FPS Spikes when processor is overclocked

I recorded this video to show the dell tech what's going on. Esentially, my FPS are spiking very low (relative to the average) ONLY when the processor is OVERCLOCKED.

yeah, nuts. I've never noticed this before. Since the motherboard has been replaced 3 times already, the graphics cards more than 5 times, I can only imagine that this problem accompanied the last motherboard/videocard replacement. (these replacements were meant to solve other problems, which it seems they have, for now).

I'm asking dell for a system exchange. It's currently in review. What do you guys think? (and like hell I'm going to send it in for depot service and have it come back beat up)

Ignore my voice, I had been on the phone for 1 hour 40 minutes while I recorded it and was losing my voice. The tech from alienware actually returns while I'm recording it, LOL.

YouTube - M17x FPS Spikes when processor is overclocked

Oh and at 2 minutes 20 seconds, another problem crops it's head up. You'll see.

 

Oh and the system no longer runs on battery, even though it says the battery is fully charged when I check windows (while connected via ac too, in the system tray [100%, charged]) and on the bottom of the battery, when pressing the indicator button, all 5 blue lights illuminate.

If i have the battery attached and I unplug the a/c power, the system shuts off, if I try turning on with just the battery in, it shows the bios screen, begins the "starting windows animation" and then shuts off completely (And wont turn back on unless you remove and replace the battery).

So many issues, I think I deserve a brand new system with equal specs.

 

Yeah I would definitely say that you are starting to run enough problems to warrant a system exchange. Just make sure you keep on top of them and state very clearly that you want a NEW system and not a refurb. I've been dealing with all the R1 crap and just recently got approved for a new upgraded R2. One way to look at it is if you keep on them steady but try to stretch it out a few weeks you may be able to swing a 940xm out of them! Go check out the *Dell Alienware/AW Legacy Replacement Systems-Warranty Repair Issues* thread under the main AW forum, there's a lot of really good info in there for people who have already been through the replacement fight.

 

Thanks for your advice!

 

this sucks. dell is ignoring me

 

Have you ever tried running a ThrottleStop log file while running this benchmark or while gaming? Check off the Log File option as well as the More Data option so it can keep a close eye on your CPU and just run this program in Monitoring Mode.

I'm not sure how you have your Core i7-920XM set up but in general, the Core i7 uses turbo boost to increase the multiplier. This is limited by the CPU by a variety of factors including power consumption of the CPU. It's possible that when you are overclocking, you are crossing this limit and getting a big drop in the CPU multiplier and a big drop in the frame rates. This reduces the CPU power consumption which tells the CPU to use more turbo boost again. Turbo boost cycling on and off can happen very rapidly.

When the M17x is using two GPUs, it's also possible that overall system power consumption can trigger throttling where the CPU will start running a whole bunch slower when you are trying to draw too much power from the adapter.

It seems more like turbo boost throttling to me but run a couple of log files and post it somewhere like mediafire so I can have a look. The information collected might help you understand what's going on.

When testing, try to let your laptop sit idle for a minute or two after you boot up. Make sure the Task Manager is drawing a straight line without a lot of spikes before you start testing so your results are consistent.