100% CPU usage while playing any game

[HasnainKhan]

Hello everyone I hope you guys are doing great. The warranty on my laptop expired 2 months ago and i have started facing issues when ever i play any game the CPU usage went up to a 100% even though my GPU is also in high 90s that's fine however due to high CPU usage the game stutters a lot and i have tested multiple games as soon as something with high textures the CPU has to render it goes up to a 100%. For e.g. in Microsoft flight simulator the CPU isa constantly at 100% .

Things I have tried:

Updating the BIOS

Installing new windows 

Changing my RAM

Changing my SSD

Tweaking settings 

even after all of this i am running into the same problem if someone knows the solution it would be of great help.

SPECS

13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13420H 2.10 GHz

RTX3050 6GB 

16GB RAM 

512SSD

[Raj_05]

Hi @HasnainKhan,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're experiencing significant performance issues with your Victus by HP gaming laptop, especially during demanding tasks like gaming. Here are some steps you can take to further diagnose and potentially resolve the issue.

Check Background Processes

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and check for any background processes consuming CPU resources while gaming. If there are any unnecessary applications running, close them.

Game Settings Optimization

• Lower the graphics settings of the games you are playing. Sometimes, high settings can lead to increased CPU usage.
• Disable or lower any CPU-intensive features (like shadows, reflections, etc.) to see if it reduces CPU load.

Thermal Throttling

• Ensure your laptop is adequately ventilated. Overheating can cause the CPU to throttle, leading to performance issues. Clean the vents and consider using a cooling pad.
• Monitor CPU temperatures using software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner. If temperatures are too high (typically above 90°C), you may need to repaste the CPU or improve cooling.

Power Settings

• Change your power plan to "High Performance" in the Windows Control Panel. This setting ensures that your CPU is running at its maximum potential.

Windows Updates

• Ensure that Windows and all drivers (especially chipset and graphics drivers) are up to date. Sometimes performance issues can arise from outdated drivers.

Disable Game Mode and Background Apps

• In Windows settings, disable "Game Mode" and other background applications that may interfere with gaming performance.
• Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and turn it off.

Check for Malware

• Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any reputable antivirus program to rule out malware that may be consuming resources.

[Raj_05]

Verify Game Files

• If you’re using a platform like Steam, verify the integrity of game files to ensure there are no corrupt files affecting performance.

Adjust Virtual Memory

• Increase the virtual memory (paging file) size. Sometimes, a low paging file can lead to performance issues.
• Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Performance settings > Advanced > Virtual memory, and set it to "System managed size" or a custom size (1.5x your RAM for both initial and maximum size).

Reinstall Graphics Drivers

• Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely uninstall your GPU drivers and then reinstall the latest drivers from NVIDIA.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[HasnainKhan]

Hey Alden4 Thanks for reaching out i have tried everything you have said but is still isn't working properly plus i have installed a fresh new windows and even also updated the bios but it isn't working properly if u say i can even screen record it and show you the problem I'm   facing no matter what game in ever demanding task it jumps to 100percent.

[Raj_05]

Hi @HasnainKhan,

Thank you for your response, 

Here are some additional advanced steps you can try, along with the option to screen record and provide more details.

Check for Thermal Throttling Again:

• CPU & GPU Temps: Use a program like HWInfo or ThrottleStop to check whether the CPU or GPU is thermal throttling. If the temperatures reach over 90°C, the system might be throttling itself to prevent damage, leading to high CPU usage.
• CPU Undervolting: If thermal throttling is an issue, consider undervolting your CPU using software like ThrottleStop or Intel XTU (if compatible). This can help reduce heat without sacrificing performance.

Test Performance Outside of Games:

• Run a synthetic benchmark like Cinebench R23 for CPU performance or 3DMark for GPU performance. This will help determine if the problem is gaming-specific or affects all demanding tasks.

Ensure Balanced RAM Usage:

• Check Task Manager for how your RAM is being utilized during gameplay. If memory usage is high, the CPU might be overworked compensating for low available RAM. Consider upgrading RAM if necessary.

Disable CPU Turbo Boost:

• In your laptop’s BIOS settings or through a tool like ThrottleStop, you can try disabling Intel Turbo Boost to prevent the CPU from hitting high temperatures that could cause throttling.

Windows Power Throttling:

• Even in High Performance mode, Windows might still throttle performance. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, and right-click on the game executable. Ensure its "Set Affinity" and "Priority" are set correctly (High Priority and all cores enabled).

Check for Potential BIOS or Firmware Issues:

• Verify on HP's support page if there are any new firmware updates or special configurations specific to your laptop's model that address performance issues.

If You Want to Share a Screen Recording:

A screen recording of the performance issue might help pinpoint what's happening in real-time. You can capture the following during a gaming session or task:

• Task Manager's Performance tab (CPU, GPU, RAM usage).
• Temperatures of both CPU and GPU.
• In-game FPS using tools like MSI Afterburner to monitor system metrics. 

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support