Dolphin became slow after some days of use. What could it be?

kuro kitsune · (This post was last modified: 12-29-2012, 03:52 PM by kuro kitsune.)

Hi, I'm new in the forum, so sorry if there is another thread like this but I didn't find one so...

Well my problem is: I bought a Notebook and downloaded Dolphin to test in it...
In the first days of use the emulator ran flawlessly, in a moderate spec. But now, two days after I last played it, the emulator got some serious slowdowns. It's unplayable as it is right now (Speed is 50%, 15FPS)... and run like this even in the most minimum specs!

The Notebook is new so I didn't installed many things in it yet (Just Winrar, Google Chrome and Daemon Tools)... the only updates I got was by Windows Update. I'm using a Windows 8 Pro x64, and I'm thinking the problem is in the OS... does Dolphin have any issue with win 8?? Or any update of this OS??!

The specs of the notebook are:
CPU: Core i7 3630qm (2,4 Ghz, 8 threads)
GPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Yeah, its a crappy integrated gpu... but do the job for now ^^)
RAM: 6Gb
OS: Windows 8 Professional x64 (again...)

The manufacter of the notebook is Samsung...

And worth noting that I got the exact same problem with the Playstation 2 emulator, PCSX2... at first it ran smoothly, now is barely at half speed ¬¬

I'm considering putting Windows 7 here just to test if the problem is really with win8... but I want the opinion of someone else...
Does anyone know what could it be?!?

Thanks in advance... and sorry for any typo, I'm not a native english speaker...

**admin89** · (This post was last modified: 12-28-2012, 06:11 PM by admin89.)

Use "Realtemp" to check CPU temp when Dolphin is running and the slowdown occurs
Your laptop CPU is likely overheating !

kuro kitsune · (This post was last modified: 12-29-2012, 04:14 AM by kuro kitsune.)

Thank you for the fast reply!
I though that this could be a problem too... but the notebook doesn't seems too hot, I know that this isn't the right way to "check" the temperature, but it really seems OK!
I picked Realtemp and did some tests... also donwloaded the latest Dolphin version 3.5 r105
Some pics:
The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker (In the first days I even managed to play the game in 2x Resolution!)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hn7upgaMpbg/UN3aBaZu0RI/AAAAAAAAAhU/0oIQxeNAk68/s800/Dolphin%2520temp1.png

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bG7M8SWI7t0/UN3aGO8d2_I/AAAAAAAAAhg/qFuDmlZu8w4/s800/Dolphin%2520temp2.png

With the PCSX2 Realtemp gave the same results...

I installed a PC game (Sonic Riders) to check if it had the same problems. It is a old game but what I have in hand... and Sonic Riders ran good enough, even with the max settings... but being a PC game it's different from an emulator ¬¬

But if the problem is the CPU temperature, why it is happening just now and not in the first time I used Dolphin??!

Thanks again admin89!

**admin89** · 12-29-2012, 04:18 AM #4

Did you see the number "1297.06MHz" ?
That's your CPU clock speed when Dolphin is running
1297.06 MHz ~ 1.3GHz
1.3GHz CPU is too slow to run any game
In other word , your CPU is underclocked . Turbo boost is disabled
There are many posibilities which cause this problem :
_ CPU is overheating . System auto clock down the CPU speed to keep low temp
_ You didn't change battery plan from "balanced mode" to "high performance mode" . Your laptop is in power saving mode
Dolphin is a dual core application , dolphin focus on CPU performance while most PC games support Quad Core CPU , PC game focus on GPU performance .

AwesomeMarioFan · 12-29-2012, 04:28 AM #5

Do you have dual core checked in the configuration?
I have the intel integrated and Nvidia graphics card.
From my tests, the integrated card runs fine with 2.5x internal resolution,
so I don't think it would be a problem with that.

**admin89** · 12-29-2012, 04:36 AM #6

Quote:integrated card

Integrated GPU , even your Nvidia GT 650M is not a "card"
Integrated GPU is built inside the CPU while Dedicated Nvidia GPU is a chip which was soldered on the motherboard .

Quote:runs fine with 2.5x internal resolution,

Depending on the game . Intel HD 4000 can handle 3xIR on some "light" games . Demanding games will chop off that GPU even if you're using 1xIR . For most games , 1-1.5x IR is recommended

AwesomeMarioFan · 12-29-2012, 05:05 AM #7

(12-29-2012, 04:36 AM)admin89 Wrote:
Quote:integrated card
Integrated GPU , even your Nvidia GT 650M is not a "card"
Integrated GPU is built inside the CPU while Dedicated Nvidia GPU is a chip which was soldered on the motherboard .

Quote:runs fine with 2.5x internal resolution,
Depending on the game . Intel HD 4000 can handle 3xIR on some "light" games . Demanding games will chop off that GPU even if you're using 1xIR . For most games , 1-1.5x IR is recommended

I realize that the GPU is soldered on the motherboard, my mistake.
Also, what are you referring to by demanding games?
I was referring to games such as Mario Kart Wii/New Super Mario Bros.
which are not dependent on fog/performance much.

Also, my screen can only display up to 720p. So, anything over 2x internal resolution
would basically be useless.

kuro kitsune · (This post was last modified: 12-29-2012, 05:40 AM by kuro kitsune.)

(12-29-2012, 04:18 AM)admin89 Wrote: Did you see the number "1297.06MHz" ?
That's your CPU clock speed when Dolphin is running
1297.06 MHz ~ 1.3GHz
1.3GHz CPU is too slow to run any game
In other word , your CPU is underclocked . Turbo boost is disabled
There are many posibilities which cause this problem :
_ CPU is overheating . System auto clock down the CPU speed to keep low temp
_ You didn't change battery plan from "balanced mode" to "high performance mode" . Your laptop is in power saving mode
Dolphin is a dual core application , dolphin focus on CPU performance while most PC games support Quad Core CPU , PC game focus on GPU performance .

I didn't saw that the CPU clock speed was in that poor state... and this is very strange!!
I'm in High Performance mode, but now that you warned me Im seing that the CPU don't past from 15% of its maximum performance.
Overheating, like I said, could be the reason but the CPU must get a High temp to them slowdown... and this is not happening!! ¬¬
If I understand, the Realtemp shows the temperature and how much extra temp (TJ Max) my CPU need to get overheating right!? If this is true, I have some "time" until my notebook fry XP..
And the Turbo boost is automatic enabled when needed if I'm not mistaken, isn't??!

Using other demanding softwares the CPU runs faster... 2,3GHz~ 2,6GHz (the SW I have here are not "so" demanding hahaha) ... and the CPU clock at least would top at 3,1GHz before overheating don't you think???
But If the problem "is" overheating... you think a cooling pad would help?!?

Yeah I know PC games are different from Dolphin... I just wanted to make sure that the problem wasn't in the OS... ^^

Thanks admin89... you are showing a great help here!!

EDIT:

AwesomeMarioFan Wrote:Do you have dual core checked in the configuration?
I have the intel integrated and Nvidia graphics card.
From my tests, the integrated card runs fine with 2.5x internal resolution,
so I don't think it would be a problem with that.

Yes, dual core is checked... And I could play with 2.5x Res too... but only in the first attempts!!
Now the emu is gone mad somehow!

AwesomeMarioFan · 12-29-2012, 05:52 AM #9

(12-29-2012, 05:33 AM)kuro kitsune Wrote:
(12-29-2012, 04:18 AM)admin89 Wrote: Did you see the number "1297.06MHz" ?
That's your CPU clock speed when Dolphin is running
1297.06 MHz ~ 1.3GHz
1.3GHz CPU is too slow to run any game
In other word , your CPU is underclocked . Turbo boost is disabled
There are many posibilities which cause this problem :
_ CPU is overheating . System auto clock down the CPU speed to keep low temp
_ You didn't change battery plan from "balanced mode" to "high performance mode" . Your laptop is in power saving mode
Dolphin is a dual core application , dolphin focus on CPU performance while most PC games support Quad Core CPU , PC game focus on GPU performance .

I didn't saw that the CPU clock speed was in that poor state... and this is very strange!!
I'm in High Performance mode, but now that you warned me Im seing that the CPU don't past from 15% of its maximum performance.
Overheating, like I said, could be the reason but the CPU must get a High temp to them slowdown... and this is not happening!! ¬¬
If I understand, the Realtemp shows the temperature and how much extra temp (TJ Max) my CPU need to get overheating right!? If this is true, I have some "time" until my notebook fry XP..
And the Turbo boost is automatic enabled when needed if I'm not mistaken, isn't??!

Using other demanding softwares the CPU runs faster... 2,3GHz~ 2,6GHz (the SW I have here are not "so" demanding hahaha) ... and the CPU clock at least would top at 3,1GHz before overheating don't you think???
But If the problem "is" overheating... you think a cooling pad would help?!?

Yeah I know PC games are different from Dolphin... I just wanted to make sure that the problem wasn't in the OS... ^^

Thanks admin89... you are showing a great help here!!

EDIT:

AwesomeMarioFan Wrote:Do you have dual core checked in the configuration?
I have the intel integrated and Nvidia graphics card.
From my tests, the integrated card runs fine with 2.5x internal resolution,
so I don't think it would be a problem with that.
Yes, dual core is checked... And I could play with 2.5x Res too... but only in the first attempts!!
Now the emu is gone mad somehow!

Hmm.., make sure you are in high performance battery mode, and plugged into a wall
outlet. (If you have a laptop.)
Also, try re downloading a fresh copy of Dolphin.
I would also check you're settings.
Note: I know my Dolphin was lagging bad, and it was because
I forgot to change EFB copies from RAM back to texture in the hacks
tab of the graphics configuration.

Post some screenshots of your configuration too, maybe there's an
option lagging it.

kuro kitsune · 12-29-2012, 06:45 AM **#10**

(12-29-2012, 05:52 AM)AwesomeMarioFan Wrote: Hmm.., make sure you are in high performance battery mode, and plugged into a wall
outlet. (If you have a laptop.)
Also, try re downloading a fresh copy of Dolphin.
I would also check you're settings.
Note: I know my Dolphin was lagging bad, and it was because
I forgot to change EFB copies from RAM back to texture in the hacks
tab of the graphics configuration.

Post some screenshots of your configuration too, maybe there's an
option lagging it.