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    Performance dips

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Acallys, Mar 8, 2013.

  1. Acallys

    Acallys Newbie

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    I have been noticing dips in my computer performance over the last month or so. At first it was just during Dota 2 that it would go from an easy 60fps down to 20fps for up to 10 seconds randomly (not even during intense fights), and then go back to normal. I have started to notice it while watching streams as well. I opened up HW Monitor and watched it as I had a stream open. When my performance dipped I noticed this happening: http://i.imgur.com/g8gHupp.jpg Under "Powers" the Package and IA Cores values drop all the way down to those minimum values, and then when the fps drop stops they go all the way back up. I don't know what those wattages mean or what affects them, so any help would be appreciated.

    Computer specs for if necessary http://i.imgur.com/9g9hWdV.png. Thanks in advance!
     
    Acallys, Mar 8, 2013
    #1
  2. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

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    Running super hot there, clean laptop would be easiest way, purge some canned air through?
    Otherwise, a repaste, but cleaning should be adequate. Your experiencing throttling, which is a failsafe thing, it stops your computer overheating.
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Mar 8, 2013
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  3. Acallys

    Acallys Newbie

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    Alright I'll give that a crack and see how we go. If I have to repaste, is that a difficult process?
     
    Acallys, Mar 8, 2013
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  4. jiggymf

    jiggymf Notebook Evangelist

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    Your CPU temps are running very close to the temps where what you describe would happen (throttling).

    There is 2 things you can do:
    1> open up the system, and clean the heat sinks (in particular, rid the fins of dust it likely has collected over time). This could already solve your issue
    2> repaste. This is not a hard thing to do, but you just have to know how it works. There is a lot of methods to repaste which are described here on the forum or on youtube. In the 'm18x-r2 owners lounge' post there is also a link to a video where you can see how to take your system apart to get to the CPU (involves removing 2nd GPU at least).
     
    jiggymf, Mar 8, 2013
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  5. Acallys

    Acallys Newbie

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    Alright I took the fans out and cleaned them, and got rid of quite a bit of dust that had built up on the vents to the heat sinks and it's working well again. Sitting at 50 celsius and peaking at around 60ish. Last time I cleaned it out in December I didn't actually take the fans out, I just tried to do it from the top so it wouldn't have done it properly.

    Thanks for the info!
     
    Acallys, Mar 9, 2013
    #5