M17x R3 - FPS Drop

So I have been using my Alienware M17x for about 5 months now and this drop in FPS happens once in a while. What exactly happens is that all of a sudden my FPS drops down drastically for about 30 secs and becomes perfectly fine again. This happens consistently while I am playing any game. Generally if it happened earlier, it used to get fixed with a normal restart of the game but it doesn't work well this time with SWTOR.
I even noticed this noise of graphic card running in kinda turbo mode when the applications are running smoothly but as soon as it calms down that FPS drop happens. Is it because of the optimus technology of nvidia?

By the way my config is : i7 2820QM processor and GTX 580m graphic card. (need more info on config then lemme know).

Should i try reinstalling the game? I am yet to try if this is happening with other games or not, but just in case if anyone else have had this problem than please help me out with it.

Thank you,
XENO

 

xeno, sounds like you are throttling.

The 580m suffers from 2 throttle points. At 67c there is a power throttle where your core mhz drops around 200mhz (can't remember the exact number)...you might or might not feel this. At 77c, there is a thermal throttle. This one you will feel because your fps literally falls off the planet. The thermal throttle stops when your temps drop down...and as your temps build up again, you throttle, hence you feel this happening consistently over and over like a pattern. You have to keep your temps cool and You have to apply a throttle fix like this one:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...throtting-fix-no-need-modify-system-bios.html

Repasting the GPU with a quality thermal paste and keeping the back of the laptop elevated so your fan intakes can suck in air easily is highly recommended for alienwares with the 580m

 

Geez, the 580m's sure are having lots of issues it seems...

 

thats why we have the cool 460m lol it would be nice to have a 580m though as all it takes is a simple fix and you don't have to worry about the power throttle anymore. I'm just glad the m17x doesn't have issues like the m14x is having atm.

 

Yeah Dell are "kind" enough to let the users apply their own fix and become more attached and get to know to their systems /jk

The link Slick posted is my thread. It should be no problem for any user to perform. I would also advise a repaste and elevate the rear of your laptop to increase airflow. If your GPU hits 78-79C then it will throttle again and that we cannot fix but we can prevent.

 

Hey there.. Look, I have the same problem with u.. usually this happened when u play an intense game .. I nearly format my alienware because i thought that was the problem.. But after done some research, checking the stability, it was not. Actually it is becaused of ur temperature.. mine when 68 celcius, it becomes laggy and will return until 61 celcius and okay again.. then it will repeat the same thing.. Things u have to do is to keep ur laptop clean.. i suggest u buy any ultra cooling fan..

if u wanna know at wat celcius ur laptop became laggy, try use FurMark and run stability test.. U monitor the temperature.. It works for me.. U can try it.

My main point is just buy cooling fan and it will be okay

 

WOW I just don't believe it how elevating the laptop solved it completely.

Last night i played SWTOR for like 3 hours with a dictionary under my laptop elevating it a bit and it worked perfectly fine !!

 

Thanks you all for your help though...........

I kinda don't get the throttle fix exactly.........can any1 be more specific and give a link to it......Mine is the 3D one.

 

So u got the throttle fixed? How? Plzz help!! I'd really appreciate it....

 

Look at the link in widezu69's signature, bro. It's right there.

Also go to the link in my signature. You will find a number of interesting things. There are a number of us that use our signatures to link to information that helps others, so always look to see what kind of treasures you can find.

 

That's some LINK in your Signature, Mr. Fox. Thanks and +Rep.