MNC issue - will not run well on M11X

I'm making this post for a friend with a new system -

He's recently purchased a new Alienware m11x laptop, pretty standard configuration (Intel i7) with the addition of memory (up to 8gb). We installed MNC via Steam, downloaded and installed without any issues. He can run virtually any game without issues, however when he starts up MNC, the game runs like garbage - low frame rates, stuttering even when in the menu, etc.

I've gone as far as updating Windows (Win7 Home Premium x64), updated all drivers (video, chipset), updated Steam, and even hooked up an external monitor to eliminate the possibility of video resolution incompatibility.

Any ideas?

Try right clicking the game in steam and going to it's preferences, try defragging. Sometimes it can be a problem with steam games and it's worth a shot.