Performance Issue: Video Stuttering

Hi, besides the network connectivity issue, my major concern is a graphical problem. When I start a game (skirmish game f.e.) it works without problem for about 4-5 minutes (high framerate, no stutter). Then suddenly and inexplicably the game starts to stutter for about 5-6 min and after that all of the sudden reverts to normal (meaning high fps and no stutter).

During the stutter, gameplay is a little hell for me, because pointing and managing are more a game of luck than anything remotely enjoyable. I never had the same problem with other very demanding games (Crysis, Empire or World in Conflict f.e.), so I don't think it is necessarily a heating problem.

My specs:

Notebook, WinXP 32 bit, 3 MB RAM, Geforce 8800M GTX (playing on high settings).

Perhaps there is some problem with the Nvidia drivers, but I don't know what it could be. It'd be nice to know if this is a notebook issue, or if other players experienced the same.

UPDATE:

The stuttering is bizarre, I still have a Simlevel of 7, but the framerate drops to unplayable...

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I tried some more things. It seems that the a similar problem also happens while running Dawn of War 2, so perhaps it is not entirely game specific. But then it also runs fine on most other games. I have tried no sound, less sound and new sound driver for the Realtek High Def Audio Device, didn't solve the problem.

It still stutters during gameplay (in 5 min blocs with several minutes in between with fine performance), also the Simlevel never drops under 7.

I think it might be an issue with the Nvidia-driver (perhaps even the energy management) though it isn't the powermizer or anything obvious (tried that). Perhaps it has something to do with windows/nvidia power or heat management. Though I am not sure about it. Ultimately I am at a loss here...

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I did a little comparison between demigod and Command & Conquer 3. What I found interesting is that even on max settings command and conquer 3 never brings my video card over 100 °C and if it comes near that point, the fan reacts. However, when I play demigod I have a kind of sin-wave feeling, where the temperature runs between 110 °C and 99°C, where 99°C is the turn-point to no stuttering, while 107-110 degree the switch for stuttering is.

Very bizarre, I will check out other games later.

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Another example: Empire - Total War (perhaps from the graphical load more up to date and very similar to demigod):

graphical gpu ranges between 81 to 97 degree °C but never more! So, I'd say there is some kind of graphic bug in the Demigod engine that doesn't account for heavy load or that generates an unnatural heat load (perhaps VRAM?).

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