Windows: Wireless dropouts and slow motion computing

[SimonMoles]

Hey there.

I have some problems with running Windows on my MacBook Pro.

When playing a game, such as Garry's Mod or Team Fortress 2, the laptop will have full speed fans etc. Now, after a few mins of playing, the whole system slows down dramatically, as if the CPU cycles are slowed. Music goes in slow motion, things move in slow motion, not fun. Now, this may happen a few times every minute. After about 10 minutes of this, the wireless card simply drops the connection. If I try right-click, repair on the icon in the taskbar, the whole system freezes and the only way to fix it is to hold down the power key.
But, if I click View Available Networks, and click refresh a few times, it shows up with the network again and I can connect.

This is really starting so annoy me now. Do I have a broken MacBook, or is it a Windows issue? (This never happens in Mac OS X).


I thought it might be an overheating issue, but even with fans at full (or so it sounds) and it propped up on some CD cases to allow air circulation, it still freezes.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

 

[chscag]

I think it's an overheating issue. All the symptoms you describe certainly sound like the inside of your machine is getting too warm. The airport card runs fairly hot anyway even without excessive CPU or graphics usage, so it doesn't surprise me that you lose the connection.

You can try running "SpeedFan" or "RMClock" when you're booted to Windows. Both apps are free and can be used to hold down temperatures and control the fans while in Windows.

I don't believe CPU temperatures versus fan speeds are as effective when running in Windows as when in OS X. A lot has to do with the way both operating systems move graphics around.

And the way MacBooks are built most heat escapes through convection whereas the typical Windows notebook has intake and exhaust vents in addition to temperature controlled fans.

Regards.

 

[SimonMoles]

I think it's an overheating issue. All the symptoms you describe certainly sound like the inside of your machine is getting too warm. The airport card runs fairly hot anyway even without excessive CPU or graphics usage, so it doesn't surprise me that you lose the connection.

You can try running "SpeedFan" or "RMClock" when you're booted to Windows. Both apps are free and can be used to hold down temperatures and control the fans while in Windows.

I don't believe CPU temperatures versus fan speeds are as effective when running in Windows as when in OS X. A lot has to do with the way both operating systems move graphics around.

And the way MacBooks are built most heat escapes through convection whereas the typical Windows notebook has intake and exhaust vents in addition to temperature controlled fans.

Regards.

Sweet, thanks. I'll look into those apps.

I'll let you know how it goes!