Frequent bouts of reduced frame rates in 3d programs

[PlutonianEmpire]

Whenever I'm running a 3d program, such as Celestia or Microsoft Flight Simulator, I've recently had to start enduring frequent bouts of reduced framerates.

For example. Everything is fine for about ten seconds. Then the framerates drop for about eight seconds. Then things go back to normal for another ten seconds before the framerates drop for another 8 seconds.

It's a vicious cycle that just won't stop.

I'm sure something's wrong with my computer, but what?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Do you notice any strange activity in the task manager? (Under CPU usage, for example)?

If so, try running Process Monitor or Process Explorer (always mix up the two) and see what's doing it.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Check temperatures. If your CPU is hitting a thermal threshold it will downclock to cool off. Worse yet, you may be slowly damaging your cpu like that ( not much, it wont die, but its life will be shorter)

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

Yeah, it might be because of dust. :/

How do I clean a laptop?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yeah, it might be because of dust. :/

How do I clean a laptop?

Compressed air.

 

[GoodGame]

Might also want to defrag the drives, and check for spyware/viruses/malware. And other miscellany that speeds up the system like adjusting the virtual memory file. Also check if the video card settings have changed, and what type of acceleration (hardware/software) is being used/needed.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

yeah and GPU's do that too. My Nvidia started downclocking after it hits 93 C with the new drivers. With the old ones it easily went to 105 C but i had to take it to warranty cos my screen wouldnt work any more for some reason.

If your GPU is overheating its even more of a problem. A modern CPU is nearly impossible to kill through overheating, itll shut off before any permanent damage. A GPU doesnt have the same protections I think. It will usually downclock, but by the time it shuts off due to high temperatures, itll likely be damaged already.