aresye 0 #1 July 18, 2008 So, since there seems to be quite a few gaming nerds around here...besides myself, maybe they can help me in figuring out what the hell my computer is doing. So I customized my own laptop with: AMD Turion X2 TL-60 (2.0GHz) 4GB OCZ DDR 667 RAM 80GB HDD GeForce Go 7600 (256MB) Now, comes the interesting problem. I use CPU-Z to monitor what my CPU's clock frequencies are, and other various system information. When my frame rates on Counter-Strike: Source fall below 30fps average, it really pisses me off, because I'm a sniper, and having a choppy screen doesn't help in a fast paced game. So I first check all of my settings. No AA on, AF is on Trilinear, and HDR Lighting is off. The resolution I play at is 1280x800. Everything else is on the default settings, which are high. Frame rate is about 15-30fps...wtf? So I check My Computer. It has only 3GB of RAM listed, which is fine, because I know windows doesn't always display all the ram. My processor speed confused me though, listed at 800MHz. I go to CPU-Z, and not only are both my cores listed running at 800MHz (200MHz slower than what they should be), but my CPU was listed as an AMD Opteron 8100 (WTF!). In the specification though, it has it listed as it should be. AMD Turion X2 TL-60. Why then, is my computer running 400MHz slower than it should? It's running at 1.6GHz, instead of 2.0GHz. My BIOS is still stock, and I haven't changed anything. Anybody that has any input it's greatly appreciated. I don't see how my current computer can do so much worse than my desktop back home. Current: See Above Desktop: AMD Athlon 64 (1.8GHz) 2GB OCZ DDR400 RAM 80GB HDD GeForce 6800GT (256MB) Laptop: 15-30fps Average Desktop: 90-120fps Average Same resolutions, same settings. If anything my laptop is much more sophisticated than my 3yr old laptop, but is performing so badly. I've checked for spyware, viruses, etc. Any ideas out there?Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #2 July 18, 2008 Turn down the AA and shadow detail...that should help. Games are more GPU intensive than CPU intensive, normally. If you're worried about CPU speed, turn off any cpu speed scaling in your bios. This will let you run at full CPU speed (probably NOT important in GPU intensive games) and will kill your battery when not on A/C. Are you using the latest version of CPU-Z? It may be misidentifying your CPU (no affect on speed, just the name).Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #3 July 18, 2008 Brief google search of the two CPUs... found several reviews using CPU-Z AMD Turion X2 TL-60 (2.0GHz) FSB speed 800 mhz AMD Athlon 64 (1.8GHz) FSB speed 1000 mhz It appears your chips are running at spec performance levels. "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pontiacgtp00 0 #4 July 18, 2008 What operating system are you running? Windows XP only supports a maximum of 3gb of RAM, but Vista supports more. About the CPU, I don't know why its listing it as an AMD Opteron but there may be a jumper on the motherboard that needs to be set. Could be running too hot also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuna-Salad 0 #5 July 18, 2008 Where does the pc say 3gb of ram? What does the post screen say? Send me the results of your dxdiag for cpu / ram and video drivers please. start -> run - dxdiag. What board and who makes it. Also do you have the amd core optimization tool installed?Millions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #6 July 18, 2008 QuoteWhere does the pc say 3gb of ram? What does the post screen say? Send me the results of your dxdiag for cpu / ram and video drivers please. start -> run - dxdiag. What board and who makes it. Also do you have the amd core optimization tool installed? Probably under my computer>properties. XP doesn't recognize over 3gb of ram.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aresye 0 #7 July 18, 2008 Yes, it lists 3GB under Computer>>>Properties Well, first off, thanks for all the replies! Got quite a few more than I thought I would. Second, I think I found the source of the problem! I downloaded an overclocking utility, as I've had experience overclocking AMDs in the past. My purpose was not to overclock, but to see what my FSB and Multipliers were set at. As it turns out, my FSB was at 200, which is where it should be, but my multipliers were at 4! This could either be the way they set it when they built my computer, or some type of power saving feature. Either way, the multiplier is capable of going to 10X. This is the first CPU I have EVER seen that did not come set with its multiplier at the max. already. The great thing about the multiple, is that it doesn't increase the heat of the CPU like more in-depth overclocking does. Now my average fps is about 90-100, which is more like where it should be, regarding the specs.Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kerrida 0 #8 July 18, 2008 Quote What operating system are you running? Windows XP only supports a maximum of 3gb of RAM, but Vista supports more. As a note, a 32 bit OS, which is what XP Pro/Home is as well as the normal Vista and Linux kernels, can support up to 4GB of ram. It's just that MS fubared their memory management with XP, and it can only properly allocate memory up to 3GB. Thus XP can only go up to 3GB efficiently. However, on any 32bit OS you are limited to 4GB. Want to go above that... use XP Pro 64, Vista 64.. or even better just throw windows out the door, load up 64bit Linux, and use Cedega. Friendly Geeky Datacenter Tech Woman Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #9 July 18, 2008 How well does Cedega (that's a $ program, right?) work with games/photoshop?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kerrida 0 #10 July 18, 2008 Cedega is like $5/mo which gives you voting priviledges towards denoting which games you want them to work on increasing support for. Only downside, they used to have an initial 3mo signup and then just $5/mop after that. Now they seem to go for 6 or 12mo periods. You only need to have a current subscription when you want updates. If the version you are using plays all your games to your satisfaction, no need to keep it active. Most of your big popular titles work really really well. More obscure ones, or those with less of a following are sometimes hit or miss. As for photoshop, I am not entirely certain. Offhand I would say it should be able to run it. If not you can try Crossover office as a free trial just to see if that may work for ya. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #11 July 18, 2008 Appreciate the information, thanks!Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kerrida 0 #12 July 18, 2008 Not a problem! I'm all for converting people from Windows! There's starting to be fewer and fewer valid reasons for people to stick with it, since more and more 'windows only' software is able to be used in *nix by some means, or have a much better free *nix alternative. Note for those in the dark: *nix is refering to Unix and/or linux and the variations thereof Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #13 July 18, 2008 QuoteNot a problem! I'm all for converting people from Windows! There's starting to be fewer and fewer valid reasons for people to stick with it, since more and more 'windows only' software is able to be used in *nix by some means, or have a much better free *nix alternative. Note for those in the dark: *nix is refering to Unix and/or linux and the variations thereof If it weren't for my games / photoshop (and the fact that GIMP, while free, still isn't a match for PS), I'd go linux. Since I'm internet-less outside of work at the moment, it's sort of moot, though.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kerrida 0 #14 July 18, 2008 yeah I am soo not gonna argue that GIMP is.. well.. GIMPed compared to PS, lol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #15 July 18, 2008 Quoteyeah I am soo not gonna argue that GIMP is.. well.. GIMPed compared to PS, lol. For being a non-paid-development program I think it's pretty damn impressive.Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aresye 0 #16 July 18, 2008 So I did a little more research, and found out that 800MHz is the idle speed for both cores. Somehow though, my multiple was locked at 4, so when I play games, or other CPU intensive stuff, my FSB would not increase like it should. So far I'm very much liking the more playable framerates. Really pissed me off in CSS when I'm trying to headshot with a scout, and some guy running at me with an MP5 takes me out, because I can't hit his moving head at 15fps. Now that I'm between 90-100...beware you MP5 whores! To quote FPS Doug..."BOOM! Headshot!" *Edit: ...and there goes any potential women for the next year Skydiving: You either learn from other's mistakes, or they'll learn from yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
