Alienware M14x R2 huge FPS drop

Hello, I run these Specs:

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3610QM CPU @ 2.3GHz
Memory: 16.00 GB DDR3 1600 MHz installed
Video: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 2.00 GB ( 320.18 Driver )

I used to be able to play heavy duty games on high/ultra settings, but recently I got a severe FPS drop, I can no longer play any game smoothly even on lowest settings and I noticed that the laptop started getting really hot although I never noticed the heat the first couple months after buying it.

1- I tried to reformat and do a clean windows installation with all new DELL and NVIDIA drivers, but the performance was still terrible

2- I ran AlienAutopsy gaming test and here are the results:

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NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
Vendor Name: NVIDIA Corporation
Video Card Memory: 2.00 GB
Video Card BIOS: 80.07.16.00.04
Driver Provider: NVIDIA
Driver Version: 9.18.13.2018, 5-12-2013
GPU : 0
Temperature: 58 C

Shader Rendering DX11 Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:02:56 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 56 C. 6/26/2013 10:03:41 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:03:41 AM

Shader Rendering DX10 Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:03:41 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 61 C. 6/26/2013 10:04:24 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:04:24 AM

Wireframe Shader Rendering Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:04:25 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 64 C. 6/26/2013 10:06:28 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:06:28 AM

Shader Rendering Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:06:28 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 66 C. 6/26/2013 10:07:11 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:07:11 AM

GPU Pipeline Data Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:07:12 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:08:02 AM

Fixed Transformation and Lighting Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:08:02 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 67 C. 6/26/2013 10:08:44 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:08:44 AM

Wireframe Line Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:08:44 AM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 67 C. 6/26/2013 10:09:26 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:09:26 AM

Standard Mathematical Operations
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:09:27 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:09:27 AM

Advanced Mathematical Operations Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:09:27 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:09:27 AM

Memory Fault Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:09:28 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:09:49 AM

Address Fault Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:09:49 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:10:51 AM

Address Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:10:51 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:12:37 AM

Moving Inversion Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:12:37 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:35:38 AM

Pattern Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:35:38 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:37:43 AM

Block Move Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:37:43 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:37:48 AM

Random Number Sequence Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:37:48 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 10:57:07 AM

Modulo X Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 10:57:07 AM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 11:59:53 AM

Multiple Rendering DX9 Test
Test Started 6/26/2013 12:02:52 PM
Informative Message: Peak GPU Temperature: 72 C. 6/26/2013 12:03:35 PM
Test Finished: Passed 6/26/2013 12:03:36 PM
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What could the problem possibly be, and why did it suddenly start heating so quickly? I noticed the FPS drop in the test after temperature reaches about 60c, and it only takes a few minutes of any gameplay to reach that temperature right now.

Thanks in advance!

 

The GT 650m is designed to throttle the Core clock @ 67C in order to keep it from overheating. (I think its to keep it from approaching GTX 660m territority)

Clean out your exhaust vent and prop the back up with a dvd case and you should be fine.

 

Try this article that we have in our website. It might be throttling as Kevinmcg states.

 

Thanks very much for the responses, but why did the M14x suddenly start overheating? it's like it was working at 60 FPS on most games and the next day it dropped to somewhere near 20. I am no expert but does the warranty cover cleaning the vents and fans?, because I always use mine on a cooling pad and would have never guessed that it would reach a temperature that would cause it to stop functioning well.

 

It may have been increasing slowly but you never noticed it.

 

Your service tag is proof of ownership, i'd edit it out. Dust builds up eventually. It won't throttle until it just hits that perfect temp and you just hit it.

 

That would be a good, we actually ask mods to remove those pieces on info for security purposes.

 

You have it in your quote from him.

 

Alright it's good to know that the problem most likely has nothing to do with hardware malfunction, I will call the technical support and have them send a technician, and will keep the post updated whether the problem is solved or not in a few days. Again thanks very much for taking time to respond.

 

I was having similar problems but the issue was that somehow the GPU didn't got out of the low power state.

The trick was to change the power settings from balanced to high performance.

 

Removed. :thumbsup:

 

I'm sorry to jump in, Porras...but I have to ask; I've seen tons of threads around different forums about people having this same issue, usually not getting another response other than "the GPU isn't supposed to throttle at 67°C" or "clean fans and repaste", which doesn't seem to fix the issue most of the time. Is it possible that the people at Dell could make an official article about this particular issue, maybe explaining a little bit the most common reasons for this to happen? or looking into a potential solution, since right now I'd believe most of the people with this problem are stuck with it.