The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    M9750 Graphics card bottoming out

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Skeebles, Oct 13, 2008.

  1. Skeebles

    Skeebles Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I took the plunge and bought an m9750 about a year ago, but recently, I've been having some pretty bizarre graphics issues. For example, SPORE will play at a steady 60 fps, but roughly 5 -10 minutes into playing (this isn't an exact amount, it varies alot), my frames will drop down to the single digits and render the game unplayable. I have no idea where to start with this, I've installed every driver I could find (erasing the previous ones before installing), and put my graphics settings as low as they could go, still no luck. As for heat, my cards peak around 85-95 degrees while playing and stay at roughly 70 degrees while idle. Any help regarding this would be extremely appreciated.

    My specs:

    2x Go 7950 GTX 512mb each
    160 GB 7,500 RPM hard drive (don't know the make)
    2 GB RAM
    Intel Core 2 T7400 @ 2.16 GHz
    Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit
     
    Skeebles, Oct 13, 2008
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

    Reputations:
    5,504
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    You need to clean out your computer and maybe use a cooling pad.
     
    Lithus, Oct 13, 2008
    #2
  3. Skeebles

    Skeebles Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    do you mean just clean out the fans, or something else?
     
    Skeebles, Oct 13, 2008
    #3
  4. Soloman

    Soloman Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    37
    Messages:
    297
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    He means to undo the screws on the bottom of the chassis open it up and blow it out with a good blast. Just hitting the fans does not mean its clear, dust can get trapped and build up causing heat. You would be surprised what you can find there.
     
    Soloman, Oct 13, 2008
    #4
  5. Nirvana

    Nirvana Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,200
    Messages:
    5,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    a can of compressed air would be nice.
     
    Nirvana, Oct 13, 2008
    #5
  6. Skeebles

    Skeebles Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Ok, unscrew the bottom, compressed air, clear the dust, got it. Just wondering which screws to undo. undoing them all and having my laptop fall apart would be a BAD thing, considering I haven't the shadiest idea how to put it back together if that were to happen. any ideas? (diagrams appreciated if possible)
     
    Skeebles, Oct 13, 2008
    #6
  7. Loggie

    Loggie Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    130
    Messages:
    476
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Go to the AW website-support. They have step by step procedures with pictures showing how to remove/replace components from the m9750.
    You only have to remove the bottom cover-4 screws maybe-very easy-to expose the fans and vents.
     
    Loggie, Oct 13, 2008
    #7
  8. Skeebles

    Skeebles Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks, I'll go do that
     
    Skeebles, Oct 13, 2008
    #8
  9. Gophn

    Gophn NBR Resident Assistant

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    15,707
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    456
    remember to focus the compressed air at the vents (which is where the dust gets clogged the most).

    also visit the NBR Cooling Central for more info. :)
     
    Gophn, Oct 13, 2008
    #9