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    CPU usage seems to cap when alt-tabbing from game (LoL)

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Micarz, Aug 12, 2012.

  1. Micarz

    Micarz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Its a weird thing on my m14x where everything is fine in game playing with like 50 FPS. But then ill alt tab (i do that a lot) and sometimes ill switch back to the game and itll be running at 20 FPS max.

    The cpu usage seems to be stuck at around 10% and never goes any higher even when ive got firefox, music, LoL and steam running.

    Dont know if it is alienware specific or its software but its been happening for a while now, maybe happens once every 2 days? Resetting laptop fixes it but cant normally do that in a LoL game so i have to play with it lagging like hell.

    Any help is appreciated!

    edit- Not temperature problem as its a cool day and ive got a cooler pad thing recently that's been pretty awesome.
     
    Micarz, Aug 12, 2012
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  2. salanos

    salanos Notebook Consultant

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    Maybe Optimus isn't returning to the discrete GPU? Have you tried disabling Optimus, and the Intel HD Graphics altogether?
     
    salanos, Aug 13, 2012
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  3. Dark_Lord

    Dark_Lord Notebook Enthusiast

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    yeah i thought the same as salanos...
    my guess would be that it doesn't switch back to nvidia graphic card after you return to the game...
    after all... 20 fps sounds like the discrete gpu...
    try to change the global option to nvidia gpu...

    it is gonna be hard to test since it happens once every 2 days...
    good luck...
     
    Dark_Lord, Aug 13, 2012
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  4. Mobius 1

    Mobius 1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    It's normal, it clocks down when you decrease the load on the CPU. In this case, by alt-tabbing
     
    Mobius 1, Aug 13, 2012
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  5. Micarz

    Micarz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hmm what's optimus? And ive got LoL on the "high performance" option in the Nvidia control panel.

    Also its weird, even if i get out of the game and back into it it will still be like that. Also if it slow down in LoL, then i stop playing and start playing Skyrim, it will still be incredibly laggy until i reset my computer.

    Thanks for the info.

    PS: I read something about Hardware Acceleration.
    FPS drop after alt+tab
    That's the post talking about H.A. (scroll down a bit)
    Anyone know if it would work? I would try it but i cant seem to change it (option is grayed out for me)
     
    Micarz, Aug 13, 2012
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  6. Dark_Lord

    Dark_Lord Notebook Enthusiast

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    optimus is a feature in Nvidia GPUs that let the computer switch between built-in GPU and discrete GPU depending on usage...
    in other words... normally the Nvidia GPU (555m or 650m) is disabled and is put on idle... and the built-in GPU (HD3000) is enabled...
    once you open extensive graphic application like games it would switch to discrete GPU (Nvidia) as long as you are using that application...

    we are suggesting that it might not have switched back to discrete GPU once you got back to the game...
    try making the global settings on high performance and not just for that particular application (LoL)...

    in the url you posted... they are talking about flash HA not the windows HA...
    open any youtube video... right-click on the video (flash player) and choose setting...
    uncheck HA... it worked for that person so it might work for you...
     
    Dark_Lord, Aug 13, 2012
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  7. doniGforce

    doniGforce Notebook Geek

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    have you tried to pause the game, alt+enter (to for windowed view/fullscreen), minimize and than work with other programs. I do that and when I return I have no problems
     
    doniGforce, Aug 13, 2012
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  8. Alienware-Luis_Pardo

    Alienware-Luis_Pardo Guest

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    As Dark_Lord says, try changing the global option to Nvidia Processor.

    1. Open the nVidia Control Panel
    2. Under Manager 3d Settings, choose global settings
    3. Set the High Performance nVidia Processor as the global option


    Here's some more info about nVidia Optimus Technology
     
    Alienware-Luis_Pardo, Aug 13, 2012
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  9. Micarz

    Micarz Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for all the replies.

    I've got global settings set to High Performance, changed it a fair while ago so it's not that.

    It seems to be CPU being capped not my GPU. I dont know if that makes any sense or just stupid but just what i get from looking at task manager.
     
    Micarz, Aug 14, 2012
    #9