Slow FPS Rate When Monitor Connected to Alienware Laptop in Duplicate Mode

Summary: The following article provides information about an issue playing games with an external monitor on duplicate mode. This is seen when the external monitor is connected to an Alienware laptop. ...

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Symptoms

Games running slower when an external monitor is connected to gaming laptop in duplicate mode

 

Your game is running slow at 15 frames per second (FPS). (For example: Fallout 4) This happens when the external monitor connects to your gaming laptop and uses duplicate mode.

This is affecting the following gaming laptops:

  • Alienware 16 Area-51 AA16250 laptop
  • Alienware 16 Aurora AC16250 laptop
  • Alienware 16X Aurora AC16251 laptop
  • Alienware 18 Area-51 AA18250 laptop

Cause

Note: This is the behavior expected from gaming laptops using the NVIDIA RTX 50 series of discrete graphics.

The low frame rate happens because the laptop is using software instead of hardware to adjust the screen size. This is happening when connecting the external screen to the laptop in duplicate mode.

Resolution

Avoid this issue by not using an external monitor when playing the game. Alternatively, set the display mode to either Extend or Second Screen Only instead of using Duplicate if the game requires a second screen.

Note: For those games which require a second screen in duplicate mode:
  • Check the NVIDIA control panel before launching your game and set a resolution that the monitor and the laptop screen support
  • Check the Windows display settings before launching your game and choose a resolution that both the monitor and the laptop support
  • If the game requires an unsupported resolution, then contact the games vendor for further assistance


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Affected Products

Alienware 16 Area-51 AA16250, Alienware 18 Area-51 AA18250, Alienware 16 Aurora AC16250, Alienware 16X Aurora AC16251
Article Properties
Article Number: 000350910
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 30 Jul 2025
Version:  1
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