I can't find the problem with my M15X

Hello everyone,
I got an M15X for Christmas and there is a problem (i think) because i can't play CoD:WaW on it without disabling lights (even with every graphics options in low and 720p), and i have stutters too in Need For Speed: Underground 2.

i tried a lot of other games but i'm sure these games can normally work without any problems with my specs.

CPU : i7 920X
RAM : 8Go
GPU : GTX 260M 1Go
SSD : Samsung SSD 860 EVO 250Go
Screen : 1920x1080
OS : Windows 10

I checked the temp in game and they don't go over 70°C.
So i thinked a component in the computer is worn out.

I tested my cpu with Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool & Prime 95, my GPU with MSi Kombustor, my RAM with the tool installed by default in Windows, and every of these tool tell me than there is no problem..

I'm out of ideas, I don't know what I can do now,
Do you have any idea about this problem?

thank you in advance!

 

Try this, install hwinfo, start a hardware sensor log and run your game. This way you'll be able to acuratelly check both cpu and gpu temps and speeds. I would also check the gpu driver version. Finally double check stealth mode is not enabled.

 

Unfortunately I have already checked all of this with MSi Afterburner, and everything seems normal..
The GPU driver is up to date for this graphics card (342.01) :/

How i can see than stealth mode is not activated?
Thanks for the time you take to help me, it's cool.

 

Sounds like power throttling

 

I tried to disable power throttling in Group Policy but it's still the same (My power settings are in high performance)

 

That's not exactly how it works. What's your power supply? get some software that gives you OSD with stats, in my case its EVGA, it's free on Steam, just be sure to check the setting box with OSD on, It will show you that it's Power Throttling (it will display Throttling=1), that means the GPU is starved of the wattage it needs (920XM requires a lot of power, not much left for the GPU). With default 150W PSU it may not manage, you can either mod it manually with a little bit of tool proficiency and soldering (about 20 minutes with disassembly, filing down a hole for a switch and about 4 soldering points, a small slider or push-bistable switch and you're done, I have one more to do so if you wish I can guide you through the whole process with pictures if you wish to follow) or just get an angled adapter from which you need to pull the center pin out and boot it from the full power-off state so it won't throttle.

For Stealth mode, search for and download StealthToggle, it will tell you if the mode is on. With AlienFX active and your backlight in decent state, you should be able to tell that it's on - the meter icon, the one to the far right) is a bit dimmer than the rest of the control bar while it's not impeding your results.

Also, with unlocked CPU such as 920XM, try having some fun with either Throttlestop or Intel Extreme Tuning Utility - with that you can boost your CPU clock a fair bit.

 

thanks for these informations man!

i don't understand what the center pin mod does, this will allow me to use more power from the psu ? it's safe ?

Edit : oh and, buying a more powerful psu will solve the problem?

I plan to upgrade later for a 970m

 

The way it works is that there are three lines in your PSU and m15x - +, - and ID. with ID signal (which is a one-wire circuit) the laptop identifies the PSU and allows for charging (as long as it's an original, a substitute pretending to be an original, like Delta or Flextronics, or if it's not supported - knockoffs and even original 330W PSU, which the device doesn't recognize and doesn't allow charging). there is a chip on the mobo that does a sort of a function if ID=true then limitpower=150W and begincharging=1 else limitpower=false and begincharging=0, to put it in an extremely nerdy way So you can either game with no power limitation and no charging, or game with power limit of around 150W (either on a 150W or 240W PSU) and enjoy your battery being charged. As always, you do it at your own risk, but people have been modding these machines with 240 and even 330W PSUs and there weren't many issues with that. So I believe it's fair to say that it is safe.

To answer your edit question - it may solve your problem a bit (because your current one seems to be a bit bust), but for your prospects of 970M, it will be crucial, as long as you do one of the possible mods.

 

Thanks for the explanation! I understood everything

I prefer to keep stock my 150w psu, so,
can i do the center pin mod with this angled adaptor ? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009KUI41S
If yes, do you have an written tutorial or a video for that ?
sorry for all these questions, i am not good at hardware mods :/

 

The thing is that 150W PSU won't be able to support 970M. It will throttle. M15x mobo takes priority with power in favour of CPU, and then, if anything is left, it supplies the rest of the power to GPU. So it's a must. From my experience Firepro M6100/8950M works fine with an XM processor without too much overclocking, since it's only a 75W card if I remember correctly. 970M is a 100W+ card, especially if you OC it. If you have default 62W on your 920/940XM simple math shows that you have less than 90W left. Some loads can be carried that way, but if you want the full potential you need the 240W PSU. Doing the adapter mod with 150W will unlock you the ability to use 150W but without charging. That's not a very good deal

With the pin mod for the angled adapter (the one you've linked to should do fine) it's quite simple really, all you need to do is take thin plyers and yank out the pin from inside the plug side. That's all there is to it in my case I decided to do the switch mod because I couldn't find one like it in Europe with acceptable shipping time and fee, and since electricity is my trade I decided to do a mod with a total cost of around 0,50EUR compared to ~30USD and waiting 2-3 weeks


Feel free to ask away, that's what this forum is for

 

Hey, sorry for the ultra-late reply, I've been pretty busy lately,

So, it was exactly Power Throttling, I bought the adapter from Amazon i linked above, I removed the PIN inside and now my M15X work like a charm !

I finded out later than my PSU was a 130W and not a 150W, i don't know why but it's the reason why my M15X was power throttling.

Anyway, i think i'll upgrade soon for a 240W PSU, a 970M & an additionnal 1To HDD instead of my Blu-Ray drive/burner

Thanks a lot for your help man, and i apologise again for the very late reply
Have a good day/evening !