bahmad96

Go to NVIDIA control panel and find Saints Row 4 under manage 3D settings. Make the preferred graphics processor your 555m. Change Multi-display to single display performance mode. Set power management to prefer maximum performance. In essence, tinker around with these settings and leave anything to application controlled for a setting if it's available. It's not that hard since tips are shown below for each setting. Save those settings then restart computer. After that, open up Saints Row 4 and check its settings. Saints Row 4 is a recently launched game so either the settings you've put it on are too high for your GPU or they're not optimised. You could use Geforce Experience to optimise your settings and I'm assuming you have the latest drivers for your card. These are the only things that have happened with me when I get subpar performance. I'm not entirely sure about disabling Optimus since you have essentially two video cards. One which is the integrated GPU in your CPU and the other being your dedicated 555m. The integrated one is used for your display so I think disabling it won't be such a good idea unless it's possible to completely turn off the integrated GPU and use the dedicated one for everything.

I would recommend getting this: Amazon.com: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound 3.5 Grams with ArctiClean 60 ML Kit: Computers & Accessories since it has both the compound and the cleaner so you don't have to worry about finding isopropyl alcohol solutions. This is if you already haven't purchased thermal compound. I can verify that most MSI pastings are kinda bad and will definitely affect temperatures and that IC Diamond is kinda viscous and it's more of apply and leave instead of apply and spread as thinly as possible.

I think with most MSI gaming laptops you can switch out GPU and CPU and of course the RAM. GPU part needs verification though, not entirely sure.

Wait a few months and then update. Games won't run. Drivers won't work. You won't really get much out of 8.1 unless you actively use the metro stuff. I jumped on the update the very day it was launched (wasn't aware) and guess what? All my applications became fuzzy and drivers were a pain to handle as they kept crashing so yeah either stick to Windows 8 or wait few months. I had to manual reinstall Windows 8 back and boy was I sorry. Cheers.

Hi there. I don't usually trust Razer products since they're kinda overpriced and aren't very reliable. This is just my opinion and of experience so others might think different. I currently own a Logitech G700 and it's a beast. Since you have a laptop you'll love its portability since it's both operational wired and wireless and I cannot see the difference between them even though wireless mice get a lot of slack for input lag and whatnot. It's laser so it's super accurate and it has just enough keys to be practical but not stupid amount of em.

The new MSI GT series are pretty nice. Good value, looks, and performance. Steelseries keyboard (lovin' it) and you can upgrade CPU/GPU/RAM easily. It has two years warranty if it matters to you. I would recommend getting the 15" one since you'll be connecting to a monitor. MSI GT60 20D: 4th gen CPU, 780M GPU, great speakers, gaming network card, backlit keyboard, gold flashed audio ports for the extra bling hehe.