Help with my laptop's weird fps drops please.

[Razzle]

I'v been having this issue for a couple of months now i believe.

The issue is really weird here is the laptop's spec first.
Corei5 2.6
nvidia gt635m 2gb vram.
4gb ram.


So the issue is after i play a game for around 10 or sometimes 5 minutes the fps goes down from 60 to 30-40 and then goes down even worse.

I am not really playing that much of AAA games i know this laptop is pretty weak i am aware of that.

but see the issue is very weird, if i minisize the game or just alttab out and in again the fps goes back to 60 for about 20-30 seconds then goes down again.


Many people suggested its an overheating issue, i am sure its not, because i played a lot of 2d games that made my laptop really hot, and the fps stays 60 and never drops.

So basically this issue i have only with 3d games, like skyrim or ds1 or 2 or unturned ... just any 3d game.


So again.
Fps drops at 3d games after 5-10 minutes and goes up for 30 seconds if i minisize and max again.
Fps drop never happens at 2d games ( an example being valdis story abyssal city, it makes the laptop hot as hell and fps never ever drops no matter what.)


So what could be the issue ?

[rotNdude]

Check your temperatures? How do know what they are?

[10upN2DOWN]

It's a laptop, after many over heating shutdowns their are toast.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

The FPS flucations after ALT+TAB switching is not "odd" it is that CPU/GPU can heat-up & cool very quickly, as they are not really being used after ALT+TAB back to Desktop (not like the high loads u have in-game anyways) and thus the temps can change this quickly.

Your CPU/GPU are most likely "throttling" ~ auto-down-clocking as a means of allowing it to lower temps below/near the max it can operate at, to help save them from simply burning. When they are down-clocking, this is when u see huge in-game performance drops.

Monitor the Temps when this is occurring. You can see FPS & GPU Temp in game with apps like MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner. In a majority of the cheaper laptops that have a single dedicated GPU, this usually sits very close to the CPU. So you can basically judge the CPU Temp just by your GPU temp u see on-screen with such apps. When it approaches roughly 85*C or higher, that is near the max and CPU+GPU throttle will usually occur at that point, making games unplayable.

- Clean out the dust. Keep the intake/exhaust grille areas clean/clear. Keep the laptop off soft "smothering" surface types, such as your clothing, bedding, etc. when under these higher loads, as breathing-room is needed for the fan to do the job properly. Best is to slightly elevate the laptop if possible.

- Ensure internal fan is operating properly. During temps of approx 60-70*C the fan should auto-increase fan % to compensate for heat. While it may increase noise due to this, under normal operating conditions that fan should keep both the CPU/GPU cool enough to not exceed it's max temps (or close enough not to throttle). If the fan is faulty, replace it with an OEM replacement made for your laptop's model; if under warranty, the OEM can issue replacement under such policy terms.

If further cooling is needed beyond the OEM cooling, look at cooling pads that are ideal for your laptop size, etc. Try not to attempt to avoid replacement of internal fan, as external ones will not be able to act as an overall cooling replacement for that. They just can help provide more direct airflow and also act as something useful to elevate your laptop.

[_I_]

keep it cool,
keep it charged and plugged in while gaming
keep it clean
and your throttling issues will be solved

[Razzle]

Alright thanks a lot for the answers :D

I took a screenshot of the Temperature i honestly have no experience in it.
http://i.imgur.com/87aNvrB.png

is this bad ?
was simply playing dark souls 2.

[_I_]

whats the max gpu temp?
80c after idle for a while is warm, they throttle near 100c

[Razzle]

Reached 98c.

actually after rechecking max is at 93c and didnt go higher

This is on max
http://gyazo.com/7add2a43b121ebbc31e06ccf1f6e0d86

[Ghoti]

that is really bad.
how old is your laptop? if it is more than 3 years old, have you reapplied the thermal paste (dont have to do that but its better) do you have a cooling pad? most gpus have a max of 100c after that they usually crash. reaching 85 or more will already make the processors start to stop functioning at their full power, or else they may fry, so that explains the fps drops, but if i were you, i would either try to fix the problem or get a new laptop (i recommend a desktop though even as a laptop user, since desktops are cheaper and have more power)

[Razzle]

I got the laptop at late 2014, Lenovo thinkpad , and getting a new one is not an option for me.

I guess what i will do is keep it cool for a while, not gonna use the nvidia gpu until i get a can of compressed air or something to just dust it off and a cooling pad ofc.
I think the thermal paste is in good state but not too sure.

Anyway, i seriously appreciate all your outstanding answers thank you all for your help ^^
if you have any other advice's shoot up im still here.

[Ghoti]

Originally posted by FIRE_KEEPER:

I got the laptop at late 2014, Lenovo thinkpad , and getting a new one is not an option for me.

I guess what i will do is keep it cool for a while, not gonna use the nvidia gpu until i get a can of compressed air or something to just dust it off and a cooling pad ofc.
I think the thermal paste is in good state but not too sure.

Anyway, i seriously appreciate all your outstanding answers thank you all for your help ^^
if you have any other advice's shoot up im still here.

my y50 has a clean internal space option, amybe there is dust in your laptop
anyways thinkpads are durable but are made for work, not gaming

[Razzle]

Yeah, sadly im aware of that but it was what i could afford i suppose.

Playing valdis story gets 83c max and fps does not drop.
So is this an issue that effects mainly 3d games ?

[_I_]

its throttling
get a laptop cooling pad
and try cleaning its vents with an aircompressor or cans of compressed air

[Razzle]

I am on it, just tryin to get those will take me a week i guess, and then will report back when im done

[Razzle]

Thanks all for the help!
I am yet to acquire a cooling pad its kinda hard going out .. dont ask.

ANYWAY
I opened up the laptop cleaned it and what not, And no more fps drop.

however the max temp reached 93c at Gpu-z but the avg is 63.

And the Gpu-z log before cleaning it was sort of like 80c 90c 70c 88c 79c
now its 35c 45c and goes around 35-60.

[Ghoti]

probably was the dust that was messing around with your laptop.
a good cooling pad may also help bring down you max temperature and good ones elevate your laptop too, which helps with its airflow