Laptop runs slow after a while

I am not sure heat is the problem if the temps you provided (which are cool) are taken immediately before you shut down. If not convinced, do a quick search and you will find that most agree that lappy temps in the 60s, 70s, even 80s under a load are normal. Last I knew, Intel allowed for temps of 100 for mobile CPUs with an average temp of about 70. I am not familiar with the app that displays your temps but I use the free HWMonitor which shows CPU, GPU, mobo, cores, and HDD temps as well as other stuff. Could it be GPU heat? I have my doubts.

In my experience, excess heat causes the system to shut down, not slow down - but that's my experience. Have you shut down and immediately booted - before any significant cooling could take place?

Heat issues aside, I wonder about RAM.

Monk

Why not using a Prog like "Throttle Stop"...Launch it just before you play a game...i'm searching for the prog link.

here:http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/...rottleStop.zip (included the instruction manual .html).Thanks to unclewebb.

Here a screenshot:

First off, at least by my standards/expectations, your lappy is cool. Hopefully others will pipe in with their experiences about lappy temps.

Secondly, according to RivaTuner lappy gfx is not supported: "Note: RivaTuner doesn't declare official support for mobile graphics processors and multi-GPU SLI and Crossfire configurations. Proper functionality on such systems is not guaranteed, use RivaTuner at your own risk."

While I am familiar with RivaTuner, I do not have a working knowledge of it so there is not much I can offer other than to suggest you see what users say about such use; maybe someone here can guide you on that.

Finally, ATi's CCC often fails after driver upgrades; why, who knows but it is a recognized issue. The general approach is to uninstall/reinstall with or without driver uninstall/reinstall. You may have to experiment around.

What I would suggest is to first, uninstall your gfx driver. Why? Many issues are created when you upgrade a driver by overwriting the existing drivers. ATi points out that legacy drivers should always be uninstalled before an upgrade; legacy or not, I always uninstall ANY gfx drivers before an upgrade.

Next uninstall CCC. First go to Revo Uninstaller and read about and DL the free version. (Once installed, you can forget about Windows uninstaller). Launch Revo and uninstall CCC. The first uninstall screen that pops up gives you four uninstall levels. I always choose the most advanced and have never had a problem. Then Revo launches the app's built-in uninstaller; when that is finished, Revo takes over. However, many apps direct you to reboot after they are finished uninstalling and you will get a dialog asking if you want to do so: DO NOT REBOOT. If you reboot at this time, you kill Revo before it starts to do its thing. Simply close the reboot dialog and click next on Revo's screen; now Revo starts. First it scans the reg for leftovers; when you are presented the list of leftovers, click the <SELECT ALL> button and <DELETE>; a dialog asks you if you are sure: <YES>. then click next and Revo searches the root directory for any remaining app subdirectories (e.g., some apps even though deleted will leave a config file/subdirectory). Once competed, same thing: select and delete all. I have been using Revo since early 2008 and have never had an issue as a consequence of deleting everything it finds (the worry is deleting shared files). At times, when Revo is finished, it may tell you it could not delete various subdirectories - which will be done on a reboot. Now you reboot. As you reboot, if Windows gives you a found new hardware screen, close it. You are now running a generic gfx driver.

Next, ALWAYS follow your lappy's mfr (Dell in your case) to see if gfx drivers have been updated - rather than going to ATi. Why? Lappy mfrs are prone to tweak everything they put in their machines. If Dell directs you to ATi for a driver: great. Whatever the case, DL and install the latest driver. Reboot.

Now go to Dell and see if they have a version of CCC; my guess would be no. If not go to ATi and DL the latest version of CCC and install it. Reboot.

Results: does CCC now launch; how's the speed?

Monk

HMonk said:

First off, at least by my standards/expectations, your lappy is cool. Hopefully others will pipe in with their experiences about lappy temps.

Secondly, according to RivaTuner lappy gfx is not supported: "Note: RivaTuner doesn't declare official support for mobile graphics processors and multi-GPU SLI and Crossfire configurations. Proper functionality on such systems is not guaranteed, use RivaTuner at your own risk."

While I am familiar with RivaTuner, I do not have a working knowledge of it so there is not much I can offer other than to suggest you see what users say about such use; maybe someone here can guide you on that.

Finally, ATi's CCC often fails after driver upgrades; why, who knows but it is a recognized issue. The general approach is to uninstall/reinstall with or without driver uninstall/reinstall. You may have to experiment around.

What I would suggest is to first, uninstall your gfx driver. Why? Many issues are created when you upgrade a driver by overwriting the existing drivers. ATi points out that legacy drivers should always be uninstalled before an upgrade; legacy or not, I always uninstall ANY gfx drivers before an upgrade.

Next uninstall CCC. First go to Revo Uninstaller and read about and DL the free version. (Once installed, you can forget about Windows uninstaller). Launch Revo and uninstall CCC. The first uninstall screen that pops up gives you four uninstall levels. I always choose the most advanced and have never had a problem. Then Revo launches the app's built-in uninstaller; when that is finished, Revo takes over. However, many apps direct you to reboot after they are finished uninstalling and you will get a dialog asking if you want to do so: DO NOT REBOOT. If you reboot at this time, you kill Revo before it starts to do its thing. Simply close the reboot dialog and click next on Revo's screen; now Revo starts. First it scans the reg for leftovers; when you are presented the list of leftovers, click the <SELECT ALL> button and <DELETE>; a dialog asks you if you are sure: <YES>. then click next and Revo searches the root directory for any remaining app subdirectories (e.g., some apps even though deleted will leave a config file/subdirectory). Once competed, same thing: select and delete all. I have been using Revo since early 2008 and have never had an issue as a consequence of deleting everything it finds (the worry is deleting shared files). At times, when Revo is finished, it may tell you it could not delete various subdirectories - which will be done on a reboot. Now you reboot. As you reboot, if Windows gives you a found new hardware screen, close it. You are now running a generic gfx driver.

Next, ALWAYS follow your lappy's mfr (Dell in your case) to see if gfx drivers have been updated - rather than going to ATi. Why? Lappy mfrs are prone to tweak everything they put in their machines. If Dell directs you to ATi for a driver: great. Whatever the case, DL and install the latest driver. Reboot.

Now go to Dell and see if they have a version of CCC; my guess would be no. If not go to ATi and DL the latest version of CCC and install it. Reboot.

Results: does CCC now launch; how's the speed?

Monk

In that case (red lines) backup the shared folder and replace the files if they do miss..

I have updated 2 days ago my Ati Card and in the shared folder (Common Files) "PX Storage" folder went empty...Lucky when right clicked on the folder i could restore it to a previous state, and all the missing files came up.