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    Is it me or it is my M14X?

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by BigRedBeachBalls, Jul 9, 2012.

  1. BigRedBeachBalls

    BigRedBeachBalls Newbie

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    Hey guys,
    I bought my Alienware M14X about 1 yr back, and whatever the haters may say, its a great laptop.

    My question is how can I maximize its performance? I recently downloaded Borderlands on it, after having it played it on my PS3 I wanted my PC friends to get into the action. However to my dismay on high settings, it ran at a horrible 20 FPS. Is that how it's supposed to run, or am I missing out on something?

    My Specs (they're pretty lowly :[ )
    Intel Core i5-2410M CPU @ 2.3 GHz
    6.00 GB DDR3 RAM
    GPU - nVIDIA 555M GT
    500 GB HDD
    14.0" High Def+ (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight


    I think that's sufficient to run it at atleast 30 FPS? Right now on medium-low I get 40 FPS with dynamic shadows off.
     
    BigRedBeachBalls, Jul 9, 2012
    #1
  2. Kingpinzero

    Kingpinzero ROUND ONE,FIGHT! You Win!

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    U sure ure not runnin on Intel GPU instead of nvidia?
    GT 555m should be widely sufficent for that game.
     
    Kingpinzero, Jul 9, 2012
    #2
  3. maxheap

    maxheap caparison horus :)

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    for sure you should be rocking 30-40 fps, did you check your temps? also as Kingpinzero suggested, make sure you are not running of iGPU (not likely though for 20fps high is impossible for hd 3000)
     
    maxheap, Jul 9, 2012
    #3
  4. imglidinhere

    imglidinhere Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, borderlands runs at 45 FPS max settings for my friend on his GTS 250. Your 555M is on the same level as far as I know...

    I'd say it's the drivers that're holding you back.
     
    imglidinhere, Jul 9, 2012
    #4
  5. BigRedBeachBalls

    BigRedBeachBalls Newbie

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    Could you please explain how I could set it so that the game would run on my GPU?

    Thanks, I knew something was wrong
     
    BigRedBeachBalls, Jul 9, 2012
    #5
  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    It's Optimus. Just right click desktop, nVidia Control Panel, manage 3d settings, click program settings. Find Borderlands in the pulldown and make sure if it's on auto-select it's choosing nVidia, otherwise set it to nVidia. If it doesn't show in the pull-down, then search for the borderlands EXE and then set it.
     
    HTWingNut, Jul 9, 2012
    #6
  7. BigRedBeachBalls

    BigRedBeachBalls Newbie

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    OMG 62 FPS <3 I LOVE YOU!! :))

    Thank you so much!!
     
    BigRedBeachBalls, Jul 9, 2012
    #7
  8. nissangtr786

    nissangtr786 Notebook Deity

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    Nvidia should have a feature good enough to detect the dedicated card for games automatically but they didn't. Anyway your 555m should play most games on high.
     
    nissangtr786, Jul 10, 2012
    #8