Hello all, I need some advice and help to get my new X51 i7 running correctly.  Problem I'm having is when I play BF3 in low/medium setting I get about 1.5 games in or about fifteen minutes of play and it freezes up on me.  I have the top of the line X51 and according to Alienware/videos/Nvidia and pretty much everyone who owns the X51 I shouldn't be having these issues.  I can play Skyrim on High/Ultra with zero issues.  Weird I know!

This is what I have done up to this point to try and fix the issue.

1.  Completely removed the Dell Nvida driver (285.66) didn't just remove it in the add/delete program I followed this guys directions on how to completely remove drivers without having to use a driver removal program.  I replaced this driver with the Nvida 296.10 by doing a fresh install.  Didn't fix the problem!  Went thrugh the same process with Nvidia 301.24 Beta driver and this didn't work.

2.  I used three type of connections a DVI hooked directly to the GTX 555, HDMI mini port and I also tried the HDMI to the onboard GPU. Didn't work!

3.  I made sure to switch Optimus off in the Nvidia Control panel to use ONLY the GTX GPU.  Tested both ways with Optimus on and off to Auto select.  Again NO luck.

4.  Removed the side panel to test if the card was just getting too hot without proper air flow.  Same results!

5.  I performed all my test with using GPU-Z to monitor my GPU temps.  What I found was when the GPU would reach 67c this is when is seemed to freeze the BF3 up.  I did some research and 67c is hot but shouldn't stop working.  Folks on the Internet have said you should worry when it approaches 89+c.

6.  One thing I did notice with the side panel off was my CPU fan never turned on, now I'm not sure if it should or not but I would think both fans should be working in order to create the proper wind tunnel to cool the GPU.  Is there a program that I can download to test what I believe is Fan #1 (CPU fan)?  Should both fans be working while playing games like BF3 that are taxing on the GPU?

*Please help, I know that the X51 should be able to play BF3 at 1080p on Medium settings with a AA off.  I watched an interview with the Main engineer guy for Alienware brag about how well the X51 plays BF3 so I know it should.

** I even tested to see if standing the X51 up VS on its side would work.  Again NO go!  Sorry for the long post I just want to be detailed so that somebody can help me out. thanks in advance for the help.  :)

mc_creeper7