GL504GM Framerate Issues

[DeadFireNL]

Hi all,

Last week I've acquired a Strix Hero 2 GL504GM (intel i7-8750H, 1060 6GB), and while it is an amazing upgrade over my previous laptop, I've encountered a few very peculiar framerate issues in some games that I've been unable to track down. I suspect there are others with similar problems, but I've found it quite tough to formulate my issue into a google-able search, or to know whether other problems really are similar to this one. I'm really hoping someone can give some insight into my problem.
Running less intensive, more casual games is completely fine. I've ran the Heaven benchmark, my GPU reaches 100% load on a stable 1900MHz (automatic OC), and all the temperatures stay well within acceptable ranges (<65C). No issues either.
Suddenly I've started noticing serious framerate drops during a few games, occurring first in Planetside 2 and Destiny 2. Starting the game, I can hear the fans ramping up to keep the system cool and they do so very effectively, both the GPU and the CPU do not surpass 70C. After approximately a minute or so, every 5-10 seconds, the framerate drops from about 100 fps to 35 fps for 1-2 seconds, then jumps right back to 100+.
Investigating my system with MSI Afterburner as well as in task manager, nothing seems to be out of the ordinary, nothing indicating a CPU bottleneck, except that Afterburner indicates that at every framerate drop, the GPU clock decreases to about 1300MHz, and shows a "Power limit" as reason for the performance cap. Furthermore, the GPU utilisation does not seem to exceed about 60-70% in most cases (unlike the benchmark), but during the clock speed decrease, the utilisation now does hit 100% (due to reduced performance at low clock speeds?), which both seem odd to me.
However, when I launch EA's Battlefront 2, the issue just does not seem to arise (haven't checked average GPU utilisation, but there are no noticeable framerate drops whatsoever).

This odd combination of events suggests to me that there is no hardware power problem going on (feel free to enlighten me however), and ASUS support advised me to refresh the OS when I contacted them.
This seemed to fix the problem, I used the built-in OS refresh option, reinstalled only the games, and I no longer noticed the framerate issues in the games they previously appeared in. Relieved, I reinstalled a few of my other programs, including Afterburner. I launched Overwatch (for the first time), and immediatly the problem had returned, in both that game as well as the previous ones. It seems the problem had narrowed down to the programs that I had installed later, so I removed all of them and restarted again. Problem solved. A quick google search did indicate that Afterburner could indeed be causing issues with the GPU in some cases, although I chose to not reinstall any of the later programs. Spent a few more hours running games, temps still well under control and no further issues arose.
Next day, I launch a few of them again, and did not encounter any oddities for another few hours. I launched another game for the first time, Mirror's Edge Catalyst. Behold, the framerate issues appeared. I launched Destiny 2 again, which ran absolutely fine just half an hour earlier, and to my dismay, the issues arose.
I've tested Battlefront 2 again, for a solid 1-2 hours, and once again did not encounter any issues here.

I'm out of clues, the problem seems so random. My very last theory that this would only happen at full battery charge (for example if it repeatedly stops and restarts the charging to keep the battery at 100%) was also disproved since the issues persist at lower battery levels (while plugged in).
On a final perhaps useful note, when the laptop is running on battery, the framerate is expectedly low, but very close to when a framerate drop occurs when plugged in. Also, there are no further framerate drops when on battery.


Sincere apologies for the wall of text here. What a way to make an entrance on a community forum.
I'm really interested in hearing suggestions. I'll also be contacting support again after the weekend, but my fear is that there is not much they can do at a distance, likely meaning I'll need to RMA the laptop for something that seems more software related, which I fear will not solve the problem (aside from the hundreds of gigabytes of data I'll need to copy to avoid all those redownloads).
Sincerely thanks in advance!


Edit: Ok, I just found out a few things about a hidden Bios update to version 306, I haven't encountered it myself, my laptop is at 304 which is the same version as the website advertises being the latest. It seems to be able to resolve these fps drops, at least I see a lot of people mentioning that in threads. So, if someone has more information on how to go about acquiring a not-really-released bios update, feel free to share 🙂 (Might be due for later here in the Netherlands, I'm aware that different regions can have different release dates for software/firmware)

[silvergem]

rohmuk3333 wrote:
Hi Please look into the video from this below link,Thank you

https://youtu.be/fNpIR3m9KP8 (GTA5)

https://youtu.be/MGq7sqgvRZw (Rainbow Six Siege)


**************** Point to be noted here is GPU Clock is decreasing from 1400 Mhz to 250 Mhz ...this usually occurs due to bad thermal paste or overheating .I gave it to service center also ,they repasted (thermal paste) ,but issue still persists.Please have a look at those vidoes and suggest me anything i could do . Thanks you in advance ***********************

I've same issue as well. I've already repasted my GPU and CPU with "Artic Mx-5" and Repaste Vrams with "K5 PRO viscous thermal paste", so the issue may be with BIOS updates ot NVIDIA driver

[Blake1]

Hi rohmuk333,
Thank you for the video.
I have reported this issue and will keep you updated.

rohmuk3333 wrote:
Hi Please look into the video from this below link,Thank you

https://youtu.be/fNpIR3m9KP8 (GTA5)

https://youtu.be/MGq7sqgvRZw (Rainbow Six Siege)


**************** Point to be noted here is GPU Clock is decreasing from 1400 Mhz to 250 Mhz ...this usually occurs due to bad thermal paste or overheating .I gave it to service center also ,they repasted (thermal paste) ,but issue still persists.Please have a look at those vidoes and suggest me anything i could do . Thanks you in advance ***********************

[rohmuk3333]

Blake@ASUS wrote:
Hi rohmuk333,
Thank you for the video.
I have reported this issue and will keep you updated.

I have researched regarding my problem in Reddit,YouTube ,forums ,and came to know that majority of who own ASUS STRIX HERO 2 GL504GM/GL504GV are having the same issue .I urge Asus to investigate and fix this issue through some Bios update .Thank you.

[Blake1]

Hello rohmuk3333,
After consulting with our technical support, your device is having abnormal temperature.
Please kindly send your device to service center again and PM me your SN or RMA number.
We would like to track your case.
Thank you.

rohmuk3333 wrote:
I have researched regarding my problem in Reddit,YouTube ,forums ,and came to know that majority of who own ASUS STRIX HERO 2 GL504GM/GL504GV are having the same issue .I urge Asus to investigate and fix this issue through some Bios update .Thank you.

[rohmuk3333]

Blake@ASUS wrote:
Hello rohmuk3333,
After consulting with our technical support, your device is having abnormal temperature.
Please kindly send your device to service center again and PM me your SN or RMA number.
We would like to track your case.
Thank you.

Yeah I have already submitted it to service center.My RMA is INJ8L70073.He repasted it ,cleaned fan vents too .I went to center again to let him know that issue didn't fix.He said ,he was helpless .

Although,many with the same unit,facing same issue which might be something faulty with Bios or Nvdia drivers compatibility issues. I don't know.

[silvergem]

Blake@ASUS wrote:
Hi rohmuk333,
Thank you for the video.
I have reported this issue and will keep you updated.

You may also submit this video with same issue

P.S 1: I've also tried to downgrade the NVIDIA Driver (v 451.48, 446.14,442.94 etc) and still there was fps dropped
P.S 2: I've also tried the GPU Driver here (Version 25.21.14.2546), there is still FPS dropped encountered (E.g DOTA 2, Fall Guys, PUBG)
P.S 3: Hardware changes:

- Repasted CPU and GPU using Artix Mx-4
- Repasted VRAMS using K5 Pro
- Undervolted CPU Core and Cache to -0.080mv
- Change Speedshift value to 100
- Disabled BD Procshot

P.S 4: PC Firmware Version:
BIOS: 311
OS : Windows 10 Pro 2004 (19041.450)
GPU : GTX 1060

[KorosuKivy]

rohmuk3333 wrote:
Hi Please look into the video from this below link,Thank you

https://youtu.be/fNpIR3m9KP8 (GTA5)

https://youtu.be/MGq7sqgvRZw (Rainbow Six Siege)


**************** Point to be noted here is GPU Clock is decreasing from 1400 Mhz to 250 Mhz ...this usually occurs due to bad thermal paste or overheating .I gave it to service center also ,they repasted (thermal paste) ,but issue still persists.Please have a look at those vidoes and suggest me anything i could do . Thanks you in advance ***********************

I watched both your videos and from what I can see is you're one toasty boi... The Gpu cooking to about 90c is what is dropping the frames which you have already discovered.

Are you using MSI afterburner to OC your GPU if so what is the config you're using.
If you use techpowerup GPUZ software and screen capture the graphics card, sensors and advanced tab I can have a little lookie into it.

How is your room and laptop ventilation? do you have a cooling pad for your laptop?

What is your GPU fan running at 100%? check armoury crate and SS the home page with all the wigets on it.

[Nissan]

I've been facing these problems now as well. And I noticed that the cause is that the fans are NOW not really spinning at the full speed that they're capable of. They used to get LOUD. SO LOUD. Two weeks ago, they just stopped running at full speed. Hence the throttle. Can ASUS technicians look into that issue please? I think that will solve all problems.
(I'm at Overboost profile, undervolted GPU and CPU)

[KorosuKivy]

Nissan wrote:
I've been facing these problems now as well. And I noticed that the cause is that the fans are NOW not really spinning at the full speed that they're capable of. They used to get LOUD. SO LOUD. Two weeks ago, they just stopped running at full speed. Hence the throttle. Can ASUS technicians look into that issue please? I think that will solve all problems.
(I'm at Overboost profile, undervolted GPU and CPU)

Well if your dropping frames and your Fans are taking off its due to heat the moment your GPU hits 90C your cooking take yourself OFF the overboost and run normal profiles.

Another reason you fans will be spinning loud is dust and dirt have clogged the intake.

Using Armoury crate what rpm is your fan spinning and what is the reported thermals for CPU and GPU

[Nissan]

KorosuKivy wrote:
Well if your dropping frames and your Fans are taking off its due to heat the moment your GPU hits 90C your cooking take yourself OFF the overboost and run normal profiles.

Another reason you fans will be spinning loud is dust and dirt have clogged the intake.

Using Armoury crate what rpm is your fan spinning and what is the reported thermals for CPU and GPU

My GPU hits a max temp of 82C.
Where in Armoury crate can you see the RPM? I see no page for that.