Sudden performance drop

[Risav_01]

Hello.

I am noticing a drastic performance drop in my laptop due to some unknown reason(s). I mostly use my laptop for gaming and have been pretty happy with the performance of my laptop with the following specs: 8GB RAM, Ryzen 5 4600H, GTX 1650, 1TB HDD + 256 GB SSD. 

By performance drop I'm implying lower FPS (around 1-2) and stuttering issues. At first, I thought it might have been due to a bad graphics driver update, so I installed previous versions of the driver, but the issue still persists. Earlier I used to get smooth frames (60 avg) in RDR2 and >100 frames in competitive titles like CSGO and Valorant. But I don't know how the laptop is underperforming overnight. 

Fixes I have tried:

1. Windows update

2. GPU driver update

3. BIOS update

4. Reinstalling applications

5. Lowering graphics settings

6. Component diagnostics from Boot menu (all tests PASSED)

I would be grateful if someone could suggest a fix for this problem.

[Raj_05 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Risav_01,

Welcome to HP Support Community.  

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

Experiencing a sudden performance drop in your HP Pavilion Gaming - 15 laptop can be frustrating, but there are several potential reasons for this issue. Here are some common causes and troubleshooting steps to help you identify and resolve the problem.

• Overheating: Over time, laptops can accumulate dust and dirt, leading to poor airflow and increased temperatures. When the laptop gets too hot, it may throttle the performance to prevent damage. Try cleaning the vents and fans with compressed air and using the laptop on a flat, hard surface to ensure proper airflow.
• Background Processes: Check the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to see if there are any resource-intensive processes running in the background. Certain applications or malware may consume CPU and memory, causing a performance drop. End unnecessary processes or perform a malware scan to rule out these possibilities.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or corrupted drivers can lead to performance problems. Ensure that your graphics card, chipset, and other essential drivers are up to date. Visit the official HP website or use HP's support assistant to download and install the latest drivers.
• Insufficient RAM: If your laptop has limited RAM, running multiple applications or resource-heavy programs simultaneously can lead to performance degradation. Consider upgrading your RAM if you frequently run demanding tasks.
• Storage Drive: A nearly full or failing storage drive (HDD or SSD) can impact overall performance. Check your drive's health and free up space if necessary. Also, consider upgrading to an SSD for improved performance.
• Background Services: Disable unnecessary startup programs and services that you don't use regularly. They can consume resources and slow down the system.
• Power Settings: Check the power settings of your laptop. If it's set to a power-saving mode, it may reduce performance to conserve energy. Change it to high-performance mode when needed.
• Windows Updates: Make sure your operating system and drivers are up to date with the latest updates. Updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes.
• Gaming Performance: If the performance drop occurs during gaming, ensure that your laptop is plugged into a power source while gaming. Also, check the graphics settings in the games you're playing and adjust them to a more suitable level for your hardware.

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
 

[Risav_01]

Thanks for the help. The issue occurred actually due to a faulty GPU driver update. It took some time to install the correct driver, but the issue seems to be resolved now. Thanks for the troubleshooting steps.