Performance CPU problems

[adz32]

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.

[adz32]

should read: PCG-GRZ515G

[kee-lo_]

Adam,

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

[adz32]

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...

[kee-lo_]

Yeah I know....

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

[nick_pan]

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

[kee-lo_]

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

[vaiodon]

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.

[adz32]

I have 512Mb installed - minimum for music apps.

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

Adam.

[kee-lo_]

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