charger increases fps?

Hello everyone, I'm a noobie to this forum and I just bought an m17x r4.

Recently i noticed a solid 10-15 fps increase when I have my ac adapter plugged in while gaming (TERA online max setting). Here are my specs:

Model : Alienware X17X R4 Gaming Laptop
Processor : Ivy Bridge Intel Core i7 3rd Gen -3630QM @2.4GHZ (up to 3.4Ghz)
Memory (RAM) : 8GB DDR3 RAM - 1600mhz - 2 DIMMS
Hard Drive : 256GB 2.5 inch (SATA3) Mobility Solid State Drive
Screen Size : 17.3" HD 1920x1080 (1080p) WLED HD Screen
Video Card : 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
Optical Drive : DVD/RW (Reads and Writes CDs and DVDs)
Color : Stealth Black with Soft Touch Finish
Network Card : Integrated Network Card
WiFi/Wirless : Intel Centrino Wireless 2230, 2x2 bgn
Sound Card : Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition 5.1 Audio with THX TruStudio Pro Software (Standard) 2.0 Speaker configuration Audio Powered by Klipsch® 7.1 Digtial Audio out using HDMI out connection or S/PDIF Optical port
Operating System : Genuine Windows 8 64-Bit
Battery : 9 Cell Battery with USA Power Adapter
Webcam : 2.1 Megapixel Full HD Camera with Dual Digital Microphones
Bluetooth : Included
Restore CD : Included - Burn Recovery Media Using Built-In Dell Recovery App

I thought that my Alienfx had something to do with it, but I changed settings while plugged in, and while unplugged to exactly identical. But it doesn't affect the results that I got from the beginning. I also notice that my gpu always run at 100% in both cases, so what is it that causes this difference in fps? Sorry my English is really bad, I am not native . Thanks in advance!

 

The battery doesn't supply enough power to play games at 100%.

 

easiest way to damage the battery early. always recommended to game on mains power and high performance setting.

 

You should always game plugged in. The GPU will be starved for power on battery. The M14x in particular is known to randomly shut off while gaming on battery.

 

What the other people say, if it's on battery there is not enough power, the battery can simple not supply it.
You need a few car-battery's or something haha, jk.

Simple game plugged in or take the FPS decrease for granted.

 

Thanks! I did not know that

 

You can game on battery, just understand that your GPU will have greatly reduced performance as you've noticed. Use the integrated GPU if you want to game on battery. Of course then you'll be limited to some less demanding indie or older games that will perform well with the IGP.

Think about it. Your system power draw with i7 CPU and 680m GPU will be 180W+. Imagine a battery trying to output that kind of power. An 80WHr battery is 80WHr/180W ~ 40 minutes of run time, not to mention burning out your battery having to deliver that kind of power.

 

it's suicide to game on battery, did you even noticed that you battery dies in 40 minutes while gaming on it ? it's not designed for that use..
you want to game always on AC power

 

Well it's possible to force more power through BIOS/other changes, the system/OS by default is set to heavier power management mode and ACPI when on battery, GPU/CPU takes lower power-states among other devices, and if you were to force it to draw MAX power, your battery could take some permanent damage and your system would shut down if it just can't pull enough from the battery to run.

 

..it's just the total package that needs to use less power than the battery can supply (and the limit is set in bios, yes). But depending on your system.. a kepler card/i5 or i7.. it would for example work perfectly fine to run the processor down to base level, and still have the gpu running on nearly full speed. Drivers also compensate well now, dynamically dropping load% instead of dropping it all at once. An a10+ a gcn card also can stay under the 60w a laptop battery usually supplies, since the cpu/apu setup never exceeds the listed power-draw, and the power-draw of for example a 7670m is constant.

A 100w rated graphics card will need to be plugged in, though..

 

This is normal for all laptops. When I decide to go to the bathroom with my W170ER to play WoW because I don't wanna stop doing my dailies, the battery goes down from 100% to 40% in about 30-45 mins. The draw from a fully pulling GPU and CPU is HUGE! Mind you, there's also the wifi, display, all those things pulling power.

Check your power settings, they are probably reduced for when you're on battery. CPU max performance is at 60% i think on windows by default on battery. Also, try not to do what i mentioned often, I don't, because I don't wanna kill my battery in months. When you're playing on your battery use the IGPU and try to undervolt your CPU as well.

Cheers

 

you play wow on the toilet? dedication bro <3

 

That's a true hero of Azeroth I tell ya.

 

Hahahaha yeah all the time! I can't go in there alone you know? It's scary

Hahaha, I knew I shouldn't have confessed my secret

 

You sit on the toilet for 30-40 minutes?

Damn that must be one big log.

 

Not sure about the m17x but on the m18x when the charger is not plugged in it automatically switches to using the CPU graphics instead of the GPUs

 

um that isn't true... it won't switch to the igpx without pressing the function key + f7 and needs a reboot.

edit, I just tried it... gives a warning that you need to reboot the computer to switch, but you can still run with it using your deciated cards

 

This^

Battery power is not really suitable for gaming, on any laptop models I'm aware of.