Alienware M14X R2 FPS Dipping after 3+ hours of gaming

//PROBLEM

//NOTES

• i have around 71~ processes running in the background, but most of them are necessary. i did a clean OS installation on my SSD and didn't have to deal with the software clutter that normally comes with it whatever the problem is, it's usually coming after a couple hours of playing games
• i've updated drivers around 3 times with beta drivers & reverted back to the original drivers since i had a better WEI score (7.2 compared to 6.8)
• it's a laptop. i set the power plan to high performance and set the options on max performance. i also went into the nvidia control panel and changed the adaptive to max performance
• i set msiafterburner to run at +135 core & +200 memory
• i have the problem at stock settings & overclock
• power saving features are all turned off
• i do have a cooling mat (notepal coolermaster u2) and stock thermal compound
• research at notebookreview shows the i7 can reach temps as high as 105. other user benchmarks report average temps of 70-75 (high: 80) while gaming
• I have shut down the game & restarted the laptop when i experienced the performance issues. Upon reloading the game and playing the fps issues of dropping down to 30~45 were gone, but still noticed "choppiness" or a jitter to the frames.
• my cpu and gpu are not throttling. i ran Team fortress 2 until i experienced the performance issues alt tabbed n checked cpu-z and gpu-z. coreclock/memory clock for gpuz ran the same. cpu-z mhz ran at 3.4 continuously. i saw it dip to 1.2 ghz but thats normal with the cpu turbo especially when you alt tab out of the game. it proceeded to jump back to 3.4 a microsecond later. (the 1.2 ghz -> 3.4 ghz also happens during idle w/no apps running) *1 hour of prime95 causes a max temp of 85 with an average of 75~79
• i've ran both the BIOS diagnostics of my hardware & alienautopsy with a 100% pass except for the SMART tests (cannot run).

//Software Used

• HWMonitor
• GPU-Z
• CPU-Z
• MSIAfterburner
• Prime95
• Furmark
• CrystalDiskMark

//SYSTEM SPECS

• Alienware M14X R2
• 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3720QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.6GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
• 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz
• English Keyboard, M14X R2
• 14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
• 2 GB DDR5 NVIDIA GeForceGT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technology
• 750GB 7200RPM SATA 3Gb/s
• AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
• Alienware Command Center Software, M14X
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
• Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Slot-Loading Dual Layer DVD Burner, DVD+-RW
• Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
• Killer Wireless-N 1202 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO for Gaming and Video and Bluetooth 4.0
• Alienware M14X 150W A/C Adapter
• Placement, M14X R2
• Alienware Documentation
• Shipping Material, M14X R2
• NO VIRUS PROTECTION REQUESTED
• Resource DVD, M14X R2
• Windows 7 OS Label, Alienware Notebooks
• DataSafe Local BackUp
• PC Restore
• DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
• Camera Software 2.X, Factory Install
• Dell Support Center Software 3.0
• Quickset, M14X R2
• 63WHr 8-Cell Primary Battery
• Dell Hardware Warranty Plus On-Site Service, Initial Year
• In-Home Service after Remote Diagnosis, Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
• Accidental Damage Service, 1 Year
• No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
• Soft Contracts Consumer Accidental Damage Agreement for Alienware
• Soft Contracts Dell In-Home Hardware Agreement for Alienware
• Warranty Support, Initial Year
• No Wireless HD Selected
• Standard Nameplate, M14X

I'll take any help at all

EDITED: for more details

 

It doesn't sound like a hardware issue. I would try another game or try a fresh install is on another hard drive so that you don't lose data on your current system.

 

i dont really have another HDD since it's a laptop but i've done 2-3 clean installs (nvidia geforce drivers) on it. as for tf2, i've done the check local files using steam validation. it encountered no corrupt files

 

Run AlienAutopsy, and/or a PSA.

What game does it happen with?

 

Team Fortress 2

--

I also believe it's not hardware related.

Does it happen on a certain map or certain area in the game? Is there a pattern?

 

It is cause the GPU is speed throttling download afterburner and look at the core speed when it does it my GPU throttles around 60C too, very annoying as this is not a high temperature at all.

 

I know you probably already tried this, but I have to ask; Are you making sure the game is running on the Nvidia gpu?

 

Are you still having this issue voodooi?

 

GPU Throttling at 60c is way too low. I just downloaded A04 Update, not sure what it fixes as it's not documented at all yet, but maybe it fixes some of the fan, cooling issues.

 

please keep this updated

 

yes i have. i manually went into the application in my steam folder set run as nvidia gpu as the default. i also added it into my manage 3d settings nvidia control panel. the issue still isn't fixed. i've tried it both on a SSD and a HDD and alienware tech support isn't being helpful at all.

edit: i edited first post for more details

i notice it on pl_badwater basin at the very start of the map whether i'm on blue or red team. i'll be playing on the map for the first 1-2 hours playing through the exact same part of the map perfectly fine then after the third hour when the round resets, i start encountering the frame issues. it gets terrible

i notice it on ctf_doublecross but it's not as bad. just more constant spiking from 60 to 44 which is extremely noticeable.

TBH i shouldn't be having any of these problems with a 5 year old game that's optimized for PC with a laptop of these specs.

 

Have you tried logging out and back in from steam when that happens? it might be a problem with steam...and I know you said you are running 71 processes in the background that are necessary but try a clean boot, just to test the game.

 

well i entered the problem again today despite steam & laptop reboots. i think i figured out what the source is. it's the game. when i entered the problem on the same map, i decided to just reconnect to the server and it disappeared. i'll try a complete clean installation of steam & TF2 and report back

well the complete tf2 uninstall & re download & install didn't fix the problem

 

Try re installing Steam, that might help...