Alienware M18x Not performing well

[Quovadis]

Hey guys . I've been having some trouble with my gf's laptop since a few months.

It's supposed to run alot of games yet it struggle to run csgo or even ET.

Since she gets fps drops even in ET it made me think it was the processor.

She have the same performances on BF3 and CSGO.

I tried everything going from reinstalling drivers , reformating ( The PC is empty if its not of the drivers + a few games ) , running various Dell TEST ( which it all passed ).

I tried playing csgo a bit and looking a the processor performance.

It keeps peeking to like 90%

 

Im kinda lost now don't really know what else to do.

Is the processor faulty or something?

 

PS: I don't like alienware but had this one for 1300$ like 2 years ago

 

 

Thanks!

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System Information

------------------

Time of this report: 8/8/2013, 19:09:57

Machine name: MARIE-PC

Operating System: Windows 7 Professionnel 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130318-1533)

Language: French (Regional Setting: French)

System Manufacturer: Alienware

System Model: M18xR1

BIOS: InsydeH2O Version 1.0 A04

Processor: Intel® Core i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.0GHz

Memory: 6144MB RAM

Available OS Memory: 6126MB RAM

Page File: 2783MB used, 9466MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

DX Setup Parameters: Not found

User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)

System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)

DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled

DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

------------

DxDiag Notes

------------

Display Tab 1: No problems found.

Sound Tab 1: No problems found.

Sound Tab 2: No problems found.

Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------

DirectX Debug Levels

--------------------

Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)

DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)

DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)

DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)

DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)

DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)

DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------

Display Devices

---------------

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Chip type: GeForce GTX 460M

DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_048F1028&REV_A1

Display Memory: 4048 MB

Dedicated Memory: 1488 MB

Shared Memory: 2559 MB

Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: Moniteur Plug-and-Play générique

Monitor Model: unknown

Monitor Id: SEC5448

Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (59.999Hz)

Output Type: Internal

Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um

Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.2049 (English)

Driver Version: 9.18.13.2049

DDI Version: 11

Driver Model: WDDM 1.1

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

Driver Date/Size: 6/21/2013 08:06:36, 15144928 bytes

WHQL Logo'd: n/a

WHQL Date Stamp: n/a

Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4E91-11CF-997B-82241CC2C435}

Vendor ID: 0x10DE

Device ID: 0x0DD1

SubSys ID: 0x048F1028

Revision ID: 0x00A1

Driver Strong Name: oem12.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section053:9.18.13.2049:pci\ven_10de&dev_0dd1&subsys_048f1028

Rank Of Driver: 00E00001

Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive

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{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY

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{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY

{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch

{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY

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{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

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{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

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{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

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{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

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{F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=

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D3D9 Overlay: Supported

DXVA-HD: Supported

DDraw Status: Enabled

D3D Status: Enabled

AGP Status: Enabled

-------------

Sound Devices

-------------

Description: Haut-parleurs (Périphérique High Definition Audio)

Default Sound Playback: Yes

Default Voice Playback: Yes

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7675&SUBSYS_1028048F&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 65535

Type: WDM

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (French)

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

WHQL Logo'd: n/a

Date and Size: 11/20/2010 23:23:47, 350208 bytes

Other Files:

Driver Provider: Microsoft

HW Accel Level: Basic

Cap Flags: 0x0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0

Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0

HW Memory: 0

Voice Management: No

EAX 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No

I3DL2 Listen/Src: No, No

Sensaura ZoomFX: No

Description: Audio numérique (SPDIF) (Périphérique High Definition Audio)

Default Sound Playback: No

Default Voice Playback: No

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7675&SUBSYS_1028048F&REV_1001

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 65535

Type: WDM

Driver Name: HdAudio.sys

Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (French)

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

WHQL Logo'd: n/a

Date and Size: 11/20/2010 23:23:47, 350208 bytes

Other Files:

Driver Provider: Microsoft

HW Accel Level: Basic

Cap Flags: 0x0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0

Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0

HW Memory: 0

Voice Management: No

EAX 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No

I3DL2 Listen/Src: No, No

Sensaura ZoomFX: No

---------------------

[Crasher]

There's no way it's the processor, and it has more than enough RAM to run games that you wish to run on it. There might be too many things in the background while you're playing the games, or you've got some malware or spyware slugging your computer down. What I would do is get some assistance in the way of an anti-virus (like Avast), a spyware scanner (Like spybot S&D) and a malware scanner (Like malwarebytes) All three I listed are free or comes with a trial period.

 

 

edit: I forgot to mention, cleaning the computer of dust is needed as well, if it gets more dusty and dirty, the CPU in a laptop will throttle and slow down, that's what they're meant to do, the fans will spin more and the laptop will heat up, so the CPU will slow down to keep up with the heat the laptop is making. Inspect it for any kind of easy to clean dust.

Edited August 9, 2013 by Crasher

[JoeDirt]

First update the bios to A05, then update the audio driver, old audio drivers can cause issue with game performance.

[Quovadis]

@Crasher I precised that the Pc is empty beside drivers , it has just been formated hehe
Ty for suggestions , will try it right now.

[Slayerz]

First update the bios to A05, then update the audio driver, old audio drivers can cause issue with game performance.

This right here helped with my Alienware Desktop

[Quovadis]

First update the bios to A05, then update the audio driver, old audio drivers can cause issue with game performance.

 

Better but still not how it's supposed to perform. 

CU usage still peeking alot.

In CSGO for exemple, I get huge fps drops when enemies move , when I start shooting bullets , etc really makes me think its related to the CPU

[Crasher]

Your CPU might be throttling, like I said before.

[vke]

It may be overheating, with my macbook pro I stuggle to get 30 fps in cs:go without an icepack under it and a fan blowing on the rear area. Also, try a clean install of graphics drivers, manually uninstall in control panel then re-install the latest version from nvidia website.

[Quovadis]

Tried everything said here , even opened the back of the PC to clean the fans.

Updating to A05 did help a bit though.

I still even have trouble browsing forums.

CSGO Full quality = constant 60 fps until it goes down to 20 for no reason , CSGO Low Quality = Constant 120 FPS until it goes down to 20 .

Whatever the game it is , its all the same.

The worst is saints row , PC seems to be scrambling to load all the geometrics of the upcoming buildings while driving the car.

Same goes for CSGO when you kill someone and the ragdoll start falling , thats the point wheen fps drops the most.

Isnt all these thing CPU dependant?

If CPU had troubles , shouldn't it overheat ?

Im lost , don't really know what to do anymore.

Maybe I should remove all the parts and clean everything?

 

PS: Fans exits are not even hot , although fans do run pretty loud when playing.

[Crasher]

I would not recommend taking apart the computer, laptops are a lot trickier to handle than desktops. Even updating the BIOS was pretty much a last resort here, I would say close any background things if there are any running.

 

Get a professional registry cleaner like CCleaner.

 

Make sure the laptop is on a hard surface or with a laptop specific cooling pad underneath.

Edited August 10, 2013 by Crasher

[S3ti]

Maybe clocking/throttling issue, just a guess...monitored CPU/GPU frequencies while playing?

 

Dunno if i7 CPUs still have speedstep or similar energy saving functions which can be manually disabled in bios but worth a look. And in the nvidia driver panel is also an item "power management" which can be set to "prefer maximum performance", maybe not for a mobile GPU but also worth a try

[Vanaraud]

Well nVidia has physX implemented on their GPU which do most of the physics calculations and also you mentioned artifacts and FPS drops. I´m afraid if the GPU itself doesn´t drop dead soon. Try what S3ti suggested and check if its not set to overdrive application settings. Also try to disable PhysX.

[JoeDirt]

Download GPU-Z and monitor core and memory clock, same with CPU-Z while playing a game in windowed mode.

[Quovadis]

 

Edit : Nice fail , only 200 mhz on GPU clock ...... laptop not plugged in .............................

[Quovadis]