j9x.inca

Hi guys! My first post here! Okay, so I recently bought an Alienware M14x R2 running:

Windows 8

i7 -630Qm @2.40 GHz

8 GB Ram

1 TB hdd + 32gb mSata for caching (already enabled)

and 2GB Nvidia Geforce GT 650M DDR5

Okay, so I'm pretty happy so far with its performance, and playing games and stuffs. Lately, I installed Battlefield 3, surprisingly, I always seem to get horrible fps drops. I tried changing the settings but it doesnt seem to work. The fps starts with 60 goes down to 40-30 and suddenly 3-6 fps every 2-3 minutes or so at Mid settings.! NBA2K13 works very well with a constant 60fps everytime. Any ideas what should I do? Update drivers? I'm currently on 314.07, few days ago, I updated it to 314.22 and had serious problems, LMAO, after the login screen, after the metro start menu shows up, it's impossible to proceed to desktop, It blinks and restarts. I'm not a techy guy, but I somehow managed to fix it by going to removing the drivers while in safe mode and installed a new one, it worked perfectly.

Also read somewhere that it maybe due to overheating? So the gpu underclocks itself to prevent itself from getting fried?

I Also read somewere that GT 650M DDR5 got some amazing OCing capabilities. Interested, I read more threads and found out that its still "locked" so limits the OCing only up to (135GHz). "Unlocking" it while let you have up to (1+GHz?) and access to several hidden features as well. Unfortunately, I have A09 bios and found no mods. I found unlocked A10s& A11s instead. Never tried flashing my bios and I'm obviously afraid to make mistakes so I will probbaly look into that after I get some assistance maybe?

Anyways, I'm using MSI afterburner to OC it to (been playing around 100MHz-135MHz lately) and Memory Clock to 500MHz.

I dont see any improvements at all but problems instead. (The FPS drops while playing BF3 and "Sometimes" on Dragon Nest)

It's not probably an overheating issue, I always check the Temp using the Kombuster that came with the afterburner. 60-68'C all the time, and I've never seen it reach to 70'C.

Anyways, Thanks for reading, and hope you guys can give me some tips and help. Thanks

Hey I had the exact same problem. I wrote a guide on how to fix it. Includes how to flash BIOS too unlock more overclocking power instead of the +135 limit on GPU. This guide will fix the FPS drop as well its due to PhysX drivers, the guide will tell you how to install the legacy drivers as well.

http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m14x/3214-m14x-r2-physx-fps-drop-fix.html

Also, If you are using UEFI to boot instead of BIOS switch your BIOS options on boot to Legacy for flashing modded BIOS. After your done flashing switch it back to UEFI, Disable Legacy ROM, disable secure boot

FOR LINUX DUAL BOOTERS

disable Fast Boot for Windows 8

If your using a bootloader such as rEFInd then you will have to boot using a linux usb such as Arch ISO on usb

---> mount /dev/(partition linux is installed) /mnt

--> arch-chroot /mnt

--> efibootmgr -c -g -d /dev/sda(device EFI files are on) -p (partition number efi files are on) -w -L "rEFInd" -l '\EFI\refind\refind_x64.efi'

---> exit

----> reboot

And your rEFInd bootloader will work like normal again.

I fixed it. Wasn't throttling. I wrote a guide in case someone else has the same problem: http://forum.techinferno.com/alienware-m14x/3214-m14x-r2-physx-fps-drop-fix.html

When I'm posting testing version and you decided to use them, then I also expect something in return... Feedback!

Else I can't improve these mods, I don't have an M14x. If I don't get feedback and some data I see no need in posting public testing versions but will rather give them to users of whom I know that they will provide me with the information I need.Thanks.

EDIT:

New way of flashing for versions labelled with [FPT] - Refer to the "Dos flashing" instructions found in this post for the tools and details.

If you're going for the A11 mod then I recommend first flashing A11 stock, and then following the instructions in the link above.

*******

Current test versions:M14x R2 - BIOS A10 - unlocked BIOS with 650m @ 950MHz core / 1400MHz memory for 3d clocks. Increased overclocking limits. No boost.

M14x R2 - BIOS A11 - unlocked BIOS with 650m @ 950MHz core / 1400MHz memory for 3d clocks. Increased overclocking limits. No boost.

This is to make life easier on everyone flashing the M14xR2 with the A11 Modded bios. Included in zip is instructions and HP USB DISK FORMAT TOOL with the DOS files to create a bootable DOS usb stick easy for flashing the modded bios. Thanks

Modded A11 Bios Easy.zip

Are your games running great at 50-60 FPS and then FPS randomly drops?

- First make sure your GPU/CPU temperature are good. My GPU temp sits at 68 degrees celcius max, and my CPU sits at 89-90 degrees celcius max.

- Make sure your CPU/GPU are not throttling. If you look at MSI Afterburner or similar monitoring software your clock speeds should not jump down and up repeatedly.

-Both of the above good? Then continue below

This is for the Alienware M14X R2 obviously because it's in this forum. I was having problems with FPS drops due to PhysX, I tried everything as far as settings go and overclocking/underclocking. My temperatures were great and so it wasn't throttling. The following really helped:

1) Flash to most updated DELL bios A11 http://ftp.dell.com/FOLDER01271863M/1/M14R2A11WIN.exe (do not use modded A11 BIOS from this forum just yet!)

2) Uninstall NVIDIA drivers completely, MAKE SURE PHYSX IS UNINSTALLED.

2a) IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PHYSX UNINSTALLING ONLY: Download the most recent Drivers | GeForce (314.22- 25th Mar2013). Run the EXTRACTOR ONLY, EXIT OUT OF THE INSTALLER. Go to C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\314.22\Win8_WinVista_Win7_64\International\PhysX use the installer to remove PhysX.

STEP 3 IS RECOMMENDED NOT REQUIRED****************************

3) -Download Guru3D - Driver Sweeper (no installer) download . ( I know this isn't necessary because NVIDIA now has Clean install but I do it for stability reasons.

-Also download CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download .

-Install CCleaner.

-Reboot into Windows Safe Mode (google it if you don't know how, it's different for Windows 8)

- Run DriverSweeper and clean all of the NVIDIA drivers EXCEPT NVIDIA CHIPSET

-Run CCleaner and fix all registry error (do this a few times in a row to make sure)

-Reboot into normal mode

**************************************************************

4) Run the new NVIDIA drivers installation (314.22), It will extract then open the installation.

-Select Custom Install

-Make sure everything EXCEPT PhysX is selected. Also Make sure Clean Install is selected.

-Let NVIDIA reboot computer

-After Computer reboots NVIDIA will finish install and ask to reboot again. Go ahead.

5) Now it is time to install PhysX.

-Download the following PhysX installers:

NVIDIA DRIVERS 9.12.0613

-Install it

-Navigate to this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine

-Copy all these files to a safe folder such as in a new folder on your Desktop.

-Run the same installer you just downloaded (0613 driver) and use it to UNINSTALL PhysX. Reboot if necessary.

-Now copy those files I told you to keep safe back into the same directory. The PhysX folder and Engine folder might not be there so remake them manually, spell correctly. Then copy the files into that Engine folder.

-Now go to: C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\314.22\Win8_WinVista_Win7_64\International\PhysX

-Run the PhysX_9.12.1031_SystemSoftware.exe

- This will install PhysX 1031.

- Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Engine , the files from the old PhysX (0613) should be there still along with the new PhysX 1031 drivers

- NOW YOU HAVE PhysX Legacy Support

6) OPTIONAL STEPS:

The above fixed my problems. But these following steps should help you as well:

1) - Flash your VBIOS using slv7's A11 Modded bios. I have attached a zip file of everything you need in one to make life easier.

Follow the README ive included in the zip file to flash your BIOS. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ALREADY RUNNING THE DELL A11 BIOS FIRST!

2) Upon flashing your BIOS or not Disable Turbo Boost under performance options on your BIOS

Thank You, and I hope this helps people that had my same problem

GPU thermal throttling is my first guess.

My GPU temp never goes above 68 celcius and my cpu never goes above 89 or 90 celcius

Hardware:

Alienware M14X R2

i7 3740 QM

Nvidia GT 650M 2GB DDR5

16 GB CORSAIR Vengeance RAM (2 DIMMS)

Running on Windows 8 64 bit

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

My problem is that when I run some games such as Borderlands 2, I have great FPS about 50-60 at all times and my GPU temp NEVER goes above 67 degrees celsius. My GPU usage will go up and stay at 99% most of the time during gameplay and my fps will randomly drop to like 6-10 fps for a few seconds almost like lag, then it will rise back up to the regular 50-60 fps. and 5-10 min later it will drop again to a low fps. Quite a few games do this and idk why. I have the latest Nvidia drivers and i have Antialiasing on to save GPU power. I have PhysX set to Auto (i have tried switching to see if it makes a difference). I have my card currently overclocked to the best it could be +200 to the core clock, and +800 to the memory clock for a total of 1150 Mhz Core Clock and 2800 Mhz memory clock. I have used 3d Mark to get to this clock. My physics score seems to be low compared to my graphics score which concerns me.

Here is my 3d mark score: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3740QM Processor,Alienware M14xR2 score: P12206 3DMarks

Please help, is it my physics score that is the problem, if so why am i having physics problems when i have a new 3rd gen i7 with 16GB ram?

Help! FPS DROPS

Hardware:

Alienware M14X R2

i7 3740 QM

Nvidia GT 650M 2GB DDR5 (underclocked 660)

16 GB CORSAIR Vengeance RAM (2 DIMMS)

Running on Windows 8 64 bit

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

My problem is that when I run some games such as Borderlands 2, I have great FPS about 50-60 at all times and my GPU temp NEVER goes above 67 degrees celsius. My GPU usage will go up and stay at 99% most of the time during gameplay and my fps will randomly drop to like 6-10 fps for a few seconds almost like lag, then it will rise back up to the regular 50-60 fps. and 5-10 min later it will drop again to a low fps. Quite a few games do this and idk why. I have the latest Nvidia drivers and i have Antialiasing on to save GPU power. I have PhysX set to Auto (i have tried switching to see if it makes a difference). I have my card currently overclocked to the best it could be +200 to the core clock, and +800 to the memory clock for a total of 1150 Mhz Core Clock and 2800 Mhz memory clock. I have used 3d Mark to get to this clock. My physics score seems to be low compared to my graphics score which concerns me.

Here is my 3d mark score: http://www.3dmark.com/cg/295055

Please help, is it my physics score that is the problem, if so why am i having physics problems when i have a new 3rd gen i7 with 16GB ram?