M11x R3 fluctuating performance

Hello everyone, I've had my M11x for about 5 months now and this just started about a month ago. I will be playing a game (usually something simple like half life 2 or WoW) and it will go from running a smooth 50 - 60 fps to crashing down to 5 - 10 fps. People have said "Oh it's just over heating because you don't keep it in a proper spot" but I always keep it on my laptop cooler, one of those fan ones. I also make sure the fan areas are never blocked. I'm not sure whats going on but I'm hoping someone here can help. Thanks in advance!

 

It does sound like it may be throttling, to check this run HWINFO sensors in the background and play your game until it happens then check the temps.

Could be a simple dust problem requiring compressed air to clean out the vents, worse case scenario you may need a repaste.

 

GPU driver is most likely crashing and recovering, but it will only run at 2D clocks after it recovers. Is your GPU overclocked? If it is, try backing down your clocks a bit.

 

Nope, its completely factory standard.

 

I tried cleaning the vents and I also tried using Throttlestop to see if the CPU was causing the issue and it did the same thing. I was thinking that it needed a repaste but its only been a few months. I'm trying to avoid calling dell at all costs. Thanks for the help so far though. I'll try checking those temps though and ill get back to you.

 

You mention it is totally factory standard to Hermitmaster does that mean stock drivers as well?

 

Aside from updating everything, yes

 

Update to the latest Nvidia drivers as that may fix all your problems if it is not temperature related.

296.10 WHQL

 

Tried installing the update you posted Yiddo, but sadly it didn't seem to help at all. What should my next course of action be? If I absolutely must call Alienware/Dell I will but if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

If you call Dell, I'm sure the next step that they will recommend is a complete wipe of the hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch.

 

I know you said you tried cleaning the vents but did you actually do a temperature check like I said above? Install HWINFO and run the hwinfo sensors and leave them running and play your game until it starts to throttle then check the sensors max and see if it is temperature related. Degraded thermal compound could be one or a blockage could be another these things fill up with dust really easily and compressed air is the only thing to shift it without a disassembly.

Unless you have a failing hard drive I dont see how wiping the hard drive and reinstalling everything is going to help it does not sound like a HDD problem. But true it does sound like something Dell would recommend

 

I did a temp check and my GPU got up to 98 degrees C but my CPU stayed at around 60 C. Could the fan on my card have stopped working all together? that sounds like a possibility to me. Also on a slightly related side note, I got my first BSOD on this thing today. I was in the middle of a netflix movie and it up and crashed on me. I figured I would mention it just in case.

 

GPU was a bit warm! They have a shared fan IIRC. Might be time for a warranty call.

 

That is your problem fella when I messing with fanspeeds it appears the GPU max temp is going to be 100oC on these things because mine throttled like mad at 99oC and would not go any higher.

You certainly need to repaste and get inside and clean it out. If you are within warranty as G mentioned above send it in and get them to do it unless you are confident the disassembly is very straight forward did mine when I first got it and only took 20 minutes to repaste and rebuild. Get some ICD on it my fan never kicks into full RPM anymore since using ICD.

 

Yeah, I'll have to contact the fine folks laugh at Alienware/Dell and send my machine in. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

Eh? Send in? Make sure you dont have the in home option first. Most locations have that as default under Dell service. At least the first year.