Upgrading Alienware M17x

[parakeet]

I have an original m17x, with an Nvidia 260M GPU. I got skyrim, but the FPS is terrible, even after several performance tweaks. I really want to upgrade to one of the newer ones, preferably something like the 560M (now that i have a chance). I have no experience with computers, and don't know how to swap cards. I saw this video about opening the alienware, but i'm not sure if I should (M17x Teardown Video1 of 2 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube).

Would the 560M be compatible with my computer? (if not, what would be the best available?)

Also, should i try to swap them myself? what store can i pay to swap my cards for me?

Thanks.

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System Information
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Time of this report: 12/24/2011, 00:46:07
Machine name: DANIEL-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.110408-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: M17x
BIOS: Ver A05 1.00PARTTBLZ
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P8700 @ 2.53GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4094MB RAM
Page File: 2048MB used, 6138MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 260M
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0618&SUBSYS_02A11028&REV_A2
Display Memory: 2799 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1007 MB
Shared Memory: 1791 MB
Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: SEC5442
Native Mode: 1440 x 900(p) (60.091Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,n vwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.15.0011.8664 (English)
Driver Version: 8.15.11.8664
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/6/2009 16:16:00, 9492480 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4558-11CF-4052-AA2202C2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0618
SubSys ID: 0x02A11028
Revision ID: 0x00A2

[SoloCamo]

Hello and welcome to TechIMO!


The first thing I've got to ask here, is when you mention that the performance is terrible, what settings are you running at?

I'm running a MUCH slower cpu with half the memory and a video card comparable to yours, if not slightly, slightly faster.

I can run med-high settings just fine at the resolution of 1366x768.

Being that Skyrim is not so much GPU bound, but CPU bound, what are your framerates? And where do you notice the worst performance?

Again, your CPU is far superior to mine, so I'd imagine this may be a potential driver/software issue. Is the game fully patched?

[Taxmancometh]

If the FPS is terrible you might have running processes in the background. Do you stop your anti-virus software before playing the game for example.

[ShyguyXPC]

Nvidia drivers updated to latest version? Game Fully Patched? (there's been 2 or 3 patches for it since release already)


DirectX fully updated?


another issue could be that your running a 5400RPM Hard drive in that laptop which will cause issues as well, slower load times, especially if you have other junk running in the background like Instant Messengers, music, web browsers, etc.

as far as Swapping cards, even now days few Alienware and other laptops even ALLOW that to be done.

I doubt you will be able to, in past years they experimented with the concept, but its just not something really viable, since they have to take into account changing power consumptions, heat dissipation, and other factors.


Though this model may be able to upgrade, but its selection of upgrades will be slim, as you will probably need to buy from Dell, and the prices will be insane for the upgrade, far more than you would pay for a desktop version.


From what I've been seeing online, that GTX 260M should be able to play Skyrim fine, something tells me its software, or similar issue going on here.


If your not running a 7200RPM drive, I'd see if you can upgrade that first, and install one in the laptop to run the game and system off of. Or add a 2nd drive and install skyrim to it.

Also what Speed DDR3 RAM are you running, you could opt to upgrade that to faster RAM as well.

Another thing, you could also track down a 2nd GTX 260M GPU module and see if you can run the 2 in SLI, since that laptop was supposed to be able to have Dual GTX 280M's in SLI on top models.

[parakeet]

I'm running on low, 1440x900, then turned off AA, AF, FXAA, set textures, shadows, blur to low, turned off Vsync, and running Acceleration Layer mod. latest patches. getting around 22 fps in solitude, and it gets really bad in foggy dungeons (15-20fps), water, fire. oh and i have to run directX9, because my card doesn't support 11 (not sure if that's a factor).

object fade-8
actor fade-9
grass fade-0
specularity fade-2
light fade-2
item fade-9

i usually don't have other programs on. there aren't any messengers or anything, and i use my old notebook just to play audiobooks while i play skyrim on this one. also, i tried to turn off non-essential processes by checking online if they're ok to disable.

not sure bout my drivers, will go driver hunting now.

also, excuse my noob-ness, i don't know how to check ddr drives. on my disk drives list, it says
-Toshiba mk3256gsyf scsi
and
-wdc wd32 00bjkt-75f4t scsi
I haven't seen anything on the properties list, but i might have overlooked something.

thanks so far.

[SoloCamo]

Is the game patched as well? The lastest is version 1.3?

I know a few settings made a big difference for me in frame rates (more so outdoors, but it helped slightly indoors) was putting the view distance to the following;

Object fade - 5
Actor fade - 7
Grass fade 7
Spec Fade - 2
Light Fade - 20
Item Fade - 3
Distant Object Detail - Low
Object Detail Fade - On (checkmarked)

In detail I run high texture quality, radial blur is high, shadow detail low (anything above low kills performance on mid range cpu's) and decal quality to medium.

With these settings i'm always above 30fps indoors and most of the time locked at near 60.

__

The only reason I mention that is that my CPU is a good deal weaker, and your gpu is roughly about the same as mine power wise.

__

From the research I did on those drives, they both should be 7200rpm. In which case, try to defrag the HDD's.

Also, let us know if the drivers make any difference. And of course as always, remove the old drivers, reboot, then install the new.

This said, one more thing, when the framerates are that low, do you ever get spikes where it's hitting higher? Or is it consistent.

For example, if you put the view into a distance, the frames surely will drop, however, if you run up to a wall and stare a simple texture, do the frame rates increase?

[parakeet]

WOW ok I updated my driver, but it got choppier. then, i set the game to your settings, then somehow it hovers 30 outdoor and 60 indoor! =] TAHHAAHHHAAANNNK YOOOUUUUUUU XDXDXD

so how do i go about removing old drivers? i just installed the new one, but i don't mind uninstalling and reinstalling if it helps.

and yes, it spikes to 60 and stays when looking at simple textures.

[parakeet]

oh, and patch 1.3.7.0 and 0% fragmented on all disks

[JPMiller]

There are likely many things you can do to tweak your settings etc.

Run GameBooster, to turn off all unnecessary processes before gaming...
run CCleaner, Malwarebytes, and Super Antispyware to clean up any stray spyware that could slow things down...
Defrag... (Auslogics)
Update all drivers after using DriverSweeper...

[SoloCamo]

WOW ok I updated my driver, but it got choppier. then, i set the game to your settings, then somehow it hovers 30 outdoor and 60 indoor! =] TAHHAAHHHAAANNNK YOOOUUUUUUU XDXDXD

so how do i go about removing old drivers? i just installed the new one, but i don't mind uninstalling and reinstalling if it helps.

and yes, it spikes to 60 and stays when looking at simple textures.

Glad it worked out for you!

I suggest downloading "Driver Cleaner pro" to get rid of the old drivers. But it can also be done through Windows.

Regardless since you have an install running on it, I would suggest uninstalling both then installing the latest.

Should help smooth it out further and of course if still an issue, don't be afraid to ask

[parakeet]

awww so i was playing again, then my computer suddenly crashed after an hour. no blue screen, no freezing, just went off. this happened before when i played with high settings. my previous low setup never crashed, though (after 3 hours continuous). my laptop isn't particularly hot, either.

[SoloCamo]

awww so i was playing again, then my computer suddenly crashed after an hour. no blue screen, no freezing, just went off. this happened before when i played with high settings. my previous low setup never crashed, though (after 3 hours continuous). my laptop isn't particularly hot, either.

Interesting, does this only happen with Skyrim?

Also, if you aren't or haven't tried already, see if it happens while plugged into the outlet, or without, or both of course.

And when you note it crashes, it literally shuts down, or does it reboot?

[parakeet]

well skyrim is the only recent game i got. the others are older than 2005, so it doesn't take too much. i can only play with the outlet power because the battery life is short now. it completely shuts down and i have to press the power button to get it back up.