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    Sudden drop in performance

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by shrike3000, Jun 20, 2011.

  1. shrike3000

    shrike3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have an Alienware M15x with the I7-720QM processor and the AMD 5850 Radeon Graphics card.

    I play a lot of League of Legends and since the day I bought the laptop it has rocked performance wise with this game, always staying at a steady 60FPS at max settings in game.

    About 2-3 weeks ago performance suddenly dropped. I used to always be one of the first people done loading (HDD speed usually effects this) and now I am almost always the last. I have friends with much much less computers than me who finish well ahead of me. Also in game my FPS now fluctuates constantly between 15-45 FPS.

    I am sure it is not the Stealth Mode as I turn it on and off in game and see a performance drop when it is on to when it is back off, and when it is off my performance is still much worse than what it used to be.

    I have uninstalled the game and reinstalled as well with no effect. Any ideas? I am very frustrated as I spent all this money and now the $400 computer I replaced and sold to my friend now runs LOL better than my $2000 Alienware.
     
    shrike3000, Jun 20, 2011
    #1
  2. usmc362

    usmc362 Notebook Consultant

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    Have you tried installing the latest driver from ATI'S website? Also do you have an SSD? If so try updating the firmware ;it should be on the manufacturers website.
     
    usmc362, Jun 20, 2011
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  3. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Run and post (a) a GPU-Z log (check Log to File on the Sensors tab) and (b) a ThrottleStop log (check Log File on opening screen). Once the logging process is started, run and play League of Legends for 10-15 minutes including the part(s) where slowdown occurs, or, if you have it, one of the 3dMark benchmark programs. Those logs will provide a pretty clear picture of what is causing your slowdown, thermal throttling being a prime candidate.
     
    The Revelator, Jun 20, 2011
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  4. inap

    inap .........................

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    yeah do what the rev said. have you clean your vents and fans lately????
     
    inap, Jun 20, 2011
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  5. shrike3000

    shrike3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    shrike3000, Jun 20, 2011
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  6. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Here guys, the file as attachements:
     

    Attached Files:

    svl7, Jun 20, 2011
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  7. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Ok, your CPU has a problem. Make sure you have EIST enabled. Go to the BIOS and enable Intel Speed Step Technology.

    The load of the GPU is too low, but this might be caused by the slow state of the CPU.
     
    svl7, Jun 20, 2011
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  8. inap

    inap .........................

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    look like the cpu is the cause of the problem, was it at idle or something> the multi was only 7.
    edit: svl got it already, hahaha

    what setting are u using for throttle stop???
     
    inap, Jun 20, 2011
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  9. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Exactly. GPU temps are great, but might be partially because the CPU is not operating fast enough to feed it. EIST looks like the issue, locking the CPU at 7x.
     
    The Revelator, Jun 20, 2011
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  10. shrike3000

    shrike3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    You guys nailed it, SpeedStep was disabled.

    Also, I only downloaded Throttlestop to give you the log you requested, didnt know what settings or anything to use. Should I be using Throttlestop, and if so what settings?
     
    shrike3000, Jun 21, 2011
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  11. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    ThrottleStop is designed primarily for use with the 920/940xm processors. In ordinary use, TS has relatively little practical utility with a 720QM, but is useful for CPU diagnostic purposes as the need arises.
     
    The Revelator, Jun 21, 2011
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  12. shrike3000

    shrike3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, good to know. Also, this is a little strange. After I first re enabled SpeedStep I could instantly tell the whole computer was working better, but when I went back into LoL my load time was back to its old self but my FPS was still borked. I exited, turned on Stealth Mode then turned it back off and then re tried and my FPS was fixed.

    The reason I knew something was still wrong was because in GPU-Z I checked and my Core speed and Memory speed never got higher than 300/400 and stealth mode was not on, but somehow turning it on then back off got my gpu unstuck from 300/400 core and memory speeds.

    God I hate Stealth mode... Is there a way to disable it all together so it never effects anything?
     
    shrike3000, Jun 21, 2011
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  13. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Yes, this happens from time to time, even though Stealth Mode is deactivated.

    There's the " stealth mode indicator" which automatically turns off SM, but I'm not sure whether it fixes this problem 100%.

    Maybe by removing CC, but I don't know whether you want to do this.
     
    svl7, Jun 21, 2011
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  14. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Never mind.
     
    The Revelator, Jun 21, 2011
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  15. shrike3000

    shrike3000 Notebook Enthusiast

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    PP was not disabled, it was fixed by just turning Stealth on then off. I guess Ill just count this as a fluke and move on. Thank you guys for all the help!
     
    shrike3000, Jun 21, 2011
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  16. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    Can i know if the speed step thingy was auto disabled? >.<
     
    Indiran, Jun 21, 2011
    #16