Error Device Hung on every game when plugged in, But not when on battery

[TMA033]

I keep getting a device hung erorr on every game I play, it seems the more demanding the game the more likley/sooner it happens. But then I noticed that the error will not happen ever if I'm not plugged in and am playing on battery.

I've tried everything from using DDU, changing tdr values, etc. nothing seems to work 

[Raj_05]

Hi @TMA033,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

The "Device Hung" error you're encountering on your OMEN 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop PC when plugged in but not on battery suggests there may be a power management issue, particularly related to how the system handles graphics under load when charging. Since the issue doesn't occur on battery, it seems to be tied to the power profile or the GPU's interaction with power delivery when plugged in.

Here are some steps to try to resolve the issue.

Update GPU Drivers: Even though you've used DDU, make sure your GPU drivers are the latest version. Sometimes, specific driver updates address power management or stability issues with certain power configurations.

Check Power Settings:

• High Performance Power Plan: Ensure your laptop is set to "High Performance" under power settings while plugged in. This prevents the system from throttling power to save energy.
• Disable Intel Power Saving Features: If your laptop uses hybrid graphics (i.e., integrated Intel and dedicated NVIDIA GPU), disable power-saving features like Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework (DPTF) in the Device Manager.
  1. Right-click on Start, select Device Manager.
  2. Under System Devices, find and disable Intel Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework.

Change TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) Settings: You mentioned already changing TDR values, but try increasing the values even further (e.g., set to 10 or 15 seconds). Sometimes, higher demand on the GPU while plugged in can lead to timeouts, so increasing TDR might help.

Ensure Your Laptop's Cooling is Adequate: Power delivery issues can occur if the system is thermal throttling under load. Check if your system is overheating when plugged in, especially during gaming. Use software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to monitor temperatures. If overheating is occurring, consider using a cooling pad or improving airflow around the laptop.

Update BIOS and Chipset Drivers: Sometimes, BIOS updates address power delivery and thermal management, especially with high-performance gaming laptops. Visit HP’s support page and check for BIOS or chipset driver updates. Be sure to read any release notes for fixes related to power or GPU stability.

Disable V-Sync and Frame Limiting in Games: Try disabling V-Sync and/or using frame rate limits within the games to reduce the load on the GPU. This might help alleviate the issue, especially in more demanding games that push the GPU to its limits.

Check for Background Applications: Some background applications, particularly those using the GPU, might be causing interference. Try disabling or uninstalling non-essential software, especially those related to graphics, like video capture tools, overlays, or screen recording software.

Reinstall the Power Management Driver: Reinstall the HP Power Management Driver to ensure it's functioning correctly and that your laptop is properly handling power when plugged in.

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 

[TMA033]

Some of those suggestions I've already tried, and I just tested the ones I haven't tested before like reinstalling power management drivers, and disabling DPTF, but no luck. I still keep getting device hung error. On some games like Dead by Daylight, I can sometimes play for about 30 minutes to 3+ hours before even getting the error, while on games like Resident Evil 4 Remake or Red Dead Redemption 2, it's guaranteed to happen sooner. It's a bit random but the more intensive the game is the higher chance it'll happen in a shorter time.

Oh, another odd thing I just noticed, Is that my performance in games seem to be better on Balanced Mode instead of Performance mode, by sometimes even 10-20FPS

[Raj_05]

Hi @TMA033,

Thank you for your response, 

The "Device Hung" error on your OMEN 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop while plugged in seems tied to how the GPU interacts with power delivery during intensive workloads. Since you've already tried many basic troubleshooting steps, let's explore more advanced solutions to fix this issue.

Investigate Power Delivery and Plugged-In Behavior

• Test with a Different Charger: A faulty or underpowered charger can cause inconsistent power delivery to the GPU. If possible, test with an original or higher wattage charger.
• Check Charger Output:
  • Ensure the charger meets the laptop's required wattage.
  • Verify that the charging port or cable is not loose or damaged.
• Monitor Power Delivery:
  • Use tools like HWInfo to monitor power draw and voltage fluctuations while plugged in. Unstable voltage can lead to GPU crashes under load.

Optimize Graphics Settings for Stability

• Force GPU to High-Performance Mode:
  • Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Global Settings.
  • Set "Preferred Graphics Processor" to High-Performance NVIDIA Processor.
• Reduce Graphics Overload:
  • Lower in-game settings like texture quality, shadows, and anti-aliasing.
  • Limit FPS globally using NVIDIA Control Panel or in-game settings to reduce GPU stress.

Analyze Thermal Throttling

Thermal issues can exacerbate problems when the laptop is plugged in:

• Clean the Fans and Heat Sinks:
  • Dust buildup can reduce cooling efficiency. Consider cleaning internal fans or using compressed air.
• Repaste the CPU/GPU:
  • Old or uneven thermal paste can cause thermal throttling. Reapplying high-quality thermal paste might help.
• Use Cooling Pads: Gaming laptops can benefit from external cooling to maintain consistent performance.

Tweak Advanced Power Settings

• Disable CPU Turbo Boost:
  • High CPU performance under load can lead to thermal throttling and GPU instability.
  • Go to BIOS or use tools like ThrottleStop to disable Turbo Boost.
• Fine-Tune Power Plans:
  • Open "Advanced Power Settings" → Processor Power Management.
  • Set "Maximum Processor State" to 99% for "Plugged-In" mode to prevent excessive power spikes.

Perform Stress Tests

Run stress tests to pinpoint the issue:

• GPU Test:
  • Use tools like FurMark or 3DMark to stress test the GPU.
  • Monitor for crashes when plugged in and track GPU usage and temperature.
• Power Test:
  • Run benchmarks like Cinebench or AIDA64 while monitoring CPU and GPU temperatures and power draw.

[Raj_05]

Investigate Software Conflicts

• Disable Overlays and Background Apps:
  • Turn off software overlays (e.g., GeForce Experience, Discord, Steam).
  • Temporarily disable background apps that interact with the GPU.
• Clean Boot:
  • Perform a clean boot to rule out third-party software interference.
  • Open msconfig → Disable non-Microsoft services → Restart.

Advanced System Updates

• Reflash the GPU VBIOS:
  • If available, update the GPU's firmware (VBIOS) via NVIDIA or HP support.
• Perform System Diagnostics:
  • Run HP UEFI diagnostics during boot to check hardware integrity.
• Reset Windows Power Plans:
  • In Command Prompt, run:

powercfg -restoredefaultschemes
 

Use a Different Operating Mode

• Disable Hybrid Graphics (if applicable):
  • Access BIOS settings and switch to Discrete Graphics Only to force the system to use the NVIDIA GPU exclusively.

Investigate Balanced Mode FPS Boost

The unexpected FPS boost in Balanced Mode could indicate:

• Power Limiting in Performance Mode: Power settings in "Performance Mode" might unintentionally throttle GPU or CPU usage to avoid thermal limits.
• BIOS Tuning Required: Update or reset the BIOS to resolve potential misconfigurations.

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 

[TMA033]

Thanks for the new suggestions, I tried them but unfortunately, I still get the device hung error

I'm curious about the thermal pads tho because I don't know if I'm missing some thermal pads, and if I am, I'm not sure which ones to get or where they go, and even if it's the cause of the issue in the first place.

Also, my idle CPU temps go from about 60c range and idle GPU temps seem to stay in the 40c range. I recently repasted the CPU and GPU few days ago.

[Raj_05]

Hi @TMA033,

Thank you for your response, 

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action.

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Alden4

HP Support