hp omen freeze randomly while gaming

[ericMárquez]

Hello Garp

I have exactly this same problem. PLEASE let me know if I can respond to this thread or if I should open a new one.

I have an Omen 15-dc0051nr FHD i7-8750H 2.2GHz GTX 1060 6GB 16GB with Windows 11 Home (it was windows 10 originally, but long ago Windows asked me if I wanted to upgrade to windows 11 and I said yes). 

Up until some weeks ago I could play games with no issue, but lately I have been having random freezes and I can only turn off/on the laptop. Not sure if it was because of some windows update (it is configured to install updates automatically). I have the latest Nvidia drivers (581.29). I already tried downgrading to previous drivers (572) but to no avail. 

I tried all your suggestions in this thread but nothing works. Also I have ran several hardware and system diagnostics but they find no errors. 

The only "strange" thing I notice is that the laptop tends to heat up a lot when gaming. Not sure how normal this is. Since I have been afraid that the heat might damage my battery, I always remove the battery from the laptop before gaming (I only play games on weekends). Then I install it again. I do this because a few years ago I had a damaged battery and I suspect it was damaged because of overheating. Ever since I do this "trick" I've had no problems with the battery.

The issue happens with several games, including old games like Witcher 3, and even with smaller games like Team Fortress 2 and even a smaller game (Grim Fandango). But with Witcher 3 the problem is more frequent.

Please let me know what I can do to solve this issue.

[VikramTheGreat · Accepted solution]

Hi @ericMárquez,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with those random freezes. That’s frustrating, especially when you’ve already tried a lot. Below I’ve put together a prioritized, practical troubleshooting plan (from quickest checks to deeper diagnostics and remedies) specifically for your OMEN 15-dc0051nr (i7-8750H / GTX 1060) on Windows 11. Follow the steps in order and stop when the problem is fixed.
 

Quick checks (do these first)

1. Stop removing the battery while gaming.
   Many laptops depend on the battery for stable power delivery under load. Running the machine plugged in without the battery can cause instability or freezes. Reinstall the battery, plug in the adapter, and test a game for stability.
    
2. Use the original/adequate power adapter.
   Make sure you’re using the HP power brick that came with the laptop (or an OEM equivalent with the same wattage). Undersized adapters can cause freezes under load.
    
3. Temporary thermal mitigation
   • Set Maximum processor state = 99% (Power Options → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings → Processor power management → Maximum processor state = 99%). This prevents sustained turbo and can stop runaway heat that causes freezes while you test.
   • Make sure laptop vents are clear and it’s on a flat, hard surface.
      
4. Clean-install the NVIDIA drivers using DDU (recommended):
   • Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and the latest (or a known-stable) NVIDIA driver.
   • Boot into Safe Mode, run DDU to completely remove GPU drivers, reboot, then install the NVIDIA driver from NVIDIA or from HP’s support site (try the HP driver first, then switch to NVIDIA if the issue persists).
   • Also, install the latest Intel chipset / MEI drivers from HP support for your exact model.
      
5. Update BIOS / EC / firmware
   • Go to Official HP® Support, enter OMEN 15-dc0051nr or your serial number and install any BIOS, Embedded Controller, or firmware updates available. BIOS/EC fixes often resolve freeze/thermal/power issues.
   • After BIOS update, reset BIOS to defaults and check thermal/power settings.
      
6. Monitor temperatures while gaming
   • Install HWInfo64 or HWMonitor (sensor-only) and run it while playing. Watch max CPU package and GPU temps.
   • If CPU > ~95°C or GPU > ~90°C repeatedly, overheating is likely causing the freezes.

I hope this helps.

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,

VikramTheGreat

[ericMárquez]

Hello Vikram

I applied your steps this past weekend. They did improve a lot. 

I changed the processing settings (Maximum processor state), but additionally I also enabled and changed the ""Processor performance boost mode" (the 3rd option) to "disabled". This helped a lot. 

Regarding the flat hard surface, I have the laptop on a cooling pad with 4 fans. The only thing I changed recently is that I raised the cooling pad so that it is raised on its stands (about 30 degrees). This also improved a bit. 

I removed the nvidia drivers with DDU and then reinstalled the driver. However I did not find the drivers from HP support (the HP tool kept saying that the drivers are only available for Windows 10, not for Windows 11. So, I used the "Nvidia App" to download the drivers. This tool also is able to scan my games and give optimized settings that you can customize for them. So, I used the settings in this App to lower the settings of the game (witcher 3). Now most settings are "medium/high". Before, they were mostly "high/ultra". And more importantly, I lowered the FPS to 30 instead of 60. This helped a LOT. 

I did not update BIOS or EC because I asked the HP support tool and it said I already have the latest BIOS.

I am using the Monitor Overlay that comes with the Nvidia App. According to it, previously, the laptop always Froze when passing >80 degrees and the GPU usage frequently hit 99%. I never saw it hitting 90º because it always froze at 80º-84º.. 

This weekend after the changes, the highest temperature I saw (at a few moments) was 75º. Although it usually was between 55º to 65º (with witcher 3).

With other games the temperature was usually between 49º - 55º. 

I'm thinking that maybe in the future I should re-paste the laptop and perhaps this would help more. 

My only concern right now is that, over time, my battery could reduce its life span, because I'm not removing it from the laptop, and even though it is not >80º, it still is hitting 65º-75º in the time I'm playing a game (3-4 hours on the weekends). This happened to me years ago and I had to buy a new battery.

Right now I'm happy with this changes. So, unless you have some additional advice, I'm going to accept your answer as the solution.

Thanks.

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @ericMárquez,

Thank you so much for the detailed update and for sharing the adjustments you made. It’s great to hear that your OMEN 15 is now running cooler and more stable after applying those changes. We understand how important it is to enjoy your games without worrying about overheating or unexpected freezes, and it sounds like you’ve found a balanced setup that works well for you.

Your concern about battery lifespan is valid. Gaming temperatures in the 65–75ºC range are safe for the CPU/GPU, but prolonged heat exposure can gradually impact battery health over time. To help minimize this:
 

• Enable Hybrid Battery Charging (if available in OMEN Command Center or BIOS): This keeps the battery at a healthier charge level when gaming on AC power.
• Occasionally, perform a battery calibration to keep the charge reporting accurate.
• Long-term option: If you primarily game while plugged in, you could consider removing the battery (only if it’s easily removable, which is not the case for most recent models) or using HP’s “Battery Care Function” features if supported.
   

Re-pasting the CPU/GPU in the future can indeed help further with thermals, especially if the system is older, but with your current temps staying well below the critical range, it’s not urgent.

We’re glad you’ve seen such an improvement, and we’ll be here if you’d like additional help in the future. Thank you again for working with us and sharing your results. It will also help others in the community who face similar challenges.

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,

VikramTheGreat