Experiencing some strange fps issue on the Alienware 17 with a gtx780m?

Okay here goes
When ever I'm playing games, I have this strange problem where I could happily stand in one spot in the game and have say... 80 fps
Then after a few seconds, sometimes minutes my fps will drop to around 40-45 and just stay there (this goes for any game I play).
Here's the catch, if I minimize my game and bring it back up, I am back to a happy 80 fps ... only for that fps drop to happen again after a few minutes?

while 45 fps isn't exactly an issue for me, it's just the fact that I'm not quite getting what my gpu is capable of all the time, also that change in fps easily throws off consistency with aiming in games

I've tried a few things to help solve the problem but no luck, here's a list of what I've tried;
Re install gpu drivers
Fixed any issues with other cards (ie the bluetooth and lan card was giving me problems) in the computer after a format and install of a new ssd
Turned vsync off
in Nvidia control panel I set game paths to run on the gpu so the game doesn't try use the integrated graphics
Tuned all graphical settings in games to the lowest and still have a similar issue but at different frames per a second
Turned off firewalls
Re installed Avast
Added exceptions in the firewalls for my games...
Tried using some programs to terminate necessary processes while gaming, ie "game boosters"

That's all I can think of really at the moment, and to be honest I'm quite stumped on what my problem is?
I'd be great if someone could help me :thumbsup:

 

Hi there, it could be a bunch of things so first thing is to try to see what is going on when the FPS drops. Use msiafterburner and set the OSD to show clock, voltage, utilisation, temp, and fps. When it happens you should see some change other than just the fps drop (it may happen at a specific temp?) and this may help track it down.

Good luck.

 

Yes, GPU or CPU overheating & throttling, probably the GPU. You'll probably find that the lowered fps corresponds to a period of time of high GPU temperature resulting in throttling (reduction of clock frequency of the GPU). MickyD has described a way for you to view all of these things at the same time while you're gaming, so that you can cross that off the list of faults. If you find MSI Afterburner On Screen Display difficult to setup (not sure how involved that process is), then you could use a program called GPUz along with another program called FRAPS, but it won't give you as much info, and will be harder for you to draw comparisons.

 

Have you tried this?

 

(Yep, good to clean out the dust using a can of compressed air if GPU or CPU is overheating).

 

Hey again, been monitoring for a while now and to be honest there isn't much out of the ordinary for a correlation between heat and clocking,* https://www.dropbox.com/s/h47tl4f4vm8wp74/monitor.PNG *( the flats at the begging and end are when the gpu is out of use (I have the game minimized around then))* edit: the sharp fluctuations at the end are from menus ingame, at least they appeared around that time. edit 2: I just noticed the BUS usage seems to go a bit funny around the time it happened to me.
Seeing as the effect of heat is rather gradual I am aware of its effects, this problem I am having is rather a sharp drop though, and I can't seem to find anything that really correlates to it, how ever if it is still the issue its rather strange it'd be sharp like that

So I guess the most I could do is try re seat my heatsinks, *anyone have personal preferences on thermal pastes they like?
and update my bios, problem is my bios is version A03 , which as far as I know is the latest version
As for cleaning the fans and exhausts, I do that on a regular bases anyway as general practice on computers, I'll need to do it a lot more once I leave to the dustbowl country I am going to.
Maybe a cooling pad may help, could always create one over there anyway.

 

Have you tried the latest driver's from Dell and Nvidia? I notice for example you are using an old version Bios, A05 was the latest, but if you see below Dell have just released version A07. Maybe go to suuport.dell.com and grap the latest driver's off there? For nvidia I downloaded Nvidia experience which automatically changes my graphics settings to certain games (I then tweak it after) and constantly updates my Nvidia driver's. Maybe give that a go?

Anyways the latest Bios is here - Driver Details | Dell US

 

I'll try the bios update ^^ , hence why I said earlier "as far as I know ..."
But yeah I do have Nvidia experience installed and it does update everything, so that aspect is fine

 

Good news is that has fixed the problem, at least so it seems so far , thanks hey, simple problem