt]

 I had a similar issue on my old P4 3Ghz machine. Framerates would eventually slow way down, reboots would only partially fix it. Checked CPU temp in bios, was way too high. Checked the CPU,  the heatsink and fan was clogged with dust, dirt, cat hair etc. Removed CPU, cleaned heat sink and fan. Then cleaned off old heat sink compound, applied new compound and put it all back together. Back in business.
 Intel CPUs will automatically throttle back when heat threatens the health of the CPU.

[Denholm]

A DxDiag would be helpful:

Start>Run Type in: dxdiag

After pressing OK and allowing the application to load (Loading bar on the bottom left) press the, "Save all Information..." button. Save the file to a location where you can easily locate it, such as your desktop. After saving the file, head over to the location where you saved it, then open that file. Now copy the first third (1/3) of the file and paste it in a reply here.

That's your DxDiag.

[rough_wood]

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/7/2009, 18:56:00
       Machine name: PORTEBORE
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
       System Model: Latitude D830                   
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A14
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T7500  @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 235MB used, 3703MB available
        Windows Dir: D:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: Quadro NVS 140M
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0429&SUBSYS_01FE1028&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Default Monitor
  Monitor Max Res:
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7431 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 2/22/2008 05:46:00, 5969536 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 2/22/2008 05:46:00, 6658592 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4769-11CF-9F6E-F52100C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0429
        SubSys ID: 0x01FE1028
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_76A0&SUBSYS_102801FE&REV_1002
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5401.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 2/19/2007 14:27:34, 1228296 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: SigmaTel
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 44100, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5401.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 2/19/2007 14:27:34, 1228296 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xCC0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek Magic Hotkey Device
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x5081
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek X52 Flight Controller
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x075C
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
         Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x8086, 0x2831
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 4/13/2008 13:45:37, 59520 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 4736 bytes

[rough_wood]

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0303
| Service: i8042prt
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 4/13/2008 14:18:00, 52480 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 24576 bytes
|
+ HID Keyboard Device
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_keyboard
| Service: kbdhid
| Driver: kbdhid.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:48, 14592 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 24576 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 4/13/2008 19:13:20, 40840 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 24576 bytes
|
+ Dell Touchpad
| Matching Device ID: *pnp0f13
| Upper Filters: ApfiltrService
| Service: i8042prt
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 4/13/2008 14:18:00, 52480 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 23040 bytes
| Driver: Apfiltr.sys, 2/17/2007 21:00:42, 132608 bytes
| Driver: Vxdif.dll, 10/18/2006 20:30:32, 100354 bytes
| Driver: Apoint.exe, 1/25/2007 17:34:22, 159744 bytes
| Driver: ApntEx.exe, 9/8/2006 15:06:08, 40960 bytes
| Driver: Apoint.dll, 1/17/2007 14:02:20, 1495040 bytes
| Driver: Elprop.dll, 4/27/2006 10:24:12, 102400 bytes
| Driver: EzAuto.dll, 8/7/2006 17:47:20, 69632 bytes
| Driver: Uninstap.exe, 1/26/2007 17:52:38, 212992 bytes
| Driver: ApInst.dll, 9/19/2006 23:55:20, 45056 bytes
| Driver: hidfind.exe, 9/8/2006 15:10:22, 40960 bytes
| Driver: ApMsgFwd.exe, 1/29/2007 19:07:18, 50736 bytes
| Driver: ApMouCpl.dll, 1/31/2007 10:48:00, 696320 bytes
| Driver: DellTPad.exe, 2/16/2007 19:13:02, 5107712 bytes
|
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 23040 bytes
| Driver: mouhid.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 12160 bytes
|
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC016
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 23040 bytes
| Driver: mouhid.sys, 8/4/2004 05:00:00, 12160 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 4/13/2008 19:13:20, 40840 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 4/13/2008 13:39:47, 23040 bytes

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.2600.5512)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (5.03.2600.5512)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: Not run, Half Duplex: Not run, Mic: Not run
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider: Conexant HDA D330 MDC V.92 Modem
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM1
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM3
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: Wireless Network Connection - IPv4 -
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: Local Area Connection - IPv4 -

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 23.8 GB
Total Space: 40.0 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SAMSUNG HM12HII

      Drive: D:
 Free Space: 62.7 GB
Total Space: 74.5 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: SAMSUNG HM12HII

      Drive: E:
      Model: PBDS DVD+-RW DS-8W1P
     Driver: d:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 5.01.2600.5512 (English), 4/13/2008 13:40:46, 62976 bytes

[drdeathx]

Your on a laptop that has onboard video... Laptops are not really made for gaming.  Looking at the benchmarks for your laptop it seems that is the best it will be. Your frame rate probably drops as the temp goes up.

[kilz]

looking on dells site you have the wrong laptop for gaming. your laptop is a simple home computer to surf the internet

[Getback]

As said in another thread, why do people buy lap tops for gaming. The technology is usually about 2 years behind at least. They are built for convenience not performance.

[dentin]

As said in another thread, why do people buy lap tops for gaming. The technology is usually about 2 years behind at least. They are built for convenience not performance.

The below will satisfy both convenience and performance.  Most certainly will keep your lap warm .

SYSTEM COLOR                    Crimson Red   
PROCESSOR                    Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Extreme X9000(2.8GHz/800Mhz FSB/6M L2 Cache)   
OPERATING SYSTEM            Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1                                                                        
LCD PANEL                            17 inch UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-screen WUXGA   
MEMORY                           4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz   
HARD DRIVE                   128GB Solid State Drive plus 250GB SATA HD (7200RPM w/ FFS)   
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE   CD / DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW Drive)   
VIDEO CARD                   NVIDIA®SLI™Dual GeForce®8700MGT with 512MB GDDR3 Memory   
PHYSX CARD                   AGEIA PhysX™ 100M Processor   
WIRELESS CARDS                Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card   
BATTERY OPTIONS           9-cell Primary Battery and 9-cell additional Lithium Ion Battery   
SOUND OPTIONS                   High Definition Audio 2.0