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    Overheating Causing low FPS?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by anselben, May 10, 2012.

  1. anselben

    anselben Notebook Enthusiast

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    For the last month I've been experiencing issues playing any games. Mostly in Battlefield 3, SWTOR, Batman Arkham city, and Starcraft. I've spent hours on the phone with alienware support, updated drivers (currently on 295.73 and overclocked), and don't know what else to go on. I recently discovered that my system is overheating and they're sending someone out to replace my fan/heatsink, and I have some arctic silver 5 for them to repaste with. Basically I'm concerned whether or not the overheating is the issue. I will have good framerates usually around 40 - 50 but they'll suddenly drop down to the 20s and teens, making any game completely unplayable.

    I have the i5, 4gb ram, and 1.5gb 555m. I know my setup isn't high performance, but I expect to at least be able to play the damn game, which I can't! So any ideas if this overheating issue will actually fix my problem? I've asked alienware for an exchange for R2 cos this computer isn't working for me and they refuse since I got it in Feb, but haven't used it much up until recently. I'm also going to upgrade my RAM to 8gb, will this show a big difference as well?

    Sorry for long post, thanks for any suggestions.
     
    anselben, May 10, 2012
    #1
  2. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    Usually overheating can be fixed with a simple cleanout of the system. I was going to have them replace my cooling system, when I decided to just blow compressed air into the fan based on this forums advice, and so much came out it was unbelievable. My temps must have dropped 30-40 degrees (GPU was getting into 90s and now its back to 60s)
     
    Gearsguy, May 10, 2012
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  3. singkuy

    singkuy Notebook Consultant

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    hi gearsguy, how did you use the compressed air?(from vent or exhaust) please post pictures if you have any. :)
     
    singkuy, May 11, 2012
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  4. CrossXedge

    CrossXedge Notebook Consultant

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    Overheating causes my computer to freeze ;_;
     
    CrossXedge, May 11, 2012
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  5. BaboonbOY

    BaboonbOY Notebook Guru

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    Disable turbo boost on start up as that will proably fix your issues (and not effect gaming at all).
     
    BaboonbOY, May 11, 2012
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  6. Gearsguy

    Gearsguy Notebook Deity

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    You just take the bottle, aim the bottle at the fan vents on the left (looking at the machine from the front), and blow it in pressing the button. No real pictures needed. Just blow it in both the bottom vent (on the bottom of the machine) and the back one (aka the side where the charger port is). I would do it in small bursts to avoid messing up your fan. And start with the back vent (charger port side).
     
    Gearsguy, May 11, 2012
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