Frame rate drops when gaming

[hezzlington]

Hi all,

I'm experiencing quite a weird situation where I get seemingly random frame rate drops on games such as Doom Eternal and Apex Legends. I have done all the usual steps like updated to latest GPU drivers, turned off background programs/Windows Gamebar. My laptop is plugged in and set to turbo mode etc.

I play these games on Low settings and I'll be at 143fps consistently on Apex Legends for example and then all of a sudden my frames will drop to about 20fps for about 5 seconds, and then it will return to 143 fps. This happens every 5 - 10 minutes. It has happened right at the beginning of a gaming session when my laptop is not hot. It also happens when I'm not actually in a match but browsing the in-game menus.

I don't understand how I would go about diagnosing this problem.

Chassis & Display
Vyper Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10875H (2.3GHz, 5.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 3 in 1 Card Reader (Full Size SD / SDHC / SDXC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Vyper Series Integrated 62WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + THX Spatial Audio
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 3 PORT + 3 x USB 3.1 PORTS
Keyboard Language
VYPER SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee
1 Year Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Insurance
Simplesurance Purchase Protection inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[hezzlington]

Sorry, I don't know how I ended up posting this in Sales, I thought I was posting in tech support. Please kindly move thread to correct space! Thanks

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hiya

Thread has been moved to tech support section

Have you serviced the laptop since you got it? Will need repasting and cleaning for dust about once a year to keep thermals optimal.

My guess is it's overheating and throttling. You can check this with something like HWMonitor:

HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID

HWMonitor for Windows® x86/x64 is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, powers, currents, fans speed, utilizations, clock speeds ... The program handles : CPU and GPU-level hardware monitoring...

www.cpuid.com

 

[hezzlington]

Hiya

Thread has been moved to tech support section

Have you serviced the laptop since you got it? Will need repasting and cleaning for dust about once a year to keep thermals optimal.

My guess is it's overheating and throttling. You can check this with something like HWMonitor:

HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID

HWMonitor for Windows® x86/x64 is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, powers, currents, fans speed, utilizations, clock speeds ... The program handles : CPU and GPU-level hardware monitoring...

www.cpuid.com

Hi Spyder,

I thought this, so I cleaned out the laptop which was admittedly full of dust. I cleaned out two fans. Maybe I didn't clean it properly but I removed heavy dust from two fans? I'm not sure.

The frame rate drops happen even when my laptop isnt hot on my first game for example.

I'll download HW monitor

Is there software that will record frames per second against time? I can do it in game and see when it's occuring

EDIT:

My CPU temp is around 75 - 90 deg C when idle. looks high

 

[SpyderTracks]

The frame rate drops happen even when my laptop isnt hot on my first game for example.

The laptop may not be hot, but the CPU goes from 30c to 99c within a matter of nano seconds, same with GPU when in a game if the paste has expired.

Cleaning is just one part of maintenance, you will also likely need to repaste.

 

[hezzlington]

The laptop may not be hot, but the CPU goes from 30c to 99c within a matter of nano seconds, same with GPU when in a game if the paste has expired.

Cleaning is just one part of maintenance, you will also likely need to repaste.

I've just taken it to a laptop repair shop.

They didn't accept walk in customers because of covid so I had to meet the technician outside his office, when I handed the laptop to him, he opened the carry case and tried to take my laptop out. It slipped out of his hand onto concrete and my laptop now has pretty bad (cosmetic) damage. Do PCS offer repair to the chassis for a price?

Anyway on an unrelated note to the cosmetic damage, the technician has said that its likely the CPU & GPU fans need replacing as they are stiff as not working as well as they should be. Presumably, I will need to get this verified by PCS and this would be covered under their warranty as the laptop is not that old? I think I opted for a higher level of warranty & insurance. The laptop has been thoroughly cleaned now and it definitely sounds quieter so I'll give a game a test and see what happens.

really sad about the cosmetic damage

 

[rouchie]

I've just taken it to a laptop repair shop.

They didn't accept walk in customers because of covid so I had to meet the technician outside his office, when I handed the laptop to him, he opened the carry case and tried to take my laptop out. It slipped out of his hand onto concrete and my laptop now has pretty bad (cosmetic) damage. Do PCS offer repair to the chassis for a price?

Anyway, the technician has said that its likely the CPU & GPU fans need replacing as they are stiff as not working as well as they should be. Presumably, I will need to get this verified by PCS and this would be covered under their warranty as the laptop is not that old? I think I opted for a higher level of warranty & insurance. The laptop has been thoroughly cleaned now and it definitely sounds quieter so I'll give a game a test and see what happens.

really sad about the cosmetic damage

I would be looking to the technician who dropped your laptop to get any cosmetic damage sorted

 

[hezzlington]

I would be looking to the technician who dropped your laptop to get any cosmetic damage sorted

I do not want to return to the same technician.

I would rather go to PCS if it's a service they offer, seeing as they could source the chassis with ease and if it's expensive, I would look to the technician who dropped it for monetary compensation.

We had not entered in a contract of work when I had handed over to him, so I don't know where it leaves us legally but I think obtaining repair estimates first would be helpful

 

[Steveyg]

I do not want to return to the same technician.

I would rather go to PCS if it's a service they offer, seeing as they could source the chassis with ease and if it's expensive, I would look to the technician who dropped it for monetary compensation.

We had not entered in a contract of work when I had handed over to him, so I don't know where it leaves us legally but I think obtaining repair estimates first would be helpful

I would be getting it fixed at their cost either way, doesn't matter where I get it fixed but they would be paying for it. don't let them fob you off on that mate that's abysmal. could also have easily damaged the whole set up by dropping it

 

[hezzlington]

I would be getting it fixed at their cost either way, doesn't matter where I get it fixed but they would be paying for it. don't let them fob you off on that mate that's abysmal. could also have easily damaged the whole set up by dropping it

I don't have much confidence in Mr butterfingers to replace the chassis! The T&Cs of the repair shop stipulate they won't be held liable for accidental damage, so if I go after them it may get messy. That's why I'd rather obtain repair estimates first and explore where this leaves me legally.

 

[ubuysa]

I do not want to return to the same technician.

I would rather go to PCS if it's a service they offer, seeing as they could source the chassis with ease and if it's expensive, I would look to the technician who dropped it for monetary compensation.

We had not entered in a contract of work when I had handed over to him, so I don't know where it leaves us legally but I think obtaining repair estimates first would be helpful

Having said that you took it to a third party for repair and the third party damaged it you might find that your warranty with PCS is now void.

Check the Terms and Conditions....

 

[Martinr36]

and the trouble is having taken it to a third party your warrenty with pcs will now be void

7.9	We reserve the right to suspend the warranty or refuse service if your Case, Motherboard, CPU or BIOS have been replaced without authorisation. Any tampering, repair or modification by unauthorised personnel voids the warranty.

 

[Martinr36]

cross posted with @ubuysa

 

[hezzlington]

and the trouble is having taken it to a third party your warrenty with pcs will now be void

7.9	We reserve the right to suspend the warranty or refuse service if your Case, Motherboard, CPU or BIOS have been replaced without authorisation. Any tampering, repair or modification by unauthorised personnel voids the warranty.

So do PCS offer laptop cleaning/servicing ?

Where/how am I supposed to get it serviced and cleaned without voiding the warranty. Surely for people who aren't tech savvy such as myself, it would be much more sensible to employ a professional (i got unlucky that my professional dropped the laptop...)

It is worth stressing that the dropping of the laptop is not related to the initial thread.

My laptop is fine and has suffered cosmetic damage only.

 

[Martinr36]

So do PCS offer laptop cleaning/servicing ?

Where/how am I supposed to get it serviced and cleaned without voiding the warranty. Surely for people who aren't tech savvy such as myself, it would be much more sensible to employ a professional (i got unlucky that my professional dropped the laptop...)

It is worth stressing that the dropping of the laptop is not related to the initial thread.

My laptop is fine and has suffered cosmetic damage only.

you either do it yourself or send it to PCS to do, this is one of the things of owning a custom build computer

 

[ubuysa]

So do PCS offer laptop cleaning/servicing ?

Where/how am I supposed to get it serviced and cleaned without voiding the warranty. Surely for people who aren't tech savvy such as myself, it would be much more sensible to employ a professional (i got unlucky that my professional dropped the laptop...)

It is worth stressing that the dropping of the laptop is not related to the initial thread.

My laptop is fine and has suffered cosmetic damage only.

No, PCS do not offer a cleaning service.

Buying a custom build is quite different to buying off the shelf. Custom build customers expect to have to clean, and even repaste, several times in the life of their laptop.

PCS allow customers to open up laptops for cleaning, repasting, and the upgrading of certain components.

 

[hezzlington]

No, PCS do not offer a cleaning service.

Buying a custom build is quite different to buying off the shelf. Custom build customers expect to have to clean, and even repaste, several times in the life of their laptop.

PCS allow customers to open up laptops for cleaning, repasting, and the upgrading of certain components.

but they dont allow outsourcing to a repair shop?

 

[Martinr36]

but they dont allow outsourcing to a repair shop?

No they don't, its al in the terms and conditions you agreed to when you purchase a PCS system

 

[ubuysa]

but they dont allow outsourcing to a repair shop?

No. Not if you want to keep your warranty.

Cleaning and/or repasting is normal regular customer maintenance with a custom build.

If it breaks PCS will fix it, but you need to do the necessary maintenance yourself. It's a bit like checking the oil, water and tyre pressures in your car before you drive.

 

[hezzlington]

understood, cheers