Gaming laptop processor massively underperforming

Nazsha

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Hi,

I have a Alienware M15x laptop with system specs I have until now considered to be quite good. I recently had to reinstall Windows, a bad Torrent download corrupted my computer and I didn't have a Windows Recovery Disc. Many people tell me not to care about the Windows Experience Index, but here's the rating: It used to be 6.0, 6.6, 5.5, 5.9 and 5,9. Now it's 4.1, 6.4, 5.1, 5.5 and 5.9. The one that has lowered the most is the Processor component. Now, if my computer's performance hadn't been affected, I wouldn't have bothered. However, it did. I used to be capable of running GTA 4 at maximum settings at 1980x1080 without lag, Crysis 1 and 2 at medium-high settings at that same resolution, as well as many games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock, Borderlands, F.E.A.R. 1 and 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 at varying quality settings. Now, even at the lowest settings I can't run any of these games without a very noticeable stutter, often making it impossible for me to play these games.

I have a Page File set for my two disk drives (I have only one Hard Drive, partitioned to separate my games from the rest of the system).

I have Avast! as my antivirus, and I regularly scan my computer with Avast!, Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware and Windows Defender, but I never find anything. I also use CCleaner often to clean up the registry.

What made my laptop cease to be as powerful as it was before? Was it my reinstalling of Windows? It's really getting on my nerves, seeing that I could play Crysis 2 and it was silk-smooth, but now even games like The Ball, which isn't especially resource-consuming, often stutters and lags when something's happening on-screen.
Is there something I can do? Did this happen to anyone else?
Also, if you're wondering, no, I didn't let my computer overheat by using a graphics-expensive application for many hours at a time.

Thank you,
Nazsha
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
Hi,

I have a Alienware M15x laptop with system specs I have until now considered to be quite good. I recently had to reinstall Windows, a bad Torrent download corrupted my computer and I didn't have a Windows Recovery Disc. Many people tell me not to care about the Windows Experience Index, but here's the rating: It used to be 6.0, 6.6, 5.5, 5.9 and 5,9. Now it's 4.1, 6.4, 5.1, 5.5 and 5.9. The one that has lowered the most is the Processor component. Now, if my computer's performance hadn't been affected, I wouldn't have bothered. However, it did. I used to be capable of running GTA 4 at maximum settings at 1980x1080 without lag, Crysis 1 and 2 at medium-high settings at that same resolution, as well as many games such as Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock, Borderlands, F.E.A.R. 1 and 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 at varying quality settings. Now, even at the lowest settings I can't run any of these games without a very noticeable stutter, often making it impossible for me to play these games.

I have a Page File set for my two disk drives (I have only one Hard Drive, partitioned to separate my games from the rest of the system).

I have Avast! as my antivirus, and I regularly scan my computer with Avast!, Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware and Windows Defender, but I never find anything. I also use CCleaner often to clean up the registry.

What made my laptop cease to be as powerful as it was before? Was it my reinstalling of Windows? It's really getting on my nerves, seeing that I could play Crysis 2 and it was silk-smooth, but now even games like The Ball, which isn't especially resource-consuming, often stutters and lags when something's happening on-screen.
Is there something I can do? Did this happen to anyone else?
Also, if you're wondering, no, I didn't let my computer overheat by using a graphics-expensive application for many hours at a time.

Thank you,
Nazsha


All of the symptoms may point to a driver (video?). Performance, latency, lag.

I would check with this free latency checker. DPC Latency Checker

And I would re-install all the key drivers from the mfr, dont let win 7 install, or use a driver installer app.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavillion dv-7 1005 Tx
OS
Win 8 Release candidate 8400
CPU
[email protected]
Memory
4 gigs
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia 9600M
Sound Card
HD built-in
Monitor(s) Displays
17" Wxga
Screen Resolution
1440x900
Cooling
none
Internet Speed
45Mb down 5Mb up
Try going to alienware and download and install the original video driver for the laptop, sometimes the upgraded drivers do not work as fast as the original from the manufacturer...
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP 17-ak0xx, dv7 3173nr
OS
Win7 Home Premium x64 W10Pro&Home
CPU
A12 9720p 4+8 TurionII M520
Motherboard
HP 3839
Memory
6GB 8GB
Graphics Card(s)
R7
Monitor(s) Displays
24" sa550
Screen Resolution
1600x900 1920x1080
Mouse
Logitechx2
Internet Speed
120Mb/s down 12up
Hi,
Thanks for the fast replies!
The DPC Latency Checker oscillates between the high greens and the low yellows, but I don't know what that means concretely. I'm currently downloading a video card driver from Drivers & Downloads. I'll report back when I'm done installing, but just to say, I didn't find the original drivers on the Alienware website.

Nazsha
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
The video card driver didn't change anything...
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
Did you remember to load the latest Intel chipset drivers first?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Uh.
Let's say that I'm not very well-versed in computer stuff.
I have to install the chipset drivers first? I installed them in random order from the Dell website, sould I re-download them and install them in a certain order?
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
I'd get the latest from Intel's website and install them. It may not be important anymore, but there was a time of a few years that the chipset drivers were supposed to be installed first. I always do them first from a logical standpoint, since they deal with motherboard level peripherals, instead of parts connected to the motherboard.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Well, in the Intel Driver Update Utility, it tells me that the Intel Chipset Software is up to date, and I can't seem to re-download it, or just re-install it. It did however tell me that my Wired and Wireless Networking drivers were out of date, I'm currently installing the newest ones.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
Oh well, nothing I have done has changed anything regarding the performance. I had hopes that disabling the Intel SpeedStep thing in the BIOS would change something, but apparently not.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Alienware m15x
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @1.60 GHz
Memory
8.00 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce GTX 260M
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