Stevenxowens792

Damage, no damage. The cpu will throttle if it gets too hot. My gpu (i think) starts to throttle at 78c but I need to test more. I could be mistaken. so please don't take that as fact until I can prove it. Thanks! The system is made to be pushed. So I have no worries about actual system damage. Each component is well within allowed working specs.

Kris - My results. (These fluctuate slightly depending on game/benchmark and percentage of utilization). *Its important to note that I repasted my m14x at the END of May, 6 months ago. I am a big believer in re-pasting twice each year so I am due! I use Shin Etsu and have signed up to try the diamond. System: I7-2630QM, Nvidia 555mGT, 4gb ram-stock, 2x60+64gb SSD drives, 720p screen, bios is a01 stock. My results (These results were taken while sitting on the belkin lap-pad WITHOUT the extra fan being enabled) Normal - My GPU at normal clocks (no oc) and 99-100 percent utilization is 69-71c. Overclock - My GPU at 750/1000 (my standard OC) and 99-100 percent utilization is 74c-75c. Normal - My CPU at normal clocks (non turbo) at 100 percent utilization is 82-84c. Normal - My CPU at normal clocks (turbo enabled) at 100 percent utilization is 96c. (highest I was able to hit) Overclock - My CPU at overclock (turbo enabled with increased turbo settings) at 100 percent utilization exceeds 100c. Its my verdict that i need to spend an evening very soon replacing the paste on my machine. Its due. I hope these help you out. I can tell you right now that if you both OC the GPU and increase the Turbo settings on CPU you will most likely exceed the 100c threshold in demanding games. The thermal protection should reduce the cpu settings immediately if its reached as it does on mine. A game to try is Crysis 2. Witcher 2 is another one. These push the system very hard. I used the latest beta drivers from nvidia to test. Please understand since the CPU and GPU both sit no the same thermal copper plate that when you OC either one it increases the temp on the other. I am going to perform some more tests later to see if I can add some more value. Thanks, StevenX

Kris - good post.. I will post some details when i get to the house later tonight to help. The other thing is to add whether or not you have repasted your system or if you are using stock TIM. Thanks!

Lets help decipher the numbers here. From what I can tell, the I5 can turbo 2 cores to 2.7ghz. It can turbo 1 physical to 3.0ghz. So if you turn off turbo, with a base clock of 2.4ghz, .3ghz is not too big of a jump. I could easily see a difference of 3 to 4 fps at that margin. For I7-2630qm owners, at stock bios settings, we maintain a multiplier of x26, 2.6ghz at most all times during gaming and thats 4 cores (plus 4 hyper). At 2 cores we can go up to 2.8ghz and 1 core to 2.9ghz. When we disable turbo completely, we go to our baseclock of 2.0ghz. Thats a huge drop for us of .6ghz. I think this might explain the numbers we are seeing. Im going to test this on wprime real fast to make sure these are 100 percent correct... (edited post to reflect findings)

Sorry, please help me understand the issue a little better. You are saying that you close the lid and then re-open it and the track pad stays disabled both in function and in alienware colors? What drivers are you using (the latest updates from Dell/Alienware)? It maybe a power setting type of issue or something as simple as a un-install driver and reinstall. Please provide us some more details and what you have already done and maybe we can get this knocked out. Best Wishes, StevenX

I need to go out and take a look. I think I got some type of article in Game informer mag but I need to check it out. My personal preference is a slower pace, more team oriented shooter. I like the ARMA series. Sometimes these are a little too slow.

Gears - by increasing the settings you are effectively putting them back to high or ultra.

@Frenzy - I would do searches on Windows 7 optimization for clean-up. (Msconfig Startup, Services, Visual Optimizations) etc... In Windows you can always tweak items to make games run a little better. As for M14x bios tweaks, we have threads on different turbo settings. Challenge is heat vs cooling in this little rig so as you make adjustments pay careful attention to heat. Look at some of our threads and then hit us up with questions. Best Wishes, StevenX

@Ninja - With the I5 can I ask you to please do a screenshot comparison between turbo off and on? Thanks!

Intro: I decided to do some testing today to see what type of impact cpu speed and threads has on skyrim. Methodology: Choose a location with lots of fog, running water, particles and test cpu impact on performance. Test 1. GPU - 752/1002 CPU - STOCK WITH NO TURBO @X20 MULTI (Core parking disabled) all threads utilized. http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6705/tesv2011111313360148.jpg TEST 2 GPU - 752/1002 CPU - STOCK WITH TURBO ENABLED @26 MULTI (Core parking disabled) all threads utilized http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/6065/tesv2011111313371038.jpg TEST 3 GPU - 752/1002 CPU - STOCK WITH TURBO ENABLED @26 (Core parking disabled) emulating I5 setup with 2 logical/physical cores and 2 hyper threads http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/3843/tesv2011111313400213.jpg TEST 4 GPU - 752/1002 CPU - STOCK WITH TURBO ENABLED @26 (Core parking disabled) emulating quad core setup with 4 logical/physical cores and 0 hyper threads (No difference from 8 threads (hyper threading enabled) so no reason for screenshot) Summary - I would like to see more testing from other cpu offerings from the m14x. My initial thoughts are that the number of threads does offer a slight benefit on performance. However it CAN'T be denied that actual CPU speed is even more important if you are using a mobile I3/I5/I7 setup with 4 threads or greater. I would really like to see some speed comparisons for 4 and 8 threads at 3ghz and 3.4 ghz. *note* Intel denotes on the processor overviews as cpu CORES with hyper threading technology (either enabled or disabled *note* To emulate I5 setup simply set the affinity to the first 4 threads (0,1,2,3) This should be core 0, plus hyper, core 2, plus hyper. Setting the affinity to 0,2,4,6 disables the hyper threading and allows only the 4 physical cores.

Good post Ninja! TBH i just haven't had any issues at all with performance. With Ultra settings and shadows on high (blur low as I can't stand it) I get 50+ outside at all times and in dungeons, tombs, burials, etc.. I get 60-125 with most of the time at post 100. I was hoping someone would do a carefully constructed review of performance vs system vs cpu scaling vs gpu scaling but I have yet to see it. I can tell you for certain that going from 590/900 to 750/1000 nets me 10fps increase. That's huge in my book. I haven't spent the time with cpu but I have noticed my threads utilization increase from 5 to 8. So I wonder what changed. Im going to BET money that most lazy websites will use the intro sequence to bench and they absolutely should not as it doesn't indicate actual game performance at all. Just my .02 Best Wishes, StevenX

This game is very TANK LIKE in comparison to MMO's. I has to LOS behind a pillar on a huge boss fight and it made me think or Iron Tomb in Rift. LOL

My Settings recommendation for the m14x are as follows... Set global settings to ultra @ 1366x768 Set Blur to low Set Shadows to high Disable AA/AF Game looks AMAZING FPS > 50 at all times. In first long dungeon with waterfalls and spells over 100fps at times. Good Luck, StevenX

Im going to try Skyrim first with the WHQL driver first before trying this one. Im just curious to see how it does. Thanks so much for posting!

Here is a new benchmark I found on the web. Look at the testing methodology. They are going by SP only... Battlefield 3 Performance: 30+ Graphics Cards, Benchmarked : Battlefield 3 Reinvigorates PC Gaming

@gladiator - as posted in a thread "somewhere in the Zeros and Ones that make up techinferno" my handle is XcessiveForce33. Feel free to add me and your welcome to join the sessions Im in but as Brian will tell you a lot of times im so focused I may not even know your on my team for a while.

I need your system details please. To disable network throttling. (This helps ALL network or online games) 1. Start -> run -> Regedit 2. Choose File -> Export > then export your registry in a safe please in case you mess something up. ( you can import it later) 3. Choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> MICROSOFT -> WINDOWS NT -> MULTIMEDIA -> SYSTEM PROFILE 4. Here you will see a setting on the right hand side called "Network Throttle Index" Double Click the actual word NetworkThrottlingIndex. Notice you will see a field called Value Data and a BASE called Hexidecimal and Decimal. In the Value Data change it to read ffffffff. Again that is ffffffff. (that is 8 x f) 5. Make sure you hit ok and then shut the machine down gracefully. (meaning do a full start -> shutdown -> then power off. Then boot back up. viola. Good luck, StevenX

No lag spikes for me unless the actual host server is experiencing bandwidth issues. Then everyone complains about it. Remember to disable your network throttling in your windows registry. This helps a lot with network games. (trick of the trade wink wink)

Gladiator - Since i have thoroughly tested this so far, here is what I would do. Download throttlestop which is an awesome application. While playing BF3 set throttlestop to disable your turbo. You wont need it and it just increases temps. (assuming your playing on an I7). The cpu temp will now stay around 82 to 83c and you can keep your GPU overclocked at 752/1002 which is were i keep it. I have benched both sp and mp and the extra 600mhz from turbo doesn't seem to offer any increase in FPS. I mean zero. So give that a try and see how it goes. Good luck, StevenX

Cheers Game - GTA4 is a mess on any PC. It will play on the m14x but it was just not designed for PC. You can fight it, but its probably just going to frustrate you . Splinter cell works fine, street fighter 4 smokes on the m14x. BF3 rocks, im sure skyrim will as well. The m14x is a mid-tier gaming notebook. Thanks for joining techinferno and let us know what you decide to get. Best Wishes, StevenX

@Unreal - each state is different really. it gets more complicated as you move into discipline in relation to schools and so forth as well. I know it has to be bad if its seven minutes long and everyone is raging about it. It would probably send me over the edge and cause me to drive to Aransas pass and get some frontier justice so Im not going to watch it. I spank our son on the butt. Its never more than once and its never close to hard enough to leave a bruise. I try to hit diaper more than anything to make a loud pop. The goal, my goal, is to get the attention of our son and try to explain that the behavior or choice was bad. Like wise I give as much praise as possible when the behavior or choice is good. Its challenging with an Autistic son but I do my best. I know its for each parent to decide how to punish their kids. I just dont support beating or abuse of any sort. Mental or physical. I know I had my ass beat by my step father (mom's ex husband) when I was a kid. Being that he was a former marine. It was life in the Corp when I was a kid. Swore I wouldn't be like that to my son, and i'm not.

Yeah.. I saw this article since she is special needs (cerebral palsy). I haven't watched the video as Im afraid its just going to get me beyond angry. But I do know they have made him take a 2 week leave and will hopefully get him fired and never work for the judicial system again. The only problem I have is that this happened in 2004 and should have been made public back then.

Here is a thread to list some 'helpful' things to get you kick started in BF3. 1. Know your maps!!! (google them if needed) 2. Equipment should cater to your play style and map. Don't use 6x scopes for small maps. Stick with quick acquisition or open sights for small maps. Likewise on larger conquest maps, use more powerful scopes and switch to pistols when entering buildings. The Tac lights give you away but work well in small spaces. 3. Partner with your team members. Pair up and follow someone around for a while. You may not get all the kills but if your smart you may be able to cover them, learn the maps and offer support. (This tip changes as you get better) Eventually you want to space out on larger maps and group for building ambushes from different entrances. (Flanking etc...) 4. Before immediately going for the kill think about the following... (Do I have cover? Are other enemies around me? If I get the kill do I have enough time to recover for the next enemy?" 5. Use headphones with virtual surround sound. You know why some people have very high K/D ratio's??? Because they are listening for enemies approaching. You should do the same! 6. Check your radar often and HIT THAT Q BUTTON ALL THE TIME. You may get spots even when you don't see someone in open. 7. When you spawn in on an objective or player THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS PRONE! Do not turn off the light, do not throw a grenade, GO PRONE! I can't tell you how many times i have spawn in behind someone and popped a camper. 7(a) If you are spawning into an objective and keep getting killed then spawn at a different objective or back at the RU. Don't continue to give away free points to the other team. 8. If you are losing on a server, over and over, switch to another server. Some teams can not be saved. Don't attempt to save them. Go to another server. Its a pain but its better than getting overwhelmed by Team Suck Syndrome. 9. Communicate with your team. Call out campers and positions if you can't spot them. Warn others about spawn points. Play with confidence. When you act confused, your going to get popped. So don't do it. 10. Support your team members! Lay down some ammo for others to pickup. Provide some healing. Repair your vehicles. Common sense stuff that others completely forget to do. (However don't revive others in front of enemies just to get shot again... that's just annoying) 11. Try to play the objectives and capture bases when you can. Use cover to your advantage. Try not to move in the open. If your planning on taking an objective call for some assistance (helo, vehicles or team mates). 12. When attacking enemies weapon control is key. So for closer enemies you can spray more, for mid to far enemies, short taps on the fire button to shoot in bursts. As you get better weapons, you can change the fire modes from (Single, Burst, Auto). Last, I don't consider myself a pro. My stats are certainly not the greatest. If your new, these might help you out a bit. I love this game so far. Over 21 hours invested I think at this point. Best Wishes and Good Luck! StevenX XcessiveForce33 (origin and steam id)

Ninja - others have complained that the 450GTS will not play BF3 well and all of us on here are playing the game flawlessly. Now I don't know what the author considers as smooth but let me see if I can find the link... Maybe it was a forum post in the PC EA BF3 Threads. i know the guy said he had a 450gts or something like that and was complaining of performance. Said it was not even getting 20fps on low. And I was thinking... put the crack pipe away step back from the keyboard. Even at 1080p the Nvidia555mGT should be able to play on low settings at 40fps or so.

Love Manson. I still love his version of Tainted Love. Listened to it just yesterday as a matter of fact.