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4772
August 27th, 2006 23:00
CPU goes to 100% usage when running any 3D application. Can someone help?
Ok so the problem I'm having is as soon as any form of 3D application (and I mean any!), my cpu load goes up to 100% and flatlines there. This creates rapidly increasing cpu heat (as monitored with I8kfanGUI V3.0) and impedes other applications from functionning correctly. The problem is solved the very moment I exit whatever 3D application I have running.
The most flagrant example of that is games - I used to be able to run just about any games on my laptop. I do understand that a portable computer is not a gaming machine, but still I had no problems running Half Life 2, CS Source, Doom3, Warcraft III, SimCity 4000, etc and now I can't even run Diablo, Diablo II, Starcraft, Red Alert 2, or Unreal Tournament!
When I boot up a game, the cpu usage goes to 100% within 1-5 minutes (the heavier the game, the faster) and stays there, making the game very unpleasant to play. It creates a lag spike something like 5 seconds long, during which it's just about impossible to play (mouse won't move, graphics jump, etc) and then for about 2 secs the game speeds up, like it's 'catching up' what it missed during the lag spike. Then it'll be ok for about 10-15 secs, and start over. CPU goes back down to normal as soon as I exit de game.
It does the same when I run 3D flash games in Firefox (ie. addictinggames.com) - CPU goes to 100% and stays there, slowing down all other applications running.
I have a video card tuneup utility which allows me to launch what it calls a '3D renderer' - essentially just pops up a small window with a fully rendered 3D spaceship spinning in the air, and it shows different info on my video card like fps while doing so. Whenever I start this little application, same problem with my CPU - it's actually really weird to see the CPU go instantly from 2% to 100% and then back down to 2% once I close it... As a last example (there are tons more!), when I run the DirectX Diagnostics (using dxdiag) Direct3D test, it does the same again - as soon as the 3D DirectX cube appears on the screen for the tests, my CPU goes to 100%, etc... goes back to normal as soon as the test is over.
Troubleshooting done so far:
-installed latest video drivers from the Dell website (drivers that were released in 2003!!). This did nothing, so I installed the latest ATI drivers from the ATI website (ATI support for Mobility cards is sketchy, at best). No change. So I went and got a custom ATI Radeon Driver pack called Radeon Omega Drivers (latest version 3.8.252) which essentially provides an advanted tuning utility and some tweaks to the drivers. That didn't change anything - made my card more performant though :-). So that was it for the drivers part of things. I also installed the latest CPU drivers (Intel mobility chipset) from the Dell website, for what it's worth...
-I restarted using a 'clean boot' (removing anything not essential from msconfig startup utility) which resulted in smoother running of apps but same problem with CPU usage. Essentially it just reduced the lag a bit but didn't change jack to the problem itself...
-All spyware/virus cleaned using Trendmicro online scan, AVG 7.0 virus scan with latest definitions and Spybot Search and Destroy also fully updated.
This was all done on a freshly formatted system, reset to original state with the Dell restore CD - I formatted specifically to fix this issue, but it persists...
ANY help whatsoever, ANY pointers, ANYTHING would be hugely appreciated... Thanks!
The most flagrant example of that is games - I used to be able to run just about any games on my laptop. I do understand that a portable computer is not a gaming machine, but still I had no problems running Half Life 2, CS Source, Doom3, Warcraft III, SimCity 4000, etc and now I can't even run Diablo, Diablo II, Starcraft, Red Alert 2, or Unreal Tournament!
When I boot up a game, the cpu usage goes to 100% within 1-5 minutes (the heavier the game, the faster) and stays there, making the game very unpleasant to play. It creates a lag spike something like 5 seconds long, during which it's just about impossible to play (mouse won't move, graphics jump, etc) and then for about 2 secs the game speeds up, like it's 'catching up' what it missed during the lag spike. Then it'll be ok for about 10-15 secs, and start over. CPU goes back down to normal as soon as I exit de game.
It does the same when I run 3D flash games in Firefox (ie. addictinggames.com) - CPU goes to 100% and stays there, slowing down all other applications running.
I have a video card tuneup utility which allows me to launch what it calls a '3D renderer' - essentially just pops up a small window with a fully rendered 3D spaceship spinning in the air, and it shows different info on my video card like fps while doing so. Whenever I start this little application, same problem with my CPU - it's actually really weird to see the CPU go instantly from 2% to 100% and then back down to 2% once I close it... As a last example (there are tons more!), when I run the DirectX Diagnostics (using dxdiag) Direct3D test, it does the same again - as soon as the 3D DirectX cube appears on the screen for the tests, my CPU goes to 100%, etc... goes back to normal as soon as the test is over.
Troubleshooting done so far:
-installed latest video drivers from the Dell website (drivers that were released in 2003!!). This did nothing, so I installed the latest ATI drivers from the ATI website (ATI support for Mobility cards is sketchy, at best). No change. So I went and got a custom ATI Radeon Driver pack called Radeon Omega Drivers (latest version 3.8.252) which essentially provides an advanted tuning utility and some tweaks to the drivers. That didn't change anything - made my card more performant though :-). So that was it for the drivers part of things. I also installed the latest CPU drivers (Intel mobility chipset) from the Dell website, for what it's worth...
-I restarted using a 'clean boot' (removing anything not essential from msconfig startup utility) which resulted in smoother running of apps but same problem with CPU usage. Essentially it just reduced the lag a bit but didn't change jack to the problem itself...
-All spyware/virus cleaned using Trendmicro online scan, AVG 7.0 virus scan with latest definitions and Spybot Search and Destroy also fully updated.
This was all done on a freshly formatted system, reset to original state with the Dell restore CD - I formatted specifically to fix this issue, but it persists...
ANY help whatsoever, ANY pointers, ANYTHING would be hugely appreciated... Thanks!
Message Edited by DeadGargamel on 08-28-200601:10 PM
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