RG Sep 22, 2013 @ 10:10am
Laptop is stuttering because of heat. How I could fix this?
Hey everyone.
I am having issue with my laptop. It is that some kind of stuttering occurs everywhere, especially in games. It is not so "sharp responsive" even when I am on desktop (but not always). I have done everything I could think of and what I could find on different forums.
Video how does it look
What I had done so far:
  • Windows reinstall (with HDD format) and creation of new discs C: and D:
  • Defragmentation, CCleaner for registry and similar stuff
  • GameBooster
  • Lowering game settings
    Turning OFF VSync
  • Setting Nvidia as primary graphics device
  • Vacuumed all vents; fans starts working only when there is some processes
    ADDED:
  • As I had issue with USB3 too dell have changed motherboard and USB board just now
  • Using cooling pad
  • Heatsink cleaned up, and thermal paste replaced
Laptop Specs:
  • Dell Inspiron 17R N7110
  • TOSHIBA MK6461GSYN 640GB 7200 rpm
    Avg. Latency 4.16; Avg Seek time 12 ms; Transfer Rate 300 MB/s
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M (Driver 327.23)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 (Driver uninstalled)
  • Intel(R) i5-2410M 2.3GHz (up to 2.9 GHz)
    2 Cores (4 Threads);
  • 8GB RAM (4+4)
With these specs I should have no problems especially for older games such as GTA III, but as you can see in the same video I mentioned earlier I have some weird stuttering which is not lag or low FPS. If I set low settings I can play any games with decent FPS but stuttering still ocurs.

I am not sure, but when Skyrim was released (maybe 2011), I could play it and there was no stuttering or maybe I was more patient. But now, less than month ago, when I tried to play Medieval 2 it was too much and I didnt play, Then GTA III which is old and should be perfect (and it has high FPS), but stuttering is still here. Then DayZ, which is much more demanding, but with custom LOW settings i could get 20-30FPS but stuttering is still annoying, especialy if some zobies are chasing you :D
Then I install Skyrim as it was the only one game I played what I could think of at that moment, and stutering was still here. Although I am not sure 100% that it wasnt before when it was released.

ADDED 27th Sep 2013
As I was having USB3 problems too they have changed motherboard and USB board.
When I turn on cold computer I was able to play DayZ without any problems, but when It warm up, stuttering was back. This shows that problem is heat
I have monitored temperatures using HWiNFO I have seen big temp difference in few modules:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8695/ejxm.jpg
Fan is clean and inside is free of dust

Any help or advice is much appreciated.
Thanks for your time ;)
Rimvydas
Last edited by RG; Oct 1, 2013 @ 4:01pm
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Showing 1-15 of 22 comments
SHON Sep 22, 2013 @ 3:06pm 
What graphics card driver are you using?
Legendary old man Sep 22, 2013 @ 3:09pm 
Hum... I think this could help you. Vacuuming is not recommended but I think you was heading in the right direction with that.
http://netlans.com/articles/computer-tips-overheating-laptop-repair
RG Sep 22, 2013 @ 11:56pm 
Thanks for reply
Originally posted by Kaboom:
What graphics card driver are you using?
I did uninstall Intel drivers, (and this helped me: few extra FPS) and had Updated Nvidia to the Newest: 327.23

Originally posted by facedown:
Hum... I think this could help you. Vacuuming is not recommended but I think you was heading in the right direction with that.
http://netlans.com/articles/computer-tips-overheating-laptop-repair
I do not want to open screws as laptop is still on 3 years dell warantee, so maybe I should contact them to make me a full reset?
Last edited by RG; Sep 23, 2013 @ 12:05am
Bad 💀 Motha Sep 22, 2013 @ 11:58pm 
GT 525M is your problem. Not enough for most games. Need at least a 540 or 630 for most games.

With GTA games, turn of VSync.

In NVIDIA CP, set NVIDIA GPU to be the Default. Set Triple Buffering and VSync to off.
Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; Sep 23, 2013 @ 12:00am
RG Sep 23, 2013 @ 12:00am 
Originally posted by Bad-Motha:
GT 525M is your problem. Not enough for most games. Need at least a 540 or 630 for most games.
Thanks for reply ;) But how about the old games then? As I say that on GTA III as you can see I have huge FPS count, but it still stutters from time to time.
Vsync was off (it was one of the things what I found on other forums)

This is how it should be: although my hardware is a bit weaker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GReRIYnfhOA
Last edited by RG; Sep 23, 2013 @ 2:04am
Legendary old man Sep 23, 2013 @ 3:05pm 
Originally posted by RG:
Originally posted by facedown:
Hum... I think this could help you. Vacuuming is not recommended but I think you was heading in the right direction with that.
http://netlans.com/articles/computer-tips-overheating-laptop-repair
I do not want to open screws as laptop is still on 3 years dell warantee, so maybe I should contact them to make me a full reset?

You already tried a full reset. Warranty might not cover dust inside your computer. That is considered maintenance and besides you might not have to open it up. Did you read?

Ya, he is correct about your video card being sub par. Laptops are very prone to overheating or running hot. When they do they underclock to stay cool and it runs like crap. Grow a pair and fix it yourself.
Last edited by Legendary old man; Sep 23, 2013 @ 3:06pm
RG Sep 27, 2013 @ 4:31am 
Originally posted by facedown:
Originally posted by RG:

I do not want to open screws as laptop is still on 3 years dell warantee, so maybe I should contact them to make me a full reset?

You already tried a full reset. Warranty might not cover dust inside your computer. That is considered maintenance and besides you might not have to open it up. Did you read?

Ya, he is correct about your video card being sub par. Laptops are very prone to overheating or running hot. When they do they underclock to stay cool and it runs like crap. Grow a pair and fix it yourself.

As I was having USB3 problems too DELL have changed motherboard and USB board.
When I turn on cold computer I was able to play DayZ without any problems, but when It warm up, stuttering was back. This shows that problem is heat
I have monitored temperatures using HWiNFO I have seen big temp difference in few modules:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/ejxm.jpg/
So what to do now? fan is clean and inside is free of dust
Last edited by RG; Sep 27, 2013 @ 5:07am
Satoru Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:01am 
If it's heat then you ned to dissipate the heat. Likely one of the fans in your mobo is dead. You'll need to either replace it, or stick one of those laptop fan things underneath your computer to dissipate the heat. There's no rother real solution. Heat has to go SOMEWHERE.
RG Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:34am 
Originally posted by Satoru:
If it's heat then you ned to dissipate the heat. Likely one of the fans in your mobo is dead. You'll need to either replace it, or stick one of those laptop fan things underneath your computer to dissipate the heat. There's no rother real solution. Heat has to go SOMEWHERE.
I am using cooling pad too. If you checked that printscreen there you can see that processor gpu and everything is less than 45oC just theese few things are more than that which (I think) cause problems. What are they and how to pick up heat from them?http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/ejxm.jpg/
Last edited by RG; Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:35am
YuureiYoukai Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:47am 
do you have a working laptop fan inside it?

RG Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:58am 
Originally posted by hashtagington:
do you have a working laptop fan inside it?
Yes it is working, and when theese few temps reach pretty high it is more or less full speed, while cpu in the same time is ~35-40 and doesnt need that full speed
Last edited by RG; Sep 27, 2013 @ 7:59am
silly Sep 27, 2013 @ 8:24am 
You could try to cool everything down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crgDnjyfc2w
might work :)
Spiff Sep 27, 2013 @ 8:53am 
Install a v-lited version of windows 7 64 bit such as the version by nil available by torrent and then when you install your nvidia driver select to install the driver only rather than all the bloatware that comes with it. you'll have to install the intel driver for the dual graphics card thing or the video won't work right but I would avoid installing any other drivers unless something doesn't work. Bloatware kills!
Biff Sep 27, 2013 @ 9:57am 
Unfortunately heat is an inherit problem with laptops even with a cooling pad. And being that gaming is the most challenging task a computer can handle, that would be the source of your heat; the graphics work hard to generate games, therefore heat. I don't know how long you play for before it starts to stutter, but if this seems to have increased over time, your cooling needs to be upgraded. Take it to someone who knows how to work on laptops, don't do it yourself, unless you really know what you're doing. That being said, a pc is a lot easier to cool, with a few variables possible. Just a thought.
Satoru Sep 27, 2013 @ 10:34am 
You might want I see if the heat sink on the chipset is loose or just re do it entirely.
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Date Posted: Sep 22, 2013 @ 10:10am
Posts: 22