NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › [i9100] Problems with games performances
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

[i9100] Problems with games performances

post #1 of 17
10/30/05 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 
Hi,
I have performance issues with my i9100.
Since i've installed a second XP with nothing but drivers and directx 9c, i think my problem comes from the drivers.

For the intel chipset i'm with the DELL 5.00.1012.
For the MR9800 (unmodded) i'm with OMEGA 2.6.71 (5.9)
For the SIGMATEL STAC 9750 AC97 i'm with DELL 6.14.01.3913

For instance, Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow : used to play it some time ago in 1280x1024 high details, with a nice and constant FPS amount.

Now, it's very slow.
Same with Psychonauts (well i didn't try this one when i had no problem).
I won't even mention GTA San Andreas, where i get like 3 FPS whatever graphic settings i use.

Display drivers problem?
Hardware problem?

I have also this sound problem : in some games i can hear crackings and lags, and it seems it's binded with graphic performance loss..
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 17
10/30/05 at 5:54pm
I think it could be Display Driver problems. uninstall the new ones if they dont work.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 17
10/30/05 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
Problem is i don't have and don't remember the old ones which used to work..
I have tried some other versions and it's the same.

Which drivers version do use guys? For display, sound and chipset?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 17
10/30/05 at 6:01pm
Are your fans clean and operational?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 17
10/30/05 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Well, i don't really know, from outside vents seem clean.
And fans are operational, they (always) sound very loud by the way.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 17
11/1/05 at 1:09pm
Thread Starter 
Some (bad) news :

I've tried a lot of different drivers : Omega 2.6.71, 2.5.97a, DHZer0point 0.59, DELL ones, and i've run 3DMARK05 free version.
No matter what drivers i use, i get a score around 2200!
Three games : 9,6 FPS, 6,9 FPS, 11,5 FPS
Two CPU tests : 0,6 FPS, 1,1 FPS
I remind that it's the free version, with 1024x768 and no AA and stuff like that!

I've also installed FRAPS and i get 21 FPS in Splinter Cell 2 when i'm on the dock, looking at the sea at the very beginning.

I start to think it's not a display driver problem.

Maybe CPU problem???
Please help if you can.

Could you give me your 3DMARK05 scores with an i9100/MR9800 unmodded and unoverclocked?

[EDIT]I add my CPU temperatures : 63 idle, 72 playing[/EDIT]
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 17
11/1/05 at 1:33pm
Well that CPU temps are too hot. Under load your CPU throttles down to avoid damage by overheating.
Maybe you could open the notebook and put some new thermal grase on it. The old one seems to be gone away.

And what makes this lappy always cooler is to replace the Prescott by a Northwood. So I got idle 40-44 ° C, under load max. 62 ° C...
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 17
11/1/05 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 
How do i under load CPU throttles?

Can i open the notebook? It's still under warranty.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 17
11/2/05 at 4:36pm
Not you throttle the CPU under load, it´s an feature from Intel since the Pentium III (AFAIK) that their processors clock down when they reach critical temperatures to avoid that they get damaged when it´s to hot.
The Pentium IV reaches this level around 68-72 ° C.

To open this lappy is a bit difficulty. If you are not sure about it or not firm in opening laptops or computers general better contact the support. But when this is no problem you won´t loose your warranty when you don´t damage anything on your laptop.
So have a look at this:
http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems..._documentation

From my experience you must be very careful with the cables from your WLAN antenna - and use the right screws when you are ready.
Also watch out that your keyboard holders don´t scratch your case when mount your keyboard on the laptop again.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 17
11/2/05 at 8:04pm
Most people forget there is a 3rd thermal solution/fan. It is not accessable for the bottom of the system, like the other 2 thermal solutions/fans are, it located on the bottom of the mother board. You will have to take the system apart to clean it.

Zyb
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 17
11/3/05 at 9:46am
Well if the thermal grase don´t works longer cleaning the fans will not help.
And for cleaning the fans you only need an dusk hooverer which you hold on the fan openings.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 17
11/3/05 at 9:29pm
take the fans out and see if the heatsink is clogged. I have to clean out fans and heatsinks quite regularly. i get 2900ish stock speeds. http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...an.htm#1000550
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 17
11/4/05 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
Hi,
some news.

I've cleaned the 2 rear fans and heatsinks.
Now i have an idel temp of 54-56°C instead of 63°C
And i get a 69°C temp in games instead of 73°C

Also, about performance, i get 46FPS instead of 21FPS in Splinter Cell 2.
With 3DMARK05, i get around 2900 instead of 2200.

Do you think my CPU is still throttling at 69°C? Can i check that somewhere?
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 17
11/4/05 at 6:41pm
Well, that´s sounding good when the temps have lowered. But still a bit high.
Download the programs Prime95 and Mobilemeter, the first will keep your CPU under load and the second one shows you the temps and the clock frequenzy of the CPU. You will see it when the CPU throttles. 69 ° C is near the limit of the thermal spec. What for a CPU do you have?
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 17
11/5/05 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Ü09,
With Prime95 running and MobileMeter monitoring, it seems that CPU starts throttling at 72°C
So i think i'm okay with my games at 69°C, seems i can't get any better performance (a pity, it's never fast enough).

As my NIC is broken, i should call a DELL man for fixing it (still under warranty), i'll use the ocasion to make him clean the third fan and put some thermal grase.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 17
11/6/05 at 3:14pm
Yes, call one for support seems to be the best. If you have At-Home-Service, you can ask them if they could replace the Prescott by a Northwood or a newer Prescott with E0 Stepping (not so much heat). But if you have only Pick-Up-Service, maybe you could try to fix this problem for yourself.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 17
12/6/05 at 12:02pm
Thread Starter 
Some feedback.
A DELL tech guy has just replaced my mobo and CPU (don't know if he put a northwood though, i don't know how to check that).
I took the opportunity to clean the CPU heatsink.

Now i get 48°C idle (instead of 58°C before) and 61°C when CPU at 100% (70°C before!!)

And my RJ45 works again, and, the most magical thing my battery too (seems it was a mobo issue).
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dell Notebooks - General
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Dell Notebook Forums › Dell Notebooks - General › [i9100] Problems with games performances