New laptop can't play games

Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
So I just got my new alienware in the mail yesterday (specs are in my sig). And I'm having a problem running games. I've tried a graphic intensive game (The Witcher 2) and one not so intensive (Sanctum demo from steam). What happens in both is while I'm playing it runs fine, but frequently I get these long pauses. The game will stutter a bit and then continue. And it does this every 10 seconds or so. I found a driver fix online and installed that but that didn't help at all.
 
aara0123

aara0123

New Member
It's probably the games themselves as both witcher2 and sanctum are relativally new games, does this happen with every game or just those? If it is the games themselves then they probably just need to get patched (when released).
 
Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
Seen I've had the laptop those are the only 2 I've been able to try out. I suppose I'll re-download BF2 and see how it plays. But for both games to have the exact same problem doesn't make it seem like it would be the games

One thing I didn't mention is that when it freezes like it does, I'll sometimes try to alt + tab out of the game, and a windows message will appear in the corner saying my graphics card stopped working but it has recovered. this happens every time.
 
Last edited:
Quiltface

Quiltface

Active Member
see if you can find the latest drivers for your video card if you havent already... it sounds like it could be faulty too. try drivers though.
 
Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
Quiltface said:
see if you can find the latest drivers for your video card if you havent already... it sounds like it could be faulty too. try drivers though.
Click to expand...

like I said, I found a driver fix but that'll all that's available. I'm going through hell trying to contact dell's tech support. My service tag is invalid so I can't access the online chat and not only can I not understand the people on the phone but I have to wait an hour to talk to to them...
 
Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
The card is in my sig. I got the drivers straight from the amd website, as the dell website didn't have any newer ones
 
Quiltface

Quiltface

Active Member
hmmm, hopefully the card isnt bad... i can only imagine how hard it would be to convince them that it is. this seems basic but the witcher 2's website says to make sure UAC is disabled and that you have the latest version of directx and windows updates installed. windows updates eh but i would double check your directx it is probably up to date though.

and do you have the latest patches for the game?

also try running it in admin mode.
 
Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
Hmmm. Maybe running the games in admin mode might make the difference, but those other suggestions I've already done. I'm running DX11, I've installed every update available....I'm frustrated...I've spend over 2 grand on this thing so you just kind of expect it to work...
 
Quiltface

Quiltface

Active Member
yeah i hear ya man... the game is made for XP/Vista/7 so i dont think a compatibility setting should make a difference wouldnt hurt to try though. Try disabling like antivirus and stuff like that too.
 
Troncoso

Troncoso

VIP Member
Well, after looking into the error message I get:

"display driver amd stopped responding and has recovered"

I've found that it's because of the latest version that I'm having a problem, so I'll have to go with the MS version til an update comes out or something
 
HumanMage

HumanMage

New Member
I'm having the same issue. I play Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword and Portal II, using the most up to date driver I can find (released March 2009)and each time I get into the game, I receive HORRIBLE graphics tearing and artifacts. The game is inoperable. I was able to play these same games not but a month ago...

Each time I contact ASUS technical support (I have a G1 laptop) they constantly tell me that it's the mother board. I've RMA'd this notebook twice in the past month...for the same problem...and it keeps recurring.

I just tried an older game, Warcraft III Reign of Chaos, and it seemed to work fine. I wonder what the issue is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top