Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

My High-End Alienware PC has recently started having major FPS drops on my games very badly

Tags:
  • Lag
  • Games
  • Systems
  • Alienware
Last response: in Systems
Share
June 27, 2014 8:55:47 PM

After about roughly 3 years of use, And no I have not cleaned out my fans, and I'm not going to unless absolutely necessary. I am very tech savvy as far as software goes and that stuff. But I haven't saw any red flags with my PC. But I have noticed my fans have gotten a lot quieter recently as of 3 weeks ago and that could or could-not have been around the same time all my games started lagging.
Here is a simple issue. My computer for 3 years now, has ran amazingly and I just got BF3 for free. So I played it and I can not stand for no less then best in quality when it comes to games. I ran it at Ultra all settings maxed. It ran about 40-60 FPS at all times. After a week Or so playing it at this, My PC begins to lag very badly on anygame it use to flow in. And I have checked all the common culprits of this Task Manger ETC. I even got Anti-Virus to check for it. And the thing was lots of things it found and cleaned, But still yet my games lag very badly. Not my programs that aren't graphic intensive, Just my games. Could this be a graphics card error or malfunction. Please help as soon as possible, About to invest 5000$ in a new computer if I can't fix this.

EDIT:My build is a Alienware Laptop that has a 1366x768 resolution moniter. My GPU is a Nvidia 650M. I5 processer and anymore information needed please ask. And yes, by lag I mean a FPS drop and it is a recent issue.

More about : high end alienware recently started major fps drops games badly

June 27, 2014 9:09:12 PM

Post your build in detail including OS and monitor.

Lag is 'delay' not low fps. I think your complaint is with low fps.

Put your pc details into the game screen on game debate eg http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=1164&ga...

and see what settings are recommended and what fps you should be getting.

Are you using those settings? Are you getting those fps?

Don't forget - they will be an average fps. Graphically demanding scenes will see your fps plummet.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:10:10 PM

What are your CPU and GPU load temps?
m
0
l
Related resources
June 27, 2014 9:12:42 PM

You're not exactly giving us much to go on. All you let us know is that you have some kind of computer that's lagging and that you checked some things. At the very least, we're going to need some basic information about your PC, what games you're playing, and what you checked.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:21:10 PM

tiny voices said:
What are your CPU and GPU load temps?


My Cores stay at 60 degrees Celsius and when I play games they hit about 70-75, As far as my GPU I can not tell at the moment.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:27:02 PM

DSzymborski said:
You're not exactly giving us much to go on. All you let us know is that you have some kind of computer that's lagging and that you checked some things. At the very least, we're going to need some basic information about your PC, what games you're playing, and what you checked.


See here is the thing. There is no basic information. My computer just suddenly screwed over as far as giving FPS goes, I'm plugged in, CPU useage is at low no viruses, all the small common stuff, But I do think my GPU has given up on me 2-3 years of nearly constant gaming enough to do it ?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:31:43 PM

Your GPU was not really high end to begin with. You need to check the load temp of your GPU to determine if it is overheating and throttling.

Use MSI afterburner.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:51:13 PM

tiny voices said:
Your GPU was not really high end to begin with. You need to check the load temp of your GPU to determine if it is overheating and throttling.

Use MSI afterburner.


Uh-oh, Well my temperature is at 59 Celsius but useage and everything else is a 0%
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 9:52:21 PM

Are your AMD drivers up to date?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:00:08 PM

tiny voices said:
Are your AMD drivers up to date?


Well, I don't know what driver I need. To be honest, I had no idea AMD things were in my PC.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:01:07 PM

I mean nvidia, my fault. LOL. are you running the latest GPU drivers from nvidia?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:02:43 PM

tiny voices said:
I mean nvidia, my fault. LOL. are you running the latest GPU drivers from nvidia?


Yes all drivers are up-to date.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:05:23 PM

So - its actually not a pc then. Alien (Dell) but what model laptop?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:07:01 PM

i7Baby said:
So - its actually not a pc then. Alien (Dell) but what model laptop?


M14Xr2
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:15:18 PM

That's what I love about Dell (and HP) - they won't give you info. Best I found is - http://www.theverge.com/products/m14x-r2/5535

i5 2420m (or maybe i7 3820qm)

GT650M 2gb

6 to 16gb ddr3 1600

SSD, HDD

DVD

Ethernet, wifi

Do you know what ram and cpu you got?

m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:19:28 PM

i7Baby said:
That's what I love about Dell (and HP) - they won't give you info. Best I found is - http://www.theverge.com/products/m14x-r2/5535

i5 2420m (or maybe i7 3820qm)

GT650M 2gb

6 to 16gb ddr3 1600

SSD, HDD

DVD

Ethernet, wifi

Do you know what ram and cpu you got?



i5-3210m, and I think 6144MB of RAM
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:21:34 PM

OK so put those details into the game screen on game debate eg http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=1164&ga...

and see what settings are recommended and what fps you should be getting.

Are you using those settings? Are you getting those fps?

Don't forget - they will be an average fps. Graphically demanding scenes will see your fps plummet.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:27:13 PM

i7Baby said:
OK so put those details into the game screen on game debate eg http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=1164&ga...

and see what settings are recommended and what fps you should be getting.

Are you using those settings? Are you getting those fps?

Don't forget - they will be an average fps. Graphically demanding scenes will see your fps plummet.


It says I should be able to run it on ultra. But here is the thing mate, ALL OF MY GAMES are having major low FPS now, ones that use to run like a dream. Now suck. xD >_<
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:28:26 PM

Are you set to integrated graphics for whatever reason?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:31:47 PM

What fps does game debate say you should get. Using the recommended settings, what fps are you actually getting?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:31:57 PM

tiny voices said:
Are you set to integrated graphics for whatever reason?


No, my Nvidea control panel is set to force all programs on my 650m, while certain programs that are picky about GPUs get my integrated graphics.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:34:45 PM

i7Baby said:
What fps does game debate say you should get. Using the recommended settings, what fps are you actually getting?


I should be getting 40-50, but I'm getting no more then 10. Now mind you it was running at 50-60 when I first started playing it. Then I beat it and played around, a few days after it started this crap.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:37:41 PM

What cpu temps you getting?
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:50:13 PM

i7Baby said:
What cpu temps you getting?


On average (Idleing on desktop) 65-73 Celsius. Playing BF3 82-85 Celsius.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:54:10 PM

Well that's where most of your problem lies is my guess. At idle the cpu should be on about 35C. Gaming 45C max.

Blow out the case - especially filters, fans and coolers.

Jack up the cpu cooler fan speed.

Repost the new temps.

m
0
l
June 27, 2014 10:56:57 PM

Your temps are high, but not too high. I would clean any and all dust out and see if they drop.

The max safe operating temp for that specific CPU is 105c.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:01:46 PM

Guys, I have no EDC protection or any of that, so.....
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:10:05 PM

tiny voices said:
Your temps are high, but not too high. I would clean any and all dust out and see if they drop.

The max safe operating temp for that specific CPU is 105c.


Any fan-speed changeing programs, don't register my fans 0_0
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:15:57 PM

i7Baby said:
Well that's where most of your problem lies is my guess. At idle the cpu should be on about 35C. Gaming 45C max.

Blow out the case - especially filters, fans and coolers.

Jack up the cpu cooler fan speed.

Repost the new temps.



We are talking about a mobile CPU. The safe range is between 45-80c. It doesn't even throttle until 105c. Expecting max 45c from this CPU is crazy talk. That is a good idle temp for this CPU.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:22:15 PM

Guys, I still need help, Has my GPU gave out on me ? Cause my FPS was SO MUCH BETTER, and if you guys can't help me. Like I said, I'm building a custom 5000 dollar PC if no help comes to working.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:23:10 PM

A $5000 computer is pointless. Spend $2000 and still easily max any game.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:24:14 PM

tiny voices said:
A $5000 computer is pointless. Spend $2000 and still easily max any game.


Good point xD.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:28:35 PM

Oh that's tight. This one is a laptop.

Nothing much you can do for a laptop. Not much info available either - especially from Dell.

They'd like it if you just gave in and bought another one.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:43:36 PM

No, I will take this computer, scavenge it for everything, eat the remains. Then I will puke it on Dells desk saying "THIS IS THE GARBAGE YOU FEED US!?" Then make a new one, making sure to avoid Dell.
m
0
l
June 27, 2014 11:50:01 PM

I have spent 5 minutes staring at my laptop and saying to myself, This is the end for you. Very sad and depressing.
m
0
l
June 28, 2014 12:02:49 AM

You can try getting another gpu. Not sure where you can get one from. Google it. But its not nice wnehn all you can try is swapping out bits. Especially when I bet they cost an arm and a leg.
m
0
l
June 28, 2014 8:37:18 AM

i7Baby said:
You can try getting another gpu. Not sure where you can get one from. Google it. But its not nice wnehn all you can try is swapping out bits. Especially when I bet they cost an arm and a leg.


No he cannot. The 650m is soldered to the motherboard. It cannot be replaced.
m
0
l
June 28, 2014 7:27:16 PM

UPDATE: My cores now idle at 50 Celsius.
m
0
l
June 28, 2014 7:31:09 PM

Did the FPS drops stop?
m
0
l
June 30, 2014 1:16:23 PM

I had the same problem with the same config, except 8GB RAM a i7-3610QM. I cleaned the fan and repasted both CPU and GPU. Went from
97ºC Core/90ºC GPU to 80ºC Core/65º GPU with OC to 1GHz. You should really follow the steps on alienware site to repaste the CPU and GPU and clean the fans. Note that I'm getting those temps with room temperature at about 25ºC.

Hope I helped.
m
0
l
July 1, 2014 2:28:11 AM

Skibbles Mctibs said:
tiny voices said:
Are your AMD drivers up to date?


Well, I don't know what driver I need. To be honest, I had no idea AMD things were in my PC.


Sorry, but on starting post you said you are very tech savvy as far as software goes, you realize there are simple softwares like cpu Z, GPUz, benchmark softwares, hw monitor software to help you in your quest to find the issue?

Also helps others in helping you. It could just be a simple driver corruption, and people cant help you if you don't do some proper tests. Remember the machine is at your place not ours. If you can download some utilities and run some test and post screenshots im pretty sure we can find out the issues fast.
m
0
l
July 1, 2014 2:32:09 AM

By the way have you checked your warranty status? Can you please check your warranty status, if you still have it going, you could send it to them for fixing.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Products/?IsT...

And a side note. Please Stop Using laptop for gaming. Due to the thermal build of laptops they do not last as long as a computer. You can kid yourself all you want about having bought a laptop from alienware costing much, in the end its just the same garbage they sell to every1 else with a graphic card and a different chassis.
m
0
l
July 1, 2014 7:19:27 AM

Check ebay plentybof gpu to fine there :) 
m
0
l
!