AnimeSuki Forums

Maxtro · 2008-04-23, 01:00

I've been watching anime on my laptop for a long time on battery power. I've been able to watch H264 stuff with no problem. Just this week my laptop has been unable to sync the audio and video when it's running on battery. There is no problem when it's plugged in.

I'm running Windows Vista. I think the culprit is SP 1 which I installed a few days ago. I don't know if it's the cause but I can't think of anything else.

I've been playing with the power options and I can't seem to have any affect on playback when I'm running on battery. Is there anything I can do to get full video performance when I'm on battery mode? I had it working before for several months and something changed.

Ledgem · 2008-04-23, 01:10

Check the Windows power settings and also see if your manufacturer has any power tools on your laptop as well. Practically all laptops will automatically underclock the processor when on the battery to save on battery and keep the system cooler (to prevent the fan from kicking in and sucking up more power).

SeedFreedom · 2008-04-23, 09:10

Having the exact same problem with mine. Now that I think about it I shoulda posted here instead of tech support. Is anyone else using vista having the same problem?

SeijiSensei · 2008-04-23, 10:19

Do you have any high-overhead programs like automatic virus scanners and the like installed? How about Aero? If so, turn them off and see what happens. You can also take a look in the Task Manager to see what else you might disable. So many new computers come with a gazillion pre-loaded "crapware" items that all occupy memory and eat cycles for no good reason. All of these update alerters that run in the system tray are good examples (I'm looking at you, Adobe.).

Most reports I see about Vista talk about its high overheads in both memory and CPU utilization. One might have hoped that SP1 would help with these issues, but sometimes the fixes for earlier bugs just add another layer of code on top of the old stuff and sap performance.

Maxtro · 2008-04-23, 10:58

Going through the Power Options here are some options that looks like they would make a difference.

Processor Power Management

Minimum processor state

On battery 100%

Plugged in 100%

Maximum Processor State

On battery 100%

Plugged in 100%

ATI Graphics Power Settings

ATI PowerPlay Settings

On battery: Maximum Performance

Plugged: Maximum Performance

I don't know what other settings would make a difference.

I need to check if Gateway has tools to adjust some settings that I don't have access too. I still think it's weird that everything was working perfectly for months then it stopped.

I turned off my virus scan and switched to the Windows Classic theme and that didn't have any affect.

I'm certain that it's some kind of power setting that recently got activated that doesn't let the computer use it's full power on battery mode. I'm going to contact Gateway support and see what they say. I'll post the answers here, if I get any.

2008-04-23, 01:00	Link #1
Maxtro Super Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: California	Laptop: Slow video performance on battery power I've been watching anime on my laptop for a long time on battery power. I've been able to watch H264 stuff with no problem. Just this week my laptop has been unable to sync the audio and video when it's running on battery. There is no problem when it's plugged in. I'm running Windows Vista. I think the culprit is SP 1 which I installed a few days ago. I don't know if it's the cause but I can't think of anything else. I've been playing with the power options and I can't seem to have any affect on playback when I'm running on battery. Is there anything I can do to get full video performance when I'm on battery mode? I had it working before for several months and something changed.

2008-04-23, 01:10	Link #2
Ledgem Love Yourself Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northeast USA Age: 38	Check the Windows power settings and also see if your manufacturer has any power tools on your laptop as well. Practically all laptops will automatically underclock the processor when on the battery to save on battery and keep the system cooler (to prevent the fan from kicking in and sucking up more power). __________________

2008-04-23, 10:19	Link #4
SeijiSensei AS Oji-kun Join Date: Nov 2006 Age: 74	Do you have any high-overhead programs like automatic virus scanners and the like installed? How about Aero? If so, turn them off and see what happens. You can also take a look in the Task Manager to see what else you might disable. So many new computers come with a gazillion pre-loaded "crapware" items that all occupy memory and eat cycles for no good reason. All of these update alerters that run in the system tray are good examples (I'm looking at you, Adobe.). Most reports I see about Vista talk about its high overheads in both memory and CPU utilization. One might have hoped that SP1 would help with these issues, but sometimes the fixes for earlier bugs just add another layer of code on top of the old stuff and sap performance. __________________ Taking Anime Seriously - Politics by the Numbers - Sports by the Numbers - MAL List - Avatars - Images

2008-04-23, 10:58	Link #5
Maxtro Super Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: California	Going through the Power Options here are some options that looks like they would make a difference. Processor Power Management Minimum processor state On battery 100% Plugged in 100% Maximum Processor State On battery 100% Plugged in 100% ATI Graphics Power Settings ATI PowerPlay Settings On battery: Maximum Performance Plugged: Maximum Performance I don't know what other settings would make a difference. I need to check if Gateway has tools to adjust some settings that I don't have access too. I still think it's weird that everything was working perfectly for months then it stopped. I turned off my virus scan and switched to the Windows Classic theme and that didn't have any affect. I'm certain that it's some kind of power setting that recently got activated that doesn't let the computer use it's full power on battery mode. I'm going to contact Gateway support and see what they say. I'll post the answers here, if I get any.

2008-04-23, 09:10	Link #3
SeedFreedom Hina is my goddess Graphic Designer Join Date: Dec 2005	Having the exact same problem with mine. Now that I think about it I shoulda posted here instead of tech support. Is anyone else using vista having the same problem?