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    My M14x is underperforming, ideas?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Tony Yung, Aug 31, 2011.

  1. Tony Yung

    Tony Yung Newbie

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    specs:
    Video card: 1.5 gb
    CPU: i5 core
    RAM: 4 gb
    Screen: 900p

    I was under the impression I would easily be able to run Team Fortress 2 maxed out extremely smoothly with no hitches. However when I started playing at first under high, I had around 40-60 frames in the spawn room, but in the large outdoor areas, my framerate regularly dipped all the way down to 20 fps. I used a special config just to get TF2 to run better (which of course rendered to graphics to dx9 quality).

    I also thought I'd run Starcraft 2 relatively well as well. But on the lowest settings (I planned to play on the lowest settings anyway) I still get a few hitches even in just 1v1s, when fully capped armies are on the screen. The slowdown is especially noticeable with Zerg. I don't know the exact fps when the slowdown occurs, but I'd guess it's in the mid 20s.

    I thought it's be a driver problem, but Alienware's website apparently has no updated drivers for the M14x. Any ideas?
     
    Tony Yung, Aug 31, 2011
    #1
  2. shifttab

    shifttab Notebook Geek

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    Did you whitelist Steam under graphics properties?
     
    shifttab, Aug 31, 2011
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  3. Tony Yung

    Tony Yung Newbie

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    My games are being run with the NVIDIA processor and not integrated graphics if that's what you're asking.
     
    Tony Yung, Aug 31, 2011
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  4. shifttab

    shifttab Notebook Geek

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    Have you tried plugging the AC adapter in and making sure your resolution rate is 60?
     
    shifttab, Aug 31, 2011
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  5. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    Might be the i5...

    Turn down some of the more demanding options like anti aliasing?
     
    /Drakk_, Aug 31, 2011
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  6. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    I run team fortress 2, everything maxed, including aa and filtering and get 100 fps or more. Make sure the game is whitelisted, right click the desktop and select the nvidia control panel, to go manage 3d settings, find the .exe of tf2, and make sure you set it to run with the gt555m. Make sure your power settings are set to high performance too.
     
    niko2021, Aug 31, 2011
    #6