Notebook Alienware m17x1 (4800MQ + GTX780M) and FPS drops after 344.48

Hello there. I've got so big problem with FPS in last time. I had Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with everything updated (Chipset, motherboard, sound card, graphic, network etc...). Because i am player of MMORPG SWTOR especially PvP warzones so most of tests what i did was with this game. So before i updated to drivers 344.48 i had 344.11 (dunno why, but i have been satisfied with this drivers, have no problems with 'em) But one wonderfull day nVidia GeForce Experience offered to me update for new new driver *.48 so i installed it and tryied. Damn that was so super FPS drop with more than 1 man in 1 room. When i tried to move with mouse and take a look for another side that movement wasn't smooth. From fps 50-110 (depends how many ppl was around of me) on fleet there was drop to 25-30-35 FPS. In PvP areas from ~50-60 that is drop in some moments to 25!!!! Unplayable. So i tried uninstall that driver and tried installed back *.11 - that problem was still same. I tried recovery point in Windows, that was a bit better after i turn off pc and start it again. And i had problems with Black Screen instead Windows Log In screen.

So i made a decision i will go back to Win x64 Ultimate. Installed first all drivers and like the last one i've installed 344.48 drivers. Problem was here again. Uninstall install *.11 still same, uninstall install 340.52 and game works again better. So i was satisfied again but there was after some time released again the newest driver 344.60 - and problem is here again. I have no power to do again uninstall and install. Yesterday i had brutal FREEZE OF SCREEN in PvP match in SWTOR. I've just heard playing of music in background but ctrl+alt+del doesn't work, alt+tab doesn't work so i had to to hard reset......... After this incident i downloaded GPU-Z, FurMark, 3DMark, Video Memory stress Test HD Tune and all i checked. (Alienware has in bios option ePSA so i checked my HDW with this tool too) Everything is going very well.

In SWTOR i tried alt+tab there is a problem to go back from 100fps again to 100fps after switch to game again.
In Alice: Madness Returns i had fps drops (i've got unlocked max 100 framerate) from 100 to 40. When i quit game and start it again i had bak to normal 100 but with lags
In Cryostasis (everything on max with PhysX too) with the newest drivers drops in some times to 25 fps (ok could be because PhysX) but with old drivers drops to 30

I allready checked my power - Cable is connected, Laptop is fully charged and i have no allowed option to save energy. In Alienware and Windows powert options i've got everything set up in High Performance (i allready checked advanced options too) Nothing ain't dissalowed or something like that

For uninstalling all GPU drivers before instalation i used Display Driver Uninstaller(but i tried uninstall without him too)

P.S. i am user of ShadowPlay and record of in-game videos. No differences between turn on or turn off ShadowPlay (+- 3FPS in games). Just quite a bigger differece i saw in 3DMark benchamrk where was score in turn on option lower approximately 200 points.

P.P.S. GeForce experience is update to the newest version too

P.P.P.S. I allready installed complete DX Pack and install DX and other programs for each game what i tested

Here is a link for MSI AfterBurner checker in game SWTOR


And here is a link from BF4


Edit:// There is exactly the same problem what i've got in SWTOR game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX3hE0eevtM

 

Yesterday at morning i once again reinstalled Win (Again Win x64 7 Ult) And installed 340.52 driver. So drops ain't so terrible like before, but they are still here. GPU USAGE from 100% in BF4 drops to 52% and back...

Screens of Tests what i did:

(20 minutes in Prime95 CPU)


Fire Strike Test in 3DMark 2014 (No fps drops during this tests like in games)


Last Screen from SWTOR pvp - these lags are so bad


About temperatures - screens are here

Iddle


After torture 3DMark Fire Strike - CPU temperatures


During test Prime95 - CPUT temperatures


After 3DMark Fire Strike - GPU temperatures


My opinion about GPU it's looking really good wihout some errors or something like that. Temperatures are not so big, i did not see during testing fps drops etc... About Cooling CPU temperatures more than 80 are just to the time before cooler starts cooling for full power. Than that temperatures are appoximately 75 degrees of Celsius.

Last Screen here is from BF4 - there i had update vBios from svl7. Still same, problem is countinuing. I don't see any connection between GPU USAGE, temperatures, CPU USAGE, cpu temperatures etc... So i have no idea what could be wrong.

 

Here are my 2 uploads with my problem. I had to remove OC bios from svl7 because in FurMark 15min stress test in reso 1920x1080 i had 87 degrees of Celsuis and i saw after some min black screen, after that i had to do hard reset. With default vbios i've got max 76 after the same test.

That graphic lags (cutting - dunno how i can call it) i've got in FurMark Stress Test too.


Lags in BF4



Edit:// dunno if some influence could be between GPU and RAM, but i checked my PC through memtest and he found 58 errors!!!!!

 

Today i tried uninstall BF4 and tried to install it to SSD Primary disk what i checked (HD Tune) and problem is still same... Want to try reinstall WIN again to Win 8.1 and dissallowed updates from WIN and install all original from Manufacturer. If will be problem still same, i try check each ram what i've got in my laptop alone with Memtest and wrong memory i take out and than i will see.... And if this will not help me, so i will have to do, take that laptop to the service :x

 

Hmm... Looks weird.. Your GPU core clock isn't staying stable in the benchmark even though your temps are ok... I'd call up the support people and have them replace your GPU...

 

Could be quite a problem, 'cause i bought it through eBay from US and i cannot find UK support of DELL?????

 

Ahh ok.. Contact the person you bought it from and have them transfer the warranty.. Otherwise, try calling UK dell support and see if you can get through...

 

Ok, so i tried my RAM modules test by Memtest86 and min 2 of 'em are ok. (Tried just 2 ram modules) So i tried BF3 and BF4 just with that 2 tested modules and problem is still the same. So now there are possibly options - performance of CPU is so low (don't believe in this, because i didn't overclocked it, it's still same like i bought my laptop - coulb be explenation for low FPS in SWTOR, but not for BF) or temperatures of CPU or GPU are so high (again i don't believe in this, these temperatures what i posted couldn't be so high for laptop) or GPU is f*cked up, but dunno why and last option what i think so is the most possible is problem with power. Voltages or something like that. I tried some try allowed option in desktop mode battery charge ALLOWED that save mode for save battery life. (had disallowed) and i tried that drops again, so i minimalized 'em but still they're here. Dunno if here is really some connection between this, because i tried propably everything what i could and i did not find solution for this

Here's this screen


This video is similar like what i've got but not with these extreme drops, but still drops

 

No idea man sorry about that.. I do have one idea though.. if your temps etc are ok, then maybe the lag is being caused by the hard drive? What hard drive do you have? Do you have any spare or replacement you can get?

 

Here are screenshots of test my HDDs ( I tried BF4 on both of 'em - still same ) Dunno if that graphs should to look like this. Unfortunately i have no spare HDD for another check

Primary


Secondary

 

HDD's are ok.. have you tried to update to A14 BIOS and see if it fixes anything? next thing i would do is enable OC Lvl 1 in the A14 BIOS and see if CPU OC helps with anything.. temps should be ok for gaming..

 

OC Lvl 1 in the A14 BIOS is just rubbish. Risking even more trouble. If he should overclock the processor and test then he should use Xtu.

 

Actually i forget write here, so i've got allready updated bios. Always have But i did not OC anything

Today i tried last try with BF4 (time action ended) after what u moved with middle coller on my NotePal U3 Plus cooling pad to exact location where GPU is. So that was after long time first game without FPS LAGS. I tried that without FRAPS MSI AFTERBURNER on, just with ShadowPlay on. But after what i leaved game and try it again, that FPS LAGS have been here again

Edit:// I bought via eBay paste Gelid GC03-EXTREME, so i'd like repaste GPU and CPU if will be some change with this, but i don't believe in this

 

Try it and see how it goes.. Seems to be your only bet.. Also are you sure its not your internet connection? have you tried SP games?

 

Yes, i tried WIFI, tried LAN connection, tried updated drivers, older drivers for connection. Yesterday i tried BF4 SP - still same

 

Try a repaste... Otherwise, I really think it will be a hardware fault... Contact ebay if so...

 

I forget wrote at the beggining so i had in W8.1 graphic bugs in Google Chrome Browser (just in him) After many reinstall no, but i tried now unparked cores via regedit and after restart that bugs came here





Edit:// yesterday i tried remove battery from laptop and try just to be connected to electricity with power cable. Still same

 

So some update for myself. I gave my laptop to repair centre and they told me so that drops are because TEMPERATURES. But i checked temps and all temps should be ok. There is one other option how to fix this gpu and do OverFlow GPU. For cost 150 pounds. So i dunno if i should rather buy GTX 880M via eBay (refurbished) or extend warranty from Dell (dunno that price and not sure i will be neccesary to pay some cost for hw change as well) or take ma laptop a give it to repair centre for that overflow.

Checked today COD ADVANCED WARFARE - same (Swtor is the same btw)


Yes and i tried other games and checked graphs

Risen - once per +- 20 sec drops
BioShock Infinite - once per minute

 

Hi. Did you try to uninstall the gpu driver and install an older one, i've got 344.11 and it works just fine.

 

I found some weird thing.

With testing via FurMark so without AA i had underclocked frequency! My 780m has default 770MHz and in FurMark i had 705MHz


And with AA frequency was on 845MHz and all stable! Without FPS drops. CPU was unstable but i think, so it's normal or not?


So what do u think?

 

At least today i found that graphic problems in SWTOR too. Drivers? GPU?





Graphic bugs in google chrome (In IE i did not find these bugs, but i am not user of IE, so i checked that just for 5 minutes?)
P.S. Same bugs i had in Windows Media Player during playing some video non-fullscreen. When i fulscreen it everything was ok.

 

Hey man, this should still have warranty.. Contact dell, give them your service tag and see how it goes...

You want to go to : Dell is calling you back now

Enter your phone number and they'll call you.. Give them the service tag and demand to talk to Alienware tech support.
Or go to : Dell - Here to Help | Dell UK

Click on contact a dell expert and chose the option to click on here for us to call you...