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    Should i be worried?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Rairch, Mar 10, 2011.

  1. Rairch

    Rairch Notebook Deity

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    Hi
    I've just noticed in the last few days that after gaming for around half an hour to an hour i get a massive drop in FPS. For example MOH runs at 45+ maxed, after a few rounds it drops to 12-15! Same thing in a few other games. Crysis 2 demo: 30+ to 12. Its definately nothing to do with temps as i check them when gaming: 76c seems fine to me. this can all be resolved with a quick restart, but i can't figure out whats causing it :confused: (Could it just be an unstable OC? it's been fine for ages though) Tried re-installing drivers. Same thing!

    When the FPS drops i run Furmark to check and it runs crap. After a restart its fine though.

    Here is a GPU-Z log when running FurMark. After it peaks at around 90/91c i get random dips as you can see. This isn't normal is it?

    Any thoughts would be much appreciated :)

    James
     

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    Rairch, Mar 10, 2011
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  2. Coops025

    Coops025 Notebook Consultant

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    Have you cleaned the dust out of the vents etc?

    I have a tin of canned air thats gives mine a quick blast once a week.
     
    Coops025, Mar 10, 2011
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  3. Rairch

    Rairch Notebook Deity

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    Rairch, Mar 10, 2011
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  4. Matt Woller

    Matt Woller Notebook Evangelist

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    Are you sure you didn't leave Stealth Mode on, or accidentally turn it on, during gaming? This happens to be more often than not. I turn Stealth Mode on and completely forget about it, then launch a game and it's randomly slow. I've honestly stopped using the Stealth Mode button, because I realized that my fans are completely inaudible without gaming anyway. :)
     
    Matt Woller, Mar 10, 2011
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  5. Matt Woller

    Matt Woller Notebook Evangelist

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    Also, you have the GeForce GTX 260m - that + the Core i7 is known to cause thermal throttling, which equals slow-down galore. I'm not sure if there's a fix for that, other than to ugprade the videocard honestly. The GeForce 9xm/2xm line ran pretty hot - my 9800m routinely hit 95-98c full load, and if I didn't clean my Asus G50vt monthly she'd hit 103-105c. D:
     
    Matt Woller, Mar 10, 2011
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  6. inap

    inap .........................

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    looks like it could be thermal thottling, what was the max temp you see?
    also what bios are you on?
     
    inap, Mar 10, 2011
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  7. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    BIOS revision A08 fixed the throttling issues.
     
    svl7, Mar 10, 2011
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  8. Rairch

    Rairch Notebook Deity

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    Yeah im aware of the i7 + 260M issue but im currently running A08 - updated a while ago. Stealth mode is definitely OFF, lol, i have sometimes in the past swiped it on accidently. Max gaming temps ive seen are around 76c. 92c in FurMark.
     
    Rairch, Mar 10, 2011
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  9. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    It sure sounds like heat. Log graphics card performance with GPU-Z and CPU performance with Throttlestop (Monitoring only) during your next gaming session. That should tell us more about what's happening. Some of that GPU-Z log from Furmark doesn't make a lot of sense.
     
    The Revelator, Mar 10, 2011
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  10. Rairch

    Rairch Notebook Deity

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    Ah ok, sorry about that.
    I'll get on it now.
     
    Rairch, Mar 10, 2011
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  11. Rairch

    Rairch Notebook Deity

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    so played crysis 2 demo for a bit and here are the results:

    Everything seems fine.

    Maybe i need to play for a lot longer for temps to really get up there.
    no time tonight. I'll get some more game time tomorrow :)
     

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    Rairch, Mar 10, 2011
    #11