Experiencing Bottleneck

[_Pradeep_]

Hello Everyone, 

Bottlenecks are the major problem in notebook pc's and I too a victim of bottleneck.

I had choosed  an amd advantage system for better performance and trapped in bottleneck.

here is the information pf my system 

Victus Gaming Laptop 15-fb0133AX

Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600H (up to 4.2 GHz max boost clock, 16 MB L3 cache, 6 cores, 12 threads)

Graphics (discrete): AMD Radeon™ RX 6500M Graphics (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated)

Memory: 16 GB DDR4-3200 MT/s (2 x 8 GB) Transfer rates up to 3200 MT/s. 2 x 8 GB

As per the design of the RX 6500M, it supports PCIe 4.0 but the current system or board it only supports  PCIe 3.0 which causes a severe impact in gaming and fps.

As a result the changes are 

The RX 6500M only has 4 PCIe lanes, and running it at PCIe 3.0 x4 instead of PCIe 4.0 x4 causes:
✅ VRAM bottleneck (Since the GPU has only 4GB VRAM, it relies more on PCIe speed)
✅ Lower bandwidth, reducing performance by 20-40%
✅ Severe FPS drops in high-load

Also

PCIe Version Total Bandwidth (GB/s) Per Lane Bandwidth (GB/s)

PCIe 3.0 x4

3.94 GB/s

0.985 GB/s per lane

PCIe 4.0 x4

7.88 GB/s

1.969 GB/s per lane

Real-World FPS Difference in Games

Since the RX 6500M has only 4GB VRAM, PCIe bandwidth is very important for games that stream data from RAM (VRAM-starved games).

Game (1080p, High Settings) PCIe 3.0 x4 (FPS) PCIe 4.0 x4 (FPS) Difference

Cyberpunk 2077	32 FPS	42 FPS	~30% Faster
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	48 FPS	56 FPS	~15% Faster
Red Dead Redemption 2	40 FPS	50 FPS	~25% Faster
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	55 FPS	63 FPS	~15% Faster
CS:GO	165 FPS	170 FPS	Minimal Difference

🔹 PCIe 4.0 is better for VRAM-heavy games

As it is a AMD advantage system, smart shift max boosts the GPU wattage i.e. The rated TGP of my GPU is 47w but it goes for 50 and above and suddenly drops to 9w and below due to restrictions and fps drops, game lags and it loops.

HP has locked all the advanced settings in bios and drivers so no way of overcoming it!

If lowering the graphics settings is recommended, then what is need of buying gaming notebooks from hp?

[zoey7886]

@_Pradeep_, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding Experiencing Bottleneck! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

I completely understand your frustration—performance bottlenecks can be really disappointing, especially when you’ve invested in a gaming laptop expecting smooth gameplay. Let’s go over what’s happening and what can be done.

Understanding the Bottleneck

The RX 6500M is designed for PCIe 4.0, but since your system supports only PCIe 3.0, the reduced bandwidth affects performance, particularly in VRAM-intensive games. As you mentioned, games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 show a noticeable FPS drop due to the limited data transfer speed.

Why is This Happening?

• The RX 6500M operates with only 4 PCIe lanes, so running it at PCIe 3.0 x4 instead of PCIe 4.0 x4 cuts bandwidth in half, impacting performance.
• 4GB of VRAM isn't always enough for modern games at high settings, causing the GPU to rely on system RAM via the PCIe bus—which is slower on PCIe 3.0.
• SmartShift dynamically adjusts power between CPU and GPU, but power fluctuations can sometimes result in sudden performance dips.

What Can You Do?

While upgrading PCIe is not possible due to hardware limitations, here are some ways to optimize your gaming experience:

1. Adjust Graphics Settings – Lowering texture quality, shadow details, and anti-aliasing can help reduce VRAM usage, minimizing the impact of the PCIe bottleneck.
2. Use Resolution Scaling – Running games at 900p or even 720p can take some pressure off the GPU and improve FPS.
3. Keep Drivers Updated – Ensure you have the latest GPU drivers from AMD and the latest BIOS updates from HP, as these can sometimes improve system stability.
4. Monitor SmartShift Behavior – Using AMD tools like Radeon Software can help you monitor power distribution and adjust performance settings.
5. Check Background Processes – Close unnecessary applications running in the background to free up system resources.

Next Steps

We truly appreciate your detailed feedback on this issue. I understand that advanced BIOS settings being locked can feel restrictive, and I’ll make sure your concerns are shared with the relevant teams. While hardware limitations prevent an immediate fix, HP continuously works to improve system optimizations through updates.

If you need any further assistance or troubleshooting, feel free to reach out!  

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[_Pradeep_]

Dear zoey7886,

Thank you for your response. I understand the hardware limitations, but I still have concerns:

1️⃣ PCIe 4.0 Limitation – Other laptops with RX 6500M support PCIe 4.0, so why is it restricted on this system? Is there any plan for a BIOS update to enable it?

2️⃣ SmartShift Control – The GPU wattage spikes above 50W and then drops to 9W, causing severe FPS drops. Can you provide a way to disable SmartShift in BIOS or via software?

3️⃣ Future BIOS Updates – Will there be any future BIOS updates addressing performance tuning, wattage stability, or PCIe optimizations?

I appreciate your time and would love to know if HP has any plans to resolve these issues. Looking forward to your response.

Best regards,
PV

[zoey7886]

Hi @_Pradeep_, 

Thanks for the follow-up! I totally understand how frustrating this must be — let me address your concerns:

1️⃣ PCIe 4.0 Limitation
The RX 6500M does support PCIe 4.0, but the motherboard and chipset in this model are limited to PCIe 3.0. Unfortunately, this can’t be changed through a BIOS update, but I’ll share your feedback with the engineering team for future improvements.

2️⃣ SmartShift Control
SmartShift dynamically adjusts power between the CPU and GPU, but those spikes and drops are definitely annoying. While it can’t be disabled in BIOS, you could try setting Radeon Software to "Turbo" or "Performance" mode to help stabilize it.

3️⃣ Future BIOS Updates
While enabling PCIe 4.0 through an update isn’t possible due to hardware design, HP regularly releases BIOS updates to improve performance. Keep an eye on HP Support Assistant for any updates.

I know it's not the solution you were hoping for, but I appreciate your detailed feedback. Let me know if you need more help — happy to assist! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards,