BIOS Core Voltage Mode Un-changeable + General Performance Issues

Hi, 

I have had my Alienware 17 for some time now, and let me specify that it is a laptop.

Recently, I have noticed that the option to change the core voltage mode in the BIOS has been "greyed out" as they say.

Additionally, I have been recently experiencing performance issues in only mildly intensive video games, and I am frustrated by my capable system's inability to properly perform. I am hereby seeking general advice and expository "anecdotes" so to speak that may assist me on a broad scale, which of course is the nature of my difficulty.