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    Alienware FPS issue's

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Balderu, Apr 30, 2012.

  1. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    My laptop is a few months old now, and at first it went fine, could play games with no problem. But lately, I see random FPS drops in games, they don't last long, but it's really annoying. I read around and I think my GPU or CPU throttle back. I tried a few things, but I'm afraid to up my machine, so I'm asking the pro's here, what could be some fixes for this?

    My speccs are : GeForce GTX 560M, i7 2760QM, 4GB Ram, win 7 64 bit

    Balderu.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
    #1
  2. Heihachi88

    Heihachi88 Notebook Deity

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    Write your laptop specs.
     
    Heihachi88, Apr 30, 2012
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  3. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    GeForce GTX 560M, i7 2760QM, 4GB Ram, win 7 64 bit

    updated main post.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  4. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    What are your CPU/GPU temps when you get random drops?
    Are you on the latest GPU drivers?
     
    GeoCake, Apr 30, 2012
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  5. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well at idle my GPU is at 43 degrees, but my CPU is at 60-70; pretty high.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  6. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    What are your temps when gaming, under load, when you get them FPS drops?

    Idle doesn't matter in this case. High CPU idle could only mean you need to repaste the CPU as it could throttle the GPU as well as itself at high temps.
     
    GeoCake, Apr 30, 2012
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  7. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    Going to check it out now, will let you know.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  8. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    wow, CPU idling at that is too much, especially for a 2760qm (had it, it kinda even stays around 45C by itself, no fans are working whatsoever), most likely the paste job is not working anymore, repaste it, Slick's guide is an excellent point to start :)
     
    maxheap, Apr 30, 2012
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  9. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    GPU seems to be at 77 degrres, while the CPU is at 75 ish.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  10. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    GeoCake, Apr 30, 2012
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  11. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I use gamebooster, and I redownloaded drivers today. But I'm pretty sure I'm throttling, when the fps drop begins, my GPU temp drops to 60 ish before it starts running smooth again.
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  12. GeoCake

    GeoCake http://ted.ph

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    Ah yeah, 77/78C is the temp at which Nvidia cards throttle in the R3.

    You need to elevate the back of your laptop, and if you already are doing that, you need to re-paste the GPU to drop your temps.
     
    GeoCake, Apr 30, 2012
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  13. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    well I'll try to elevate my laptop, then I'll try to repaste the GPU. Is it hard to do repaste it btw?
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  14. Balderu

    Balderu Notebook Enthusiast

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    I elevated my laptop, and no more FPS drops, I'll apply new thermal paste when I get time tough. Thanks for the help!
     
    Balderu, Apr 30, 2012
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  15. Douse

    Douse Notebook Deity

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    Just thought I would interject. It may be something as simple as dust in your vents and raising the laptop is giving it *just* a little more airflow.

    Not sure if you have done this yet, as it has not been mentioned.

    I would at least clean vents before repasting. No point in doing it if you don't have to, right?
     
    Douse, May 1, 2012
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  16. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    This pretty much confirms that its the dreaded 78 temp throttle that you are hitting...but 560m's generally don't hit that temp. They should be much cooler. So a repaste is in order. Raising the back of your laptop will drop your temps 5-7c so you've bought yourself a little time.

    however, given that my old 460m overclocked to 560m speeds was loading in the high 50's c, repasting will drop your temps like 15-20c. Seems like the stock paste job on your computer isn't very good from the factory
     
    SlickDude80, May 1, 2012
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  17. possessed73

    possessed73 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeah i have never had any throttling problems with my 580m. That being said, from day 1 i took 4 skateboard wheels and set them under the corners of the laptop. That gives it enough elevation to allow sufficient air flow. Sounds like you found your solution already though!
     
    possessed73, May 4, 2012
    #17