topic Re: Performance CPU problems in PCs & Accessories

Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 11:52:45 GMT

I have a 2.4 Ghz Sony VAIO PCG-VRZ515G

It has really bad performace problems, I am a musician and so run some intensive software, and need the laptop for live performance.

When I start to run my music software, Cubase SX or Ableton Live, the computer slows down to a crawl - if I check, in Control Panel -> System the actual CPU speed, it starts at a normal 2.39 Ghz, and after running the software for a minute its slowed down to 882 Mhz. If I quit the software and go back its then 2.39 Ghz again.

I have been advised to clean out the air vents with compressed air, which I did, but this has only stopped it overheating, not the performance problems.

If I could afford it i'd sell it and get a Centrino, but for now I need to try and solve this with what i;ve got. A 2.4 Ghz processor should be flying along, but it seems slower than my old 700 Mhz Athlon machine.

Any help here much appreciated,
thanks,
adam.

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 11:57:26 GMT

should read: PCG-GRZ515G

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 17:56:28 GMT

Adam,

Make sure you are using the "performance" setting in PowerPannel.
A lot of music apps these days use CPU cycles like crazy.

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:49:53 GMT

Yeah tried that too...

I think its just heat causing the processor to under-clock.

Maybe I need to get a mini fridge for it!
Damn, dunno how its gonna cope in a hot sweaty club...

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:54:39 GMT

Yeah I know....

Maybe you should get a laptop cooler that goes on the underneath?

Re: Performance CPU problems

nick_pan — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 20:51:58 GMT

yes a laptop cooler is a necesity..especially if used within a hot environment like a club.. it should drop your systems temperature by 5 degrees or so

sorry im in a rush but if u look thru the forums, you'll find a thread called measuring the temp of the k series, within their you'll find a link to a program which measures the temp of your laptop..

when running your music programs and when u encounter a slowdown, make sure you have this program running so u can log the temperature..

if your getting temps of 65 degrees and above, that sounds dodgy and 75 and above and u better start investing in cooling solutions or speak to sony..the cooler the better, as u know.

however, if your laptop stabalises at a temp in the 50s, it is not a temperature issue hence another system fault which sounds difficult to identify..though quite worrying

sorry i couldnt have been of more help

nick

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 20:54:10 GMT

Running MobileMeter is a good idea so we can see if it's tempreture problems.

Re: Performance CPU problems

vaiodon — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 21:09:48 GMT

How much memory (RAM) have you got installed?

The default install for that model seems to be 256MB - that is borderline for effective performance on Windows XP. If there isn't enough real memory XP will start to use virtual memory on disk causing performance degradation and a bit of heat.

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:48:11 GMT

I have 512Mb installed - minimum for music apps.

Will try MobileMeter and did not even know about laptop coolers!!
Thanks guys.

Adam.

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:54:51 GMT

With big apps and VST plugins you really should consider getting the big 1GB of RAM

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:35:44 GMT

With big apps and VST plugins you really should consider getting the big 1GB of RAM

True-say .... one more on my list of things I need to spend money on .... (would mean getting two 512 boards as both my slots are filled with 256 boards!)

I checked last night with MobileMeter, the temp was going up to 72 degrees when running hard and cpu started slowing down to about 1.7Ghz.

So, think i'm gonna get me a laptop cooler.
Thanks for the advice!

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:48:37 GMT

Good luck :smileygrin:

Re: Performance CPU problems

nick_pan — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 20:37:11 GMT

72 degrees,,, thats ridiculous..

im actually suprised that your laptop didnt shut down as a result of such a temperature, tho i reckon the motherboard shuts it down at about 75-80.

sounds like a temp problem, so yep get a laptop cooler..and read through that k series temp post for other ingenious cooling solutions. not that many will be applicable in a club..

poor design on behalf of sony

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 20:40:01 GMT

I think it's 80 degrees before it turns off.

Re: Performance CPU problems

nick_pan — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 23:00:26 GMT

oh right when all the parts are nicely fried and need replacing? hehe anyway thinking about, im not sure a laptop cooler is gonna solve his problem..especially as he uses such demanding software

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Sat, 14 Aug 2004 14:14:51 GMT

Well, it's better than nothing.
Not many alternatives I can think of.

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 08:38:01 GMT

Well,

I got my Antec cooler this weekend, and boy does it make a difference ... I can actually get on with making music rather than banging my head against the table with frustration.

Have to say it is a bit a of joke that sony designed a laptop that needs a cooler underneath just to operate normally.

At least I can get on with it now.

Re: Performance CPU problems

nick_pan — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:20:27 GMT

great to hear that your problem is solved..

as im interested in laptop cooling, can u please give me the temp of your laptop using that program?

u last told us it reached 72 degrees, so if that was after an hour of usage, please give us a temp under the same condtions with the cooler

thx + dont even go there..when it comes to sony laptops and cooling

Re: Performance CPU problems

adz32 — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 13:04:03 GMT

Well before it was going up over 72 degrees, now it slowly climbs up and max I got was about 68 degrees, most of the time it stayed around 61.... the difference in performance is amazing though.

Just read on the ableton forum that its a good idea to take out the heatsink and clean the crap off it. Think I'm gonna try that aswell ... anyone know if this is an easy task or not...???

Cheers
A.

Re: Performance CPU problems

kee-lo_ — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 14:38:59 GMT

Thats an 11 degree difference, pretty good :smileygrin: