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  #1  
Old 12-11-2003, 08:25 AM
ww111
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Question Question for gamers

I've got a 2.4 Ghz toshiba laptop. that was benchmarking @ 800Mhz Celeron speed. I did ALL the performance upgrades and it did nothing for me. DVD's would not run. Windows search would take forever. Long bootups and over a minute to spool a print job...

So the computer was going back to Toshiba. Then I unplugged the Logitech cordless rumblepad. And everything was fine! So, I did this test: play a DVD and plug and unplug the rumblepad. Plugged the DVD was unwatchable. Unplugged and the world was a good and happy place.
Norton benchmark unplugged= 234
Norton benchmark plugged= 83

I like the controller but...

Any ideas? (the driver is current and the disk is brandnew defragged)

Collins
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Old 12-11-2003, 08:52 AM
RSVX RSVX is offline
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Hate to tell you, but it sounds like you are in for a reformat...


www.hardforums.com can be very usefull as well.
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Last edited by RSVX; 12-11-2003 at 08:54 AM.
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  #3  
Old 12-11-2003, 09:28 AM
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Collins, what OS is it running? Can you possibly look at a task list and see what process is running that's taking so much CPU time when this controller is plugged in?

I'd look on Logitech's site to see if updated software for that controller has been released. I think it's pretty clear that software related to that controller is hogging CPU time, leaving little resources for anything else.

If no new drivers have been released, it may be something as simple as a setting in the controller's software. I'd check Logitech's site for some sort of knowledge base, or maybe a tech support phone number.
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Last edited by Mr. Pockets; 12-11-2003 at 09:32 AM.
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  #4  
Old 12-11-2003, 09:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by RSVX
Hate to tell you, but it sounds like you are in for a reformat...


www.hardforums.com can be very usefull as well.
I don't see how you reach that conclusion so quickly. If he's talking about returning the machine to Toshiba, it must be pretty new (and still under warranty). I think a reformat is awfully severe. Once he installed the software for that controller, he'd most likely have the exact same problem again. It looks to me like the problem lies with the controller, and that it's up to Logitech to help him out.
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  #5  
Old 12-11-2003, 10:39 AM
ww111
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
Collins, what OS is it running? Can you possibly look at a task list and see what process is running that's taking so much CPU time when this controller is plugged in?

I'd look on Logitech's site to see if updated software for that controller has been released. I think it's pretty clear that software related to that controller is hogging CPU time, leaving little resources for anything else.

If no new drivers have been released, it may be something as simple as a setting in the controller's software. I'd check Logitech's site for some sort of knowledge base, or maybe a tech support phone number.

XP Pro... Great ideas about the Task manager. As for the reformat... I reloaded the original restore disks which included a reformat... I have an e-mail and call to Logitech. I'll try the settings for the controller. I may also set the priority of the device lower...

Collins
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  #6  
Old 12-11-2003, 10:40 AM
ww111
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Pockets


I don't see how you reach that conclusion so quickly. If he's talking about returning the machine to Toshiba, it must be pretty new (and still under warranty). I think a reformat is awfully severe. Once he installed the software for that controller, he'd most likely have the exact same problem again. It looks to me like the problem lies with the controller, and that it's up to Logitech to help him out.
Yep. As long as the controller's unplugged everything's good.
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Old 12-11-2003, 11:01 AM
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I read the post wrong, it appeared to me that he only got good usage with the controller plugged IN. Which seems EXTREMELY odd. So if that were the case, thats why I said a reformat was in order, because they way I read it, plugging the controller in actually improved performance, which was beyond me...

I still stand by the hardforums reccomendation there. The newest software/drivers are not necesarily the best, and they will be able to diagnose that quickly. Also, those forums are free.

And why are you all so against reformatting anyway?(im not saying that he needs to do this) Are you afraid to reformat? Its not like you have to pray to the PC Gods during this process... if you are hardcore enough, a simply hardware change would push you to a reformat...

Edit: You running any anti spy-ware programs? If not I highly reccomend it, some of these will run in your background and kill your usage as well. They may no be too noticeable w/o the game pad, but using it may push your PC over the edge...
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Last edited by RSVX; 12-11-2003 at 11:05 AM.
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  #8  
Old 12-11-2003, 11:24 AM
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Since your running XP pro, just keep an eye on the systray and what starts when you boot your machine. You can catch these spyware programs, they all have their signatures. They'll show up somewhere. Just go through your startup menu, systray, and "add/remove programs" dialog weekly. If you find anything that shouldn't be there, you can use MSCONFIG to remove it from the registry. If you use a program to do this, you will just be using more of your precious resources. Though it's not that big of a deal, so if what i just explained to you is over your head, then by all means use a program for it.
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Old 12-11-2003, 12:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by RSVX
And why are you all so against reformatting anyway?(im not saying that he needs to do this) Are you afraid to reformat? Its not like you have to pray to the PC Gods during this process... if you are hardcore enough, a simply hardware change would push you to a reformat...
I just thought the suggestion didn't fit the problem for two reasons, which I already outlined.

And I don't think the 'are you afraid' taunts are helping anybody. You don't have to get that defensive - especially since you already explained that you hadn't read the question correctly. All I said was that your suggestion was a little extreme. I didn't insult your mother.
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Last edited by Mr. Pockets; 12-11-2003 at 12:41 PM.
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Old 12-11-2003, 12:49 PM
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  #11  
Old 12-11-2003, 12:53 PM
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Great advice all the way around...

The only computers I haven't built from scratch in the last several years are the laptops. and since I'm a windoze user I have resigned to the "reformat to regain performance mantra" it was actually one of the first things I did. I'm just having difficulty thinking a gamepad could slow things so drasticaly. I mean I do have 9 USB slots taken up on this thing and the difference between all or none (not counting the gamepad) is a couple of points on the benchmark. The gamepad drops it by 75%.

Also, and I'm not exagerating... After a reformat it takes me 2 days to get back up to speed, and get everything reloaded. I just bought "Ghost" so I'm hoping to reduce that time now.

Collins
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  #12  
Old 12-11-2003, 01:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by ww111
Great advice all the way around...

The only computers I haven't built from scratch in the last several years are the laptops. and since I'm a windoze user I have resigned to the "reformat to regain performance mantra" it was actually one of the first things I did. I'm just having difficulty thinking a gamepad could slow things so drasticaly. I mean I do have 9 USB slots taken up on this thing and the difference between all or none (not counting the gamepad) is a couple of points on the benchmark. The gamepad drops it by 75%.

Also, and I'm not exagerating... After a reformat it takes me 2 days to get back up to speed, and get everything reloaded. I just bought "Ghost" so I'm hoping to reduce that time now.

Collins
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Well, laptops are difficult to build yourself - it's not like you can get the separate components and assemble them.

And, I'm not disagreeing with you or Chris about the reformatting - I've done it many, many times myself after I've determined that the machine just needs a refresh. This just seemed obvious to me that some process associated with the controller was acting in a way it shouldn't - taking up a lot of the CPU's time, or way too much memory, or both. And I bet Logitech has heard of the problem and is either fixing it or has fixed it - or knows how you can fix it yourself.
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  #13  
Old 12-11-2003, 01:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Pockets


I just thought the suggestion didn't fit the problem for two reasons, which I already outlined.

And I don't think the 'are you afraid' taunts are helping anybody. You don't have to get that defensive - especially since you already explained that you hadn't read the question correctly. All I said was that your suggestion was a little extreme. I didn't insult your mother.
It wasnt meant as a taunt...

And if you felt provoked by my comments... well the internet has just won another battle in misunderstandings...
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  #14  
Old 12-11-2003, 06:15 PM
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It's obviously the controller/driver. Use a different controller until Logitech fixes the problem.

There was an issue at one time between MS force feedback controllers and VIA chipsets. I think they finally fixed that one.

Last edited by Earthworm; 12-11-2003 at 06:51 PM.
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