M17x Stutter

[Glzmo]

how? how to get rid?

I would like to know that as well, especially for both SLI cards, not just the primary/master. Powermizer Switch (and the registry values that go with it) don't seem to work for the slave card, only for the master.

[Aedaric]

Well, for what its worth, I'm using the 186.64 driver. Have not touched PowerMizer. I know I posted a response to that one and my thoughts on disabling it.

I really want to make a point here - it is important to not confuse the HIGH DPC Latency spikes as seen with the Checker tool and the stuttering. I say this for two reasons -

I have ZERO stuttering issues (be it audio playback using WMP or FPS) and I can still run that tool and see massive spikes. Important note, I did experience audio popping/crackling and the FPS drop off prior to implementing the work-around I mentioned. Spent a couple of days testing different fixes - this is the one which worked for me.

Many notebooks have had high DPC latency spikes when testing with the checker tool. Several Dell notebooks as well as notebooks from other manufacturers have exhibited this behavior. This issue has been around for some time now. The XPS M1730 for example, had severe spikes yet did not have the issues with FPS drops.

Is it possible the two are still connected? Yes, of course it is. Can the M17x Stuttering issue be temporarily resolved? Yes. Is Command Center buggy and does it have issues with memory leaks? Yes. Is Dell/Alienware looking into this? Yes.

Batboy, you mentioned in this post you are using 186.64 as your drivers for your laptop. I was under the assumption you were using the ones linked in your signature. I myself have been having irritating issues regarding stutters and lock ups with my system, even after several formats and installs. I'm currently at a loss as to how to fix this issue and am afraid I'm going to have to break down and call AW, hopefully I won't have to stand on hold for an hour and half like I did today just to get my account number.

Aedaric

[dondadah88]

i'm reformating tonight if you want a walk threw???

i'm installing windows 7 x64 home premuim if you want to wait.

[Aedaric]

To whom are you talking to dondadah88? I've already been through multiple formats and multiple driver versions, all of them to no avail. Occasional lock ups, random at that, as well as a very slight stutter and the documented DPC latency. IMO I can't help but think all three of these issues are related and possibly being caused by the same thing.

[dondadah88]

oh ok i see. well i just reinstalled my os. i'm backing it up now. then i'mgoing to yesy it out to see how it runs.

[Aristotelhs2060]

so this stuttering seems to be an issue relating to auto-downclock of the gpus when on battery? and what if power cable is connected as well as the battery? still uses the battery?

[hazardic]

so this stuttering seems to be an issue relating to auto-downclock of the gpus when on battery? and what if power cable is connected as well as the battery? still uses the battery?

no way. battery unplugged and powermizer option is off for me. so now i can tell that in borderlands and modern warfare, tdu, shift a haven't any stuuter - but in gta 4 with 186.82 and stalker i have huge stuttering. in my os i've never noticed any stutter - so i believe thats the driver problem because on stock drivers (179.85) i had't any stutter in gta4. sli profiles using nhancer is not an option

[Rotsu]

so this stuttering seems to be an issue relating to auto-downclock of the gpus when on battery? and what if power cable is connected as well as the battery? still uses the battery?

No, the GPUs clock is changing rapidly even when the power cable is connected. This is actually not only to save the battery power, but to lower power consumption of the entire laptop(less watts requirement and save electricity bill ^^).

The question is, is it safe to keep the GPUs clock at their native speed? AKA turn off powermizer.

theoretically, it is safe. Actually, there shouldn't be any danger or risk to turn off powermizer. Since this will lead to having the GPU running at its native manufacturing speed. Since the purpose of powermizer is to safe power, not to keep the GPUs cooler or extend their life or anything like that.

But im no expert in this matter, so dont take my word lol. I would like someone input on this as well.

[BatBoy]

Batboy, you mentioned in this post you are using 186.64 as your drivers for your laptop. I was under the assumption you were using the ones linked in your signature. I myself have been having irritating issues regarding stutters and lock ups with my system, even after several formats and installs. I'm currently at a loss as to how to fix this issue and am afraid I'm going to have to break down and call AW, hopefully I won't have to stand on hold for an hour and half like I did today just to get my account number.

Aedaric

Sorry about that Aadaric. Little typo there... I am using 186.82.

[BatBoy]

Actually, there shouldn't be any danger or risk to turn off powermizer. Since this will lead to having the GPU running at its native manufacturing speed. Since the purpose of powermizer is to safe power, not to keep the GPUs cooler or extend their life or anything like that.

But im no expert in this matter, so dont take my word lol. I would like someone input on this as well.

PowerMizer actually does allow for cooler running GPUs. In a nutshell it works like this - PowerMizer will adjust the clocks of the GPU based on load. When you are sitting at the desktop, surfing the web, etc. the clocks will be set at their lowest level (200 core/120 mem - 280M). As soon as you launch a GPU intensive task, the clocks will ramp up to the max (583 core/950 mem - 280M). Once you exit out and return to the desktop the GPUs will again downclock. This has not only power saving benefits but most importantly, with the lower clocks your GPUs are actually running cooler.

PowerMizer has been around for quite some time. Several months ago, it would not function correctly on Dell mobile GPUs. Dell's drivers did not implement it correctly and the LV2Go drivers had issues as well. I can't recall when this actually changed (changed while I still had my XPS M1730 w/8800M GTX SLI - I think it was during the 182.xx series) but once the drivers began supporting PowerMizer, we saw a vast reduction in temps on the M1730.

Now, the reason why I personally feel its a critical component:

The XPS M1730 as many are aware, suffered from a 'rinse and repeat' fan cycle. Prior to PowerMizer being supported properly on the M1730, the GPU temp would climb from a power on state to approx. 75c at which time the fans would kick in. The fans would then cool the GPUs back to about 60c and kick off. Temps would start to rise again until they hit the fan mark and fans would start again. This whole process continued the entire time the system was powered up. Once the PowerMizer enabled drivers began functioning correctly, we saw a vast reduction in temps.

In any case, I mention this since, while the cooling system of the M17x is the best I have ever seen, its dangerous to toy with PowerMizer. I have watched as countless M1730 members here have had their GPUs fry after a year (or less).

Every owner can decide for themselves if they want to kill PowerMizer @ the driver level. It's up to you.

For more info on PowerMizer, see HERE (nvidia link). PowerMizer Tech Brief .pdf HERE.