HP Spectre x360 with Deskscapes Performance

from WinCustomize Forums

Hi Guys,

I've had my HP Spectre x360 Notebook for almost a year now and l was running Object Desktop apps (like, most of them), and everything went slower and slower until W10Pro64 crashed entirely... Very frustrating... anyway, after running full hardware tests with HP support they declared the hardware was fine and suggested scrubbing to factory and starting again, which I did.

I was far more cautious installing additional software after recovering all my data from backups (this is why you take backups, people), and installing all my business-critical software.

Then I started reintroducing my OD software one at a time and testing between each module install. Curtains - fine, changing themes is great! WindowFX - fine, love the open/close animations and dulling of non-focus open apps. Fences - all good, nice tidy desktop again. SoundPackager - all good, now my Notebook sounds nice.... so far no impact on performance.

Then I installed Deskscapes (v 10.03 for reference). Even with a very simple desktop running like "Fences - by Azdude" the performance DIVES. My business apps take forever to change between open dialogs, changing between apps is laborious... I checked the Task Manager and "DSHost Application" is only running at around 5-6% CPU... Nothing else is high CPU consumption either...

When I pause Deskscapes, my performance returns to normal... resume deskscapes and it tanks again. Uninstalled the app, downloaded again and reinstalled - identical crap performance when running.

My Windows details are:

Edition Windows 10 Pro

Version 20H2

Installed on ‎2/‎10/‎2020

OS build 19042.804

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0

Has anyone else had issues on HP Spectre x360 specifically or with this combo of OS and Deskscapes?

Any ideas on how to overcome it? I used to enjoy my animated desktops... :(

 

Thanks heaps,

Philip

 
deskscapes
11,874 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Would like to know how that notebook graphics setup. Need to know things like. Dual GPU? GPU models, Resolutions on? Multimonitor setup? Scaling applied etc.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Basj,

The Spectre runs at 3840x2160 at 200% and I have two external monitors connected via a HP dock, both running at 1920x1080 at 100% - all in Landscape.

The Spectre internal graphics is Intel Iris Plus (driver version 27.20.100.8280), and the dock shows up as HP USB-C Universal Docking Station (device details show as DisplayLink driver 10.0.82.0).

 

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Philip

 
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Just as a test, Run your system on one monitor without dock and change the scaling at 100%. Again, just as a test, you can turn it back on later. See if the performance run better with deskscape animated wallpaper running in the background. Do that and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Basj,

I've done a bit of experimenting and can say that the Intel Iris Graphics is the likely cause...

First: Attached a USB-C mini to my Spectre (the spectre has USB-C, USB-A, headphone jack, SIM slot - nothing else). The USB-C mini has nothing fancy, USB-C passthrough for power, USB-A and HDMI.

With my external monitor attached and Deskscape running, no variation in poor performance.

Paused Deskscape and everything is fine on both monitors.

Second: Unplugged everything external and just used the notebook "native" on battery. With Deskscape running at 100% scaling there was no variation in the poor performance. With Deskscape off, everything was fast. At 200% scaling the exact same thing happened.

Hope that helps!

Like I said, it looks like it is Intel Iris, because on the standalone notebook it still caused the issue.

Cheers,

Philip

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Thanks for the prompt report, I have forward your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

If you change the rendering options here, does it change the results at all?


Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Sean,

My settings are already on DirectShow EVR, so I tried Media Foundation which was slightly better but still delayed compared to paused, and DirectShow VMR-9 was much worse...

 

Cheers,

Philip

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

If you run a DXDiag.exe, what is the driver date for the Intel card?

If it's old-ish, and you update it, does it improve?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hi Sean,

 

DXDiag shows the driver as version 27.20.100.8280 dated 5/19.2020. I use the HP Support Assistant to automatically check for and download the latest approved drivers and firmware from HP, so this should be the most recent approved driver for IRIS graphics.

Cheers,

Philip

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

I am afraid I am running out of options for you here....

Its time to see if a clean boot helps - to see if it will eliminate any 3rd party conflict or setting issue:

https://forums.stardock.com/485954/deskscapes-support-faq#cleanboot

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager