Random FPS/Performance Issue with Dell Latitude D820

famousp · 12-23-2007, 02:09 AM

Hi everyone,

I have owned a Dell Latitude D820 since July '06. I really like this computer and it has served me well. However, I have noticed some intermittent FPS/performance issues with it over the past 8 months.

During the day I use my computer for CAD/CAM work and FEA stuff. Usually, running an analysis of the parts I design (using SolidWorks/CosmosWorks) takes somewhere from 30-45 seconds (which is fairly fast). Sometimes, for about a week-long period, my performance will drop and suddenly analysis times jump to the 5-6 minute range. This can slow down my work pretty considerably.

At night I play World of Warcraft. Usually, with medium graphics settings I achieve between 50-70 fps depending on location in the game. I am happy with this speed. Whenever I get this "system slowdown" though, my FPS drops to around 20 fps regardless of graphics settings. I can be running 1920x1200 resolution with all options maxed or I can be running 800 x 600 with all options turned off and my frame rate refuses to change from 20 fps. Very annoying.

Usually after about a week of this the problem "goes away". I will start my computer and performance will be extremely fast in both Solidworks and World of Warcraft as if nothing has happened. It usually stays this way for about a month.

During these slow periods I have tried a variety of solutions. I have turned off nearly every process running in the background, I have run numerous spyware/adware/virus scans (with no infections found), I have messed around with my Nvidia settings, and all my drivers are completely up to date.

This has happened to me about 6 or 7 times over the past 8 months. Once, just for kicks, I reinstalled Windows and it fixed the problem. A month later it was back again.

I am currently experiencing this issue again, and my system has now been slow for 3 weeks with no end in sight. My work pace has slowed down and gaming isn't exactly fun at 20 fps. One day I got "normal" performance back but today my system is extremely slow (again!) Does anyone have a solution?

My system specs:
Dell Latitude D820 (purchased July 2006).
Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16 GHz
2 GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro NVS 120M
100 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive

P.S. I understand the Quadro card I have isn't optimized for gaming. The problem isn't that the card is slow, it is that sometimes the games are EXTREMELY slow and that other times they are not. The fact that this issue affects finite element analysis (mostly CPU intensive processing, not GPU) leads me to believe that it is not a video card problem.

shenry · 12-23-2007, 03:10 AM

Maybe a heat issue?? I cant think of much more. What kind of environment do you use it in? Same all the time?

famousp · 12-23-2007, 05:40 PM

I do not think it is heat, because I use it mostly in similar indoor environments (68-72 F) and the problem occurs whether the computer has just been turned on or has had time to warm up.

The fan also cycles less during the "slow" periods whereas when it is running fast the fan cycles to full power during intense processing and gaming. Not sure what to make of that.

This morning I turned it on and it was running fast again. Go figure.

lovely? · 12-23-2007, 11:03 PM

programs running in the background? just because you have a dual core doesnt mean you can run 20 things in the background! lol

famousp · 12-26-2007, 03:33 AM

Nah, I almost never run anything in the background, and I've even gone down the task manager and shut down anything not directly related to running windows just to make sure.

Seems to be running fine for the moment. I'll mess around a little bit more and see if I can find anything that's not right.

famousp · 12-27-2007, 07:26 PM

Turns out the problem was related to a bad battery. I have replaced the battery and the system seems to be running better now. Thanks for everyone's input!

12-23-2007, 02:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
famousp New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	Random FPS/Performance Issue with Dell Latitude D820 Hi everyone, I have owned a Dell Latitude D820 since July '06. I really like this computer and it has served me well. However, I have noticed some intermittent FPS/performance issues with it over the past 8 months. During the day I use my computer for CAD/CAM work and FEA stuff. Usually, running an analysis of the parts I design (using SolidWorks/CosmosWorks) takes somewhere from 30-45 seconds (which is fairly fast). Sometimes, for about a week-long period, my performance will drop and suddenly analysis times jump to the 5-6 minute range. This can slow down my work pretty considerably. At night I play World of Warcraft. Usually, with medium graphics settings I achieve between 50-70 fps depending on location in the game. I am happy with this speed. Whenever I get this "system slowdown" though, my FPS drops to around 20 fps regardless of graphics settings. I can be running 1920x1200 resolution with all options maxed or I can be running 800 x 600 with all options turned off and my frame rate refuses to change from 20 fps. Very annoying. Usually after about a week of this the problem "goes away". I will start my computer and performance will be extremely fast in both Solidworks and World of Warcraft as if nothing has happened. It usually stays this way for about a month. During these slow periods I have tried a variety of solutions. I have turned off nearly every process running in the background, I have run numerous spyware/adware/virus scans (with no infections found), I have messed around with my Nvidia settings, and all my drivers are completely up to date. This has happened to me about 6 or 7 times over the past 8 months. Once, just for kicks, I reinstalled Windows and it fixed the problem. A month later it was back again. I am currently experiencing this issue again, and my system has now been slow for 3 weeks with no end in sight. My work pace has slowed down and gaming isn't exactly fun at 20 fps. One day I got "normal" performance back but today my system is extremely slow (again!) Does anyone have a solution? My system specs: Dell Latitude D820 (purchased July 2006). Intel Core Duo T2600 2.16 GHz 2 GB RAM Nvidia Quadro NVS 120M 100 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive P.S. I understand the Quadro card I have isn't optimized for gaming. The problem isn't that the card is slow, it is that sometimes the games are EXTREMELY slow and that other times they are not. The fact that this issue affects finite element analysis (mostly CPU intensive processing, not GPU) leads me to believe that it is not a video card problem.

12-23-2007, 11:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
lovely? Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: California Age: 16 Posts: 4,023	programs running in the background? just because you have a dual core doesnt mean you can run 20 things in the background! lol __________________ E4500 @ 2.93GHZ COMING: E8400 ASUS P5K-DELUXE 2GB OCZ Reaper CL3 @ 800MHZ 3-4-4-15 eVGA 8800GT COMING: ATI 4850 OZC GameXStream 700W PSU 320GB WD Caviar SATA, 80GB WD Caviar IDE

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dell Instant Win Program?	cyclones9	Laptop and Smartphones	5	08-26-2006 10:06 PM
Dell laptops strike back!!!	gamerman4	Laptop and Smartphones	16	08-17-2006 11:23 PM
Dell Latitude D820 VS Fujitsu Siemens LifeBook Q Series	PCDude18	Laptop and Smartphones	4	08-04-2006 12:14 AM
I think I just killed my laptop!!!	los7883	Laptop and Smartphones	13	07-15-2005 06:46 PM
need operating system - dell latitude C800	noalibi	Laptop and Smartphones	3	05-16-2005 07:03 AM

12-23-2007, 05:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
famousp New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	I do not think it is heat, because I use it mostly in similar indoor environments (68-72 F) and the problem occurs whether the computer has just been turned on or has had time to warm up. The fan also cycles less during the "slow" periods whereas when it is running fast the fan cycles to full power during intense processing and gaming. Not sure what to make of that. This morning I turned it on and it was running fast again. Go figure.

12-26-2007, 03:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
famousp New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	Nah, I almost never run anything in the background, and I've even gone down the task manager and shut down anything not directly related to running windows just to make sure. Seems to be running fine for the moment. I'll mess around a little bit more and see if I can find anything that's not right.

12-27-2007, 07:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
famousp New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	Turns out the problem was related to a bad battery. I have replaced the battery and the system seems to be running better now. Thanks for everyone's input!