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Need Help. DS x17 Laptop Underperforming?

Post Date: 2016-07-05
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HAWK View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		  Quote HAWK Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Need Help. DS x17 Laptop Underperforming?
    Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 10:51am
Hello. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but, about 3 years ago I purchased my first Digital Storm laptop: the x17.
Order Contents:

- -- FREE UPGRADE: 8GB 1600MHz to 16GB 1600MHz Memory Quantity: 1 $0.00

System Configuration:
Chassis Model: Digital Storm x17 Laptop (Model: 9170)
Display: 17.3 Inch (16:9) (Resolution: 1920 x 1080) (Matte Surface) LED-Backlit Display
Processor: Intel Core i7 3740QM (2.7 GHz Turbo Mode to 3.7Ghz) (Quad Core) (6MB Cache) <b></b>
Thermal Compound: Premium IC Diamond CPU and GPU Thermal Compound (Reduces Thermal & Laptop Noise) <b></b>
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz (2x4GB Sticks)
Primary Hard Drive: Intel 240GB SSD (520 Series) (SATA 6Gb/s) <b></b>
Secondary Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM (SATA 3Gb/s) <b></b>
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Player (Blu-Ray 6x) & DVD/CD Writer <b></b>
Wireless Card: Intel Ultimate-N 6300 Wireless LAN Module <b></b>
Video Card(s): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M 4GB with NVIDIA Optimus Technology <b></b>
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 8 (64-Bit Edition) <b></b>
Warranty Plan: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty

I love this computer, but from when I first bought it I have always wondered if it was underperforming and I missed something. I looked at the benchmarks for my GTX680M card here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-680M.72679.0.html and my GPU performance doesn't add up to those benchmarks. For example, I should be getting around 50fps in Titanfall on Ultra, but I struggled to get 60fps on low. As far as my Titanfall FPS goes, I remember being able to play on around Medium/High and then one day I could barely maintain those settings. Using CPUID Hardware Monitor, I notice my laptop CPU temps reach around 100 degrees Celsius(104 degrees max) when gaming. I messaged DS about this and got an email saying that these temps weren't normal but not too high either. The man emailing me recommended I get a laptop cooling pad to take the temps down 5-10 degrees. I have not been able to get a cooling pad but even still the laptop shouldn't out the box hit temps this high right? My house isn't abnormally warm either save for my computer room which can get a little warm. Most games now like Battlefield 4(or even single player games like MGSV) I can't run consistently on anything above low without dropping the resolution to 1366x768 to get higher visual fidelity. I have set the Nvidia Control Panel to use the GTX 608M. Am I doing anything wrong? Someone please help me.

P.S. I did upgrade to Windows 10, but that was only months ago and long after I started having these issues.

Edited by HAWK - 05 Jul 2016 at 10:55am
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 11:12am
So you used to be able to get good fps on high then one day it dropped?

if so then something went wrong.

your cpu temps are very high IMHO, above 85c IMHO is getting in to the territory of too high, at 105c you are way pass my comfortable zone.

your cpu t-junction temp is rated at max of 105c.

Seems to me like something has happened to cpu/cpu cooling, maybe the block is not siting on the cpu correctly, or the fan is getting slow and ready to die or has died.


Check y our gpu temps also.go here and downlaod hwmonitor and monitor all temps: Have a look here and get the stuff you need

Also download realtemp here


take your pc to a room where ambiet temps are good and not warm/hot, then put the cpu underload, for example play one of your games that makes the cpu get hot, and see what the max cpu temps are in that room during play, if its getting pass 90c that is not ok.

after 20 min of constant play give us a screenshot of hwmonitor and realtemp please. If the cpu hits 105c before 20 min then give us the screen shot of hwmonitor and realtemp and then turn game off, you dont' want to run your cpu at 105c.

Edited by DST4ME - 05 Jul 2016 at 11:18am

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HAWK View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		  Quote HAWK Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 11:27am
Thank you for the quick reply. I will take a look at the things you suggested and get back to you soon with the results.
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 11:30am
My pleasure

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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 12:28pm
Laptops are known for sucking in dust and plugging your cooling heat sinks and vents. I would remove the bottom panels, after unplugging and dropping the battery, and blowing out the fans, heat sinks, etc of any dust buildup. Blow through the side vents and also through the internal fans. Short burst with canned air.   

Not sure what temp it throttles back the clock speed which effects performance, but you have to be real close if not there.

Let us know.   
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Alex View Drop Down
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Posts: 16314 		  Quote Alex Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 12:40pm
Correct, I would first try to remove the dust on the vents and heatsinks. I'm fairly sure that is the reason why you're having problems.
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HAWK View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		  Quote HAWK Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 12:42pm
Hey everyone thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to try cleaning the laptop and testing the temps like DST4ME suggested and get back to you all tomorrow with the results.
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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 12:43pm
Sounds like a plan.

Let us know and good luck.    
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2016 at 1:10pm
I was assuming you keep the vents and etc clean and open, they always have to be clean and free to allow air flow.

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HAWK View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		  Quote HAWK Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Jul 2016 at 10:07am
Hello everyone. So I took off the backplate and cleaned my vents. I also tested my computer in a cool environment and here are the results. My computer looked like this right after I closed down Battlefield 4 after playing for 20 or so minutes:



I then loaded up and indie MOBA game called Awesomenauts and Alt+tabbed to look at the temps:



So here are the results that I got. Thoughts?
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DST4ME View Drop Down
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 12:18am
Your temps are too hot.

either your fan/s are not working 100% or at all or your cpu cooler is not sitting correctly on the cpu.

either way you need somebody/DS to look at it and fix it if possible.

contact Alex or management and let them know.

[email protected]

[email protected]

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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 2:31am
When you said the backplate, did you mean the bottom panels ? That's where the cleaning should be.    The fans themselves are under there.

Agree, too hot. Laptops do run hotter but that's not where I would want to be.
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 2:43am
Laptops do run hot but no way should be this close or at your tmax like he is, he is at his cpu's max rating for temps which is never recommended, unless you want to kill your laptop/pc/cpu or shorten its life dramatically.

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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 2:45am
That's what I'm talking about. Too dang hot.   
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 2:49am
Ya here is the emoji his laptop wanted to post for it to portray how it feels:



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bprat22 View Drop Down
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 2:52am
    Poor guy.
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HAWK View Drop Down
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Posts: 37 		  Quote HAWK Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 7:30am
What do I do if I can't send my laptop to DS right now?
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 7:38am
If none of the suggestions worked, call DS support.  They might have something you can try.  If it needs service, it has to be sent to them or you can go to a local shop, but the cost is on you.
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Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 7:50am
A thought.... unplug from AC and drop the battery out of it for several minutes.  Then check it again.   Laptops need the battery removed to flush the mobo, etc of any lingering issues, programs, etc.   

A long shot but nothing to lose.  Big%20Smile
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Posts: 36758 		  Quote DST4ME Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2016 at 9:37am
If its running that hot and you keep suing it, it will make not be able to use it, so get it fixed if you want it around.

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