The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Generally bad performance.

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Hoopi, Jan 28, 2013.

  1. Hoopi

    Hoopi Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    On the Lowest possible settings on pretty much every game,
    I get pretty lousy performance.
    I have the 64gb SSD,8gb RAM model.
    I don't think I'm overclocked.
    Purchased in July 2012, from a store, not ordered from online.

    The fan is running really loud when I just turn on the computer and when I open chrome it gets worse, but then quiets down.

    COD4: With lowest settings will even lag when people are shooting.
    MW3: Only Playable on lowest settings on resolution.
    Black ops 2: Good for a few seconds, then Don't even bother.

    I have contacted Alienware support and they were nice, and helped me a little bit, but the problem still persists.
    Any help?
     
    Hoopi, Jan 28, 2013
    #1
  2. Zenoru

    Zenoru Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's probably the GPU overheating (and in turn, the computer throttles performance in an attempt to cool it down). Check your GPU heatsink; you probably need to repaste with thermal material such as Artic Silver 5 or IC Diamond 7.
     
    Zenoru, Jan 28, 2013
    #2
  3. runamonk

    runamonk Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    37
    Messages:
    204
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Buy some compressed air. Remove the bottom panel and clean out all the fans and vents.

     
    runamonk, Jan 28, 2013
    #3
  4. Hoopi

    Hoopi Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I will look into trying these.
    Is it easy? I'm not really sure what a heatsink is, and is Thermal Tape expensive or hard to come by?
     
    Hoopi, Jan 28, 2013
    #4
  5. Zenoru

    Zenoru Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The heatsink is the metal component that transfers heat away (it usually consists of a copper block and one or more pipes). I think it's relatively easy to get to the heatsink on Alienware laptops (probably just need to remove the back panel and a few screws). But you should check the service manual on Dell's website to be sure.

    Thermal compound (not tape) is <$10. You can buy it on Amazon, eBay, newegg or at most computer shops (a recommended one is IC Diamond 7). It's meant to be put in between the GPU core and heatsink in order to help heat transfer.
     
    Zenoru, Jan 28, 2013
    #5
  6. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    Alienware-L_Porras, Jan 30, 2013
    #6
  7. illyria

    illyria Guest

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Did this solve your issue? I have the same problem, probably a bit worse. lag in every game on lowest res. and settings. Dell is sending a tech guy here tomorrow to replace the motherboard and gpu. Don't think the thermal paste should give me any problems since My laptop was bought in November last year. Don't know the general rule for how often you should re paste.

    Did you laptop work fine before, or has it been like this the whole time?
     
    illyria, Feb 25, 2013
    #7