M17xR3 GTX560M Poor Performance

Hi guys.

I'm having problems playing some games & am trying to work out what the problem is. I ran 3dMark & got these results:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-2760QM Processor,Alienware M17xR3 score: P885 3DMarks

I was hoping fellow M17x owners may be able to help me.

Thanx for looking.

 

Can you elaborate on what the problems are exactly (BSOD, stutter, CTD etc.)?

 

These may sound like obvious suggestions but plug in the power adapter and set the laptop for high performance under the power options.

 

Like Mashesh said, it would be really good if you could elaborate a little on the problems that you are having. Are you sure you are running the Nvidia card and not the integrated? Have you done any software updates lately? Have you tried updating the graphics card drivers?

 

Thanx for replying guys.

The problem is basically low frame rate even when games are set at low settings.

All my power settings are set for maximum performance. Laptop is always plugged in.

Device Manager only lists the Nvidia adapter. There doesn't seem to be integrated graphics.

I'm running the latest Nvidia drivers - 306.97.

 

whats the temps like on the system normal ???
fans spinning normally???

has the integrated card ever shown up is it listed in this program GPUZ if you have installed if not heres a download link : Download TechPowerUp GPU-Z v0.6.5 | techPowerUp

have you tried reseating the card that will re-detect the cards ????

are the gpus listed in the bios ??????

 

Thanx Martin.

I'm not sure what temperatures are normal or not.

I've downloaded GPU-Z. It only lists the GTX560M.

I checked the BIOS and it says:
Integrated Graphics - None Detected
Discrete Graphics 1 - Nvidia GTX

To monitor the temperature I can use GPU-Z? While typing this it is at 72degrees. Is that normal?

Not sure what you mean by reseating the card. Do you mean opening the laptop & removing the card?

 

72 while not running any application (i.e idle at desktop) ?? That is way too high.. Your card is overheating. You would need to keep your system cool - plenty of ways to do that : use a laptop cooler, repaste the card etc...

 

Do you have the 3D screen?

The card should score better than that, though the 560m is not a super powerful card so I hope you did your research and knew what you were getting.

 

I use a laptop tray to keep the fans clear.

Now that I think about it, I used NVIDIA Inspector weeks ago & the temperature wasn't that high. Maybe this problem is caused by the new drivers? I might try the older drivers.

I do have the 3D screen.

I did research & thought the 560m would do.

 

I rolled the driver back to 306.23 and the temperature is now 60 degrees. Is that normal?

 

ok i know how to fix your issues by the sounds of it your card needs its fans cleaned and your gpu re pasted those temps are way too high for desktop idling

to fix the ingrated graphics issue you need to reseat your gtx 560 this simply involves removing the card and putting it back in again it is pretty easy and i can guide you through it if you wish.

 

thats much better but i dont work in degrees am from the UK so i dont understand i tried to convert but got a load of rubbish do you have Celsius readings

 

Sorry, I didn't know degrees meant Fahrenheit. There is no degrees symbol on the keyboard so I typed the word. GPU-Z is in Celsius so that's what I meant.

To reseat do I need to power up without the GTX in?

 

so the cards idling at 60C ????
to reseat the card all you need to do is to remove all devices from ports
remove power supply
remove battery
unscrew 2 tiny screws in the battery compartment left and right you cant miss them
pull cover off
you will see to 2 fans with the laptop pointed away from you eg the fans will be closet to you
unscrew the right fan there will be three screws shouldnt have any issues and remove the fan pin be gentle its quite small and fimlsy
the remove fan
now you want to look slight to the left you will see 3 copper pipes that's the heat sink there will be 4 tiny silver screws remove those please note they may not actually removable so may and some may not
then gently pull the heatsink out you shouldn't have any issues it doesnt require much force be careful to not remove an of the paste or pads on the heat sink
then unscrew the graphics card its the green thing below the heatsink there will 2 black screws then pull the card towards the front of the computer BE GENTLE it will unslot easily

pull it out at a 30 degree angle again be gentle and put cover back on put battery back in do not put fan back in nothing turn on system it will beep 5 times then simply turn it off again uncrew cover put gpu back in heatsink back on and fan back in slide the gpu at a 30 degree angle again be gentle push it in until its in you will know by the gold pins on the card and repeat the steps from the diaabemby



heres an image for reference you will be working from where the cmos battery is eg the big silver battery thing

sorry for treating you like you know nothing i just tried to write a detailed guide




PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TOCUH SOMETHING MEDAL BEFORE TOUCHING ANYTHING WITHIN THE MACHINE

 

Thats better, though still on the hotter side... To give you a comparitive idea, my R3, with the 580m, idles around 47-49 degrees.. Am still running 296.10 drivers as the 3xx series of drivers slightly overvolt the 5xxm cards, though not during heavy use.. Repasting should help!

 

agreed a re pasting is in order after a reseat to fix the intergrated graphics issue

 

Good basic walkthrough.. +rep!

 

Many thanks

 

Been overseas. Pulled her apart using your guide. She was full of dust. Running normally now.

Thanx.

What are the ramifications of slightly overvolting the 5xxm cards?

 

not a huge deal as Nvidia wouldn't put it into their drivers unless they knew it was safe.

 

yeah bigtony is right not a big deal but i am sure if you do some research into what others are using and try there speeds etc. test it using prime95 free testing program for stabilty and then if it doesn't work then repeat until you get the results your after am amusing your talking about overclocking RIGHT?

REALLY HAPPY YOU GOT IT FIXED :hi2: +1 FOR DOING GUIDE PROBABLY.

 

I wasn't talking about overclocking.

For your info, the 3D version of the laptop (which I have) doesn't have Optimus or access to the integrated chipset. Read it on another forum.

Thanks again.

 

Just want to add..
I can now confirm this is true. Have been using the 306 drivers for sometime now, and although they still do overvolt the 580m intermittently, it is never during heavy usage, and hence the temps and power draw remains under control.

Quite a nice boost on Borderlands 2 fps as well

 

Wonder how it does compared to the overvolted modded bios that overclockers were using in the past.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 running Resurrection Remix

 

oh my bad its just when someone mentions over volting to me i inmedially think overclocking LOL but i know what your on about now NO not an issue in the slightest i am currently using 310.64 BTW.