Gateway P7915u GTX260M

[reeder44]

Hello,
Recently my computer won't play 3d games (Madden 08, LOTRO, C&C, etc. It always starts ok, then eventually blacks-out and goes to the desktop. I did have an overheating issue at one point, did the thermal paste thing, and I'm ok now. Couple questions: Does it sound like hardware or software? More importantly...Is there a way to put a new GPU in this computer? Can I simply buy another motherboard and put it in here?

Thanks. Also please excuse my ignorance.

 

[COLGeek]

Sounds like a typical heat and/or power issue. That could indicate an issue with the CPU, GPU, or motherboard itself.

I do not believe you can upgrade/change the GPU in that system (except by installing a new motherboard).

When it is running, how hot are your CPU and GPU getting? If you don't know, google and download/install hwmonitor. Run it in the background and fire up a game.

Report back with the results.

 

[reeder44]

Hello:

Sorry for the delay (Christmas stuff).

I ran a little LOTRO and got these results:

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz 47 °C
Penryn 45nm Technology
RAM
4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz (7-7-7-20)
Motherboard
Gateway Godzilla-N10 (U2E1) 58 °C
Graphics
Generic PnP Monitor (1440x900@60Hz)
1024MB GeForce GTX 260M (Acer Incorporated [ALI]) 92°C
Hard Drives
313GB Hitachi Hitachi HTS545032B9A300 (SATA) 50 °C
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7585H
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio


That was the summary.

Interesting....> I'm finding that if I run full screen 3d games on Battery, I have no problems. When I try the same on AC power, that is when I have issues. Strange deal... I've searched the net and this is not an uncommon issue with these computers, but I haven't seen a fix.

I did have overheating issues at one point, tore it apart, applied thermal paste/cleanout. It got quite hot prior to me doing that, but I don't remember exactly how hot. It seems it was over 103 but I don't recall exactly. I'll throw some additional specs after this in case any of them help. Thank you very much! Sorry if htere's a better way to attach this.

Graphics
Monitor
Name Generic PnP Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Current Resolution 1440x900 pixels
Work Resolution 1290x870 pixels
State enabled, primary
Monitor Width 1440
Monitor Height 900
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 60 Hz
Device \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
GeForce GTX 260M
GPU G92 M
Device ID 10DE-0618
Revision A3
Subvendor Acer Incorporated [ALI] (1025)
Current Performance Level Level 1
Current GPU Clock 200 MHz
Current Memory Clock 120 MHz
Current Shader Clock 400 MHz
Voltage 0.850 V
Technology 66 nm
Die Size 330 nm˛
Release Date Mar 03, 2009
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 4.0
Bus Interface PCI Express x16
Temperature 74 °C
ForceWare version 306.97
BIOS Version 62.92.87.00.0d
ROPs 16
Shaders 112 unified
Memory Type GDDR3
Physical Memory 1024 MB
Virtual Memory 2816 MB
Bus Width 64x7 (448 bit)
Anti Aliasing Modes -?-
Filtering Modes Bilinear, Trilinear, 2x Anisotropic, 4x Anisotropic, 8x

Anisotropic, 16x Anisotropic
Noise Level Moderate
Max Power Draw 182 Watts
Count of performance levels : 4
Level 1 - "Default"
GPU Clock 200 MHz
Memory Clock 120 MHz
Shader Clock 400 MHz
Level 2 - "2D Desktop"
GPU Clock 275 MHz
Memory Clock 301 MHz
Shader Clock 550 MHz
Level 3 - "2D Desktop"
GPU Clock 383 MHz
Memory Clock 301 MHz
Shader Clock 767 MHz
Level 4 - "3D Applications"
GPU Clock 550 MHz
Memory Clock 950 MHz
Shader Clock 1350 MHz
OpenGL
Version 3.3.0
Vendor NVIDIA Corporation
Renderer GeForce GTX 260M/PCIe/SSE2
GLU Version 1.2.2.0 Microsoft Corporation
Values
GL Extensions




Motherboard
Manufacturer Gateway
Model Godzilla-N10 (U2E1)
Version 0100
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model PM45
Chipset Revision 07
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801IM (ICH9-M)
Southbridge Revision 03
System Temperature 54 °C
BIOS
Brand Phoenix Technologies LTD
Version 79.07.00
Date 09/30/2009
PCI Data
Slot UNKNOWN
Slot Type UNKNOWN
Slot Usage In Use
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PEG Slot J6B2
Slot Number 0
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage In Use
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot J6B1
Slot Number 1
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot J6D1
Slot Number 2
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage In Use
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot J8B3
Slot Number 3
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot J8D1
Slot Number 4
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot J7B1
Slot Number 5
Slot PCI
Slot Type PCI
Slot Usage Available
Bus Width 32 bit
Slot Designation PCI Express Slot 6
Slot Number 6




CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700
Cores 2
Threads 2
Name Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700
Code Name Penryn
Package Socket P (478)
Technology 45nm
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz
Family 6
Extended Family 6
Model 7
Extended Model 17
Stepping A
Revision R0
Instructions MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, Intel 64
Virtualization Supported, Enabled
Hyperthreading Not supported
Bus Speed 266.0 MHz
Rated Bus Speed 1064.0 MHz
Stock Core Speed 2533 MHz
Stock Bus Speed 266 MHz
Average Temperature 43 °C
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L1 Instructions Cache Size 2 x 32 KBytes
L2 Unified Cache Size 3072 KBytes
Core 0
Core 1

 

[COLGeek]

On DC power, the system downclocks components to reduce power consumption. On AC power, it runs at full speed and consumes more power and generated more heat.

Like I said earlier, this sounds like a heat and/or power issue. It really looks like your video adapter is the problem (74C is very hot).

 

[reeder44]

That makes sense. Any way I can doagnose it? Or...would it be possible to downclock on AC so this thing will run?

Thanks

 

[COLGeek]

Sounds like you need to look at the heatsinks to ensure they are working well and that you don't have too much thermal compound. If these check out (clean your fans at the same time with compressed air), then a motherboard replacement may be required.

You should be able to clock back your GPU in the Nvidia Control Panel. You can also adjust your fan settings to run at 100% all of the time (noisy, but will help with the heat).

 

[reeder44]

OK. I'll check inside, and try to clock back a bit. Can you tell me what adjustments I would make in the Nvidia control panel to clock back?

Also. If it comes down to it, I've seen the motherboards on ebay from some computer shops. Is this fairly simple PnP-style, or will it take a lot of tweaking?

Thanks again. You've been very helpful.

 

[COLGeek]

Swapping a mobo is usually pretty easy. Just keep track of where all the little screws go.

Download and install MSI Afterburner. Nvidia Control Panel for mobile GPUs no longer has the setting items to allow you to make adjustments.

Afterburner will let you tweak your settings. Get it here:

http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm

You also download and install SpeedFan as an alternative to tweak you fan settings. Get it here:

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

[reeder44]

Great. Thanks.

Can you tell me the settings I need to adjust "down" to downclock?

Thanks again!

 

[COLGeek]

Reduce your core clock and possibly memory clock speeds. Also make sure your fan speed is set to max.

 

[COLGeek]

Drop in 10 mhz increments and check your temps as you do so.

 

[reeder44]

Thanks. I'll try this out.

I appreciate it.

 

[COLGeek]

Good luck and have fun!

 

[reeder44]

Best answer selected by reeder44.

 

[reeder44]

Update:

Wife got me a new motherboard for Christmas so looks like I'm going that route.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[COLGeek]

Good luck!

 

[reeder44]

Ha! Thanks! I'll let you know.