Performance drop

[Invalidus]

Hello everyone, I'm gonna try briefly describe a bizzare issue I'm dealing with. Some time ago I put my new laptop into operation, first of all I updated the BIOS with the latest one and subsequently all the other necessary drivers along with Windfows updates.
After all this I did some becnhmarking (3D Mark, Unigine, crystaldiskmark, passmark etc.) stress testing (Intel XTU, Prime) and most importantly gaming. The results corresponded the laptop's hardware and matched other reviewer's results.
Everything worked great but after a week or so I started expriencing performance drop in games like stuttering, freezing, fps drops. The AC Origins benchmark which I used before and always scored very high without any dramatic fps drops and stuttering now shows fps drops down to zero and freezes for a moment.
I tried benchamrking and stress testing once again but the CPU doesn't show any thermal or power throttling, clock drops, stuttering or anything else (Stress testing did show power throttling in Prime which did occur in the testing prior to this issue). Same goes for GPU. The only coincidence I noticed during benchamrking was when there were fps drops in AC Origins same occured in the GPU clock speed but went back up as soon as AC Origins fps went back up. I also noticed a slight decrease of performance of CPU in 3Dmark results but nothing dramatic.
I tried default the BIOS settings which I have never even touched, did a clean reinstall of NVIDIA driver, checked the panel settings, batery settings etc. I also moved the benchamrking tools and games from the system drive to another drive (HDD) and the results showed all the same. The only thing that seemed to make a diffrence was to load a restore point back to the days when everything worked fine. It did help and it all went back to normal but as soo as I  began handling files (installing, uninstalling, copying etc.) the problem hit back in full force. I did the system restore once again and deleted all files, programs and installers that seemed questionable and could cause system corruption. I also checked with Kaspersky and CCleaner for viruses and fixed registry issues,  disabled Win updates (Updates were up-to-date prior when the issue occured). Drivers were also installed through HP SA.
The issue is still present but it doesn't manifest itself constantly, however, the performance is not stable as the results from benchmarking differ. There is nothing in the processes of task manager that would indicate high CPU usage. All of this points to HW issue, maybe Motherboard or CPU is failing.
I'm turning to you as I'm running out of methods on how to diagnose this problem. Thanks ahead for tips.

[Photoray002]

Hello @Invalidus 

I dont know if I can help but I will do what I can.

What is the full product number of the Omen? You can find it in the HP Support Assistant.

Does the drop in performance only occur while gaming or with simple tasks also?

Does it do this more so if running on battery only and does the performance get any better if plugged in to the AC cord?

[Invalidus]

Thanks, anything could help.

The product number is 2PS07EA#BCM

It occurs only while gaming. I haven't spotted any performance drop while performing simple tasks, not even when editing photos in Lightroom.

I always keep the AC cord plugged in. I don't use the laptop without the adapter very often and when I do it's only for watching media and so far I've had no issues running on the battery only.

I'm posting some pictures just to shine some more light on this issue.

Unstable performance:
https://imgur.com/a/D1AiJHu

Gpuz, Cpuz, Task manager
https://imgur.com/a/suLUXKs

Monitoring while stress testing in Prime95
https://imgur.com/a/yUSVVKd

I'm about to try system extensive test in the HP HW diagnostics tool and if I find no solution to this over time I'll try factory reset and will downgrade  BIOS to its factory version and if the issue persists I'll perform the trial and error aprroach.

[Invalidus]

I just installed Metro Exodus which has a built-in benchmark. Look at the picture, whatever graphics settings I use, whether low, medium, high or ultra the minimum FPS is 5 - 6. So there is always a stuttering point when the fps drops too much. Other than that the game runs fluent. Same goes for AC Origins and its built-in benchmark. I just tried playing AC for at least one hour and what I got was high temperature around 93 degrees and power throttling, however no thermal throttling. Should I consider the power throttle a defect of the device?

Metro benchmark on HIGH

https://imgur.com/a/uJKR0HJ

Power throttling

https://imgur.com/a/yUb4gIA

https://imgur.com/a/Yxmydbp

HP extensive test + all the component tests passed

https://imgur.com/a/Nk3EOP3

[Photoray002]

I have to get to work. Ill come back tonight when I can and take a look at it.

Thanks.

We are not employees, We are volunteers.

[Photoray002]

Ive been looking at your charts and Im afraid I would have no idea why you're getting Power Throttling periodically.

Generally, if you're plugged in with the AC adapter constantly, there should be no power throttling occur.

I don't necessarily think its a flaw of the graphics card. Usually if the GPU gets an intense work load, the cpu will be affected with the throttling. I could be wrong.

All I can offer are some suggestions that might or might not help.

Set your Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options plan settings to High Performance. And the Nvidia Control Panels Manage 3D settings\Globall settings\Power Management Mode to Prefer Maximum Performance.  Not an known fix, just a starting point.

There is the registry hack that you can add, that will turn off Power Throttling completely. Its more of a band-aid though and not fixing the cause of issue. You could always try it though and remove it if you think its not helpful.

I would  also enable and create a Windows Restore Point before before doing any reg changing, just in case you need to revert the system back to prior condition...

• Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
• Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.

• Browse the following path:

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power

• Right-click the Power (folder) key, select New, and click on Key.

• Name the key PowerThrottling and press Enter.

• Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

• Name the key PowerThrottlingOff and press Enter.

• Double-click the newly created DWORD and set the value from 0 to 1.

• Click OK

Some users use the Intel XTU utility to alter the Turbo Boost Power Max settings. I am not proficient enough with XTU to tell you what the exact settings should be. You would have to experiment. Example video

While gaming, monitor the Task Manager and see if a program or service is periodically engaging during game play that would be taking up resources. Then you can go into Services and disable it.

If a Windows update is the cause, I wouldnt know which one is the culprit. None of my systems have shown any signs of stuttering like yours has and I have all the latest updates.

Otherwise, I am at a lose, Sorry I cant be more helpful.