Is it possible to play Heroes of the Storm on Alienware 17?

Hi rmacchio‌,

You should not have trouble running this game if everything in the system is fine. So try running an ePSA/Diagnostic test on the system, click here to view a Dell article that explains how to run this test. Let me know if you receive any errors. 

Also, make sure the Bios is up to date, as well as the video driver.

Finally, try running a video card stress test. Follow the steps below to do this.

• Open Support Assist
• Click on the Checkup option
• Click Run Custom Scan
• Click on the Nvidia/AMD card
• Select the Stress Test option

If you do not have Support Assist installed, click here for the download link. Let me know how high the GPU temperature goes in the stress test. 

During the ePSA test, the only parameter that was flagged was 100C CPU high temp.  Everything else was listed as passed.  

After running the stress tests, it seems like the game is choosing to use the Intel 4600 adapter rather than the NVIDIA GTX 880M adapter.  During the stress tests, the 4600 demonstrated periodic drops in FPS where the GTX did not.  

Looking at the game log for HOTS, the game appears to choose the 4600 because the GTX appears to it to have "no outputs".  This is in spite of going into the NVIDIA control panel and specifying the GTX for the game.  

I realize the game isn't your responsibility but this seems to be a common issue for other laptop users with NVIDIA GPUs.  Any help in resolving would be much appreciated.   

"the only" he says....

the Processor Throtteled do to Overheat. at 100 °C it probably Throtteled down to 800 MHz. that was the Moment where your Fan Freaked Out and your FPS Count went Down to 10.

The temp hit 100C during the memory test of the ePSA.  Since the stress tests occur within the OS, I have no idea whether the CPU hit that level (but it wouldn't surprise me if it did) during those.  

I did save the log files from the stress tests and found that the CPU temps were about the same for both (~90C).  

you can download and install HW Monitor. run the App and launch your Game in Window Mode.

you will see the CPU Temps rising and CPU Clock drop in Real Time. it happens when your CPU reaches 90 °C.

about your Optimus Problem:

download DDU and uninstall both Drivers, Intel and Nvidia. then restart your Machine and install both Drivers again. first Intel, then Nvidia.

also if the Game needs Launcher to Run, then you have to run the Launcher with the Nvidia GPU aswell. i don't remember what Game it was, maybe Minecraft, but i remember it having Java Launcher or something like that which needed to be launched with the Nvidia GPU.

DDU = Display Driver Uninstaller ?

Correct.

Uninstalled the drivers (using DDU) and reinstalled them from the Alienware 17 driver page.  After loading the NVIDIA drivers, I noticed the version (332.70) that I got from the website doesn't seem to be able to update the drivers (using GEForce Experience interface) because it throws an error when I try.  

HOTS still skips the GTX adapter "because no outputs" (same message as before).  From the graphics game log:

GFX 18:40:43.236 DXGI: Available
GFX 18:40:43.800 VRAM Override Variables: Dedicated [0MB] Shared [0MB]
GFX 18:40:43.907 Adapter "Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600" Vendor 0x32902 Device 0x32902
GFX 18:40:43.907 Adapter "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M" Vendor 0x4318 Device 0x4318
GFX 18:40:43.907 Skipped adapter "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M" because no ouputs
GFX 18:40:43.907 Adapter "Microsoft Basic Render Driver" Vendor 0x5140 Device 0x5140
GFX 18:40:43.907 Skipped adapter "Microsoft Basic Render Driver" because no ouputs
GFX 18:40:43.907 Attempting D3D11 device creation on "Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600"
GFX 18:40:43.924 Device creation success.

i googled a bit and it turns out that it's a known Issue with the Game. a bunch of angry People are trying to get an Answer from Blizzard but they seem not to care. all they say is get new Nvidia Drivers, here: Wrong Graphics card being detected - Heroes of the Storm Forums 

sorry, there is nothing we can do about it.

now, you didn't ask, but i'll say it anyway. you will have to take care of the high CPU Tems eventually. it is not healthy for your Laptop. you will probably need to replace the old Thermal Paste. watch some How To YouTube Videos so you know what i'm talking about.

bye.

I thought it might play out that way.  The unfortunate thing is that they're not going to do much to support a free game.  

I appreciate you doing the legwork to confirm.  

Hallo.

the Support Guys here recomment Arctic Silver and IC Diamond Thermal Paste. i prefer to work with Arctic Silver 5. i'm using it since forever. there are no Drawbacks.

about the Video: until now i still don't know the exact Model for your Laptop. just look around on YouTube. there are Tons of Videos.

I finally loaded HWmonitor and tested.  Just as you thought, the FPS drops coincided with 100C on the CPU.  

Is there a preferred heat sink paste and video showing the process of cleaning out the old stuff and applying the new paste?