Battery life is horrible

[zacn4023]

Hello,

I have had my HP Envy 16-h0787nr for almost a year, and the battery life has always been horrible (I've never been able to get over 2h of usage out of it). Something that I have noticed when monitoring HWInfo is that the RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is always drawing a minimum of 18W, even when unplugged. This is definitely contributing to the atrocious battery life. Is there any way to lessen its power usage when unplugged? 

[Alden4]

Hi @zacn4023,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your RTX 3060 GPU is not properly switching to a lower power state when your laptop is running on battery. This can indeed significantly reduce battery life. Here are some steps you can take to lessen its power usage when unplugged.

Check Power Settings

Ensure that your laptop is set to use the integrated graphics when running on battery. You can do this through the NVIDIA Control Panel and Windows power settings.

NVIDIA Control Panel:

• Right-click on the desktop and open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Go to "Manage 3D settings."
• Under "Global Settings," set the "Preferred graphics processor" to "Auto-select" or "Integrated graphics" for battery mode.

Windows Power Settings:

• Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.
• Select the power plan you are using (likely "Balanced").
• Click "Change plan settings" > "Change advanced power settings."
• Expand the "Graphics settings" section, and set the power-saving mode for battery.

Update Drivers

Ensure that you have the latest drivers for both your NVIDIA GPU and integrated graphics (usually Intel). Sometimes, driver updates can fix power management issues.

For NVIDIA:

• Go to the NVIDIA website and download the latest drivers.
• Use the NVIDIA GeForce Experience tool to keep your drivers updated.

For Integrated Graphics:

• Go to the Intel website (or your laptop manufacturer’s website) and download the latest drivers for your integrated graphics.

BIOS Update

Check if there is a BIOS update available for your laptop on the HP support website. Sometimes, BIOS updates include improvements for power management.

Use Battery Saver Mode

Enable the battery saver mode on your laptop when you’re running on battery. This can help in reducing the overall power consumption.

• Go to Settings > System > Battery.
• Turn on Battery saver mode.

[Alden4 · Accepted solution]

Disable GPU When Not Needed

Consider disabling the NVIDIA GPU when not needed. This is a more drastic step but can significantly save battery life.

Device Manager:

• Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
• Find your NVIDIA GPU under "Display adapters," right-click, and disable it.

Note: Disabling the GPU might affect performance in graphics-intensive applications.

Adjust In-Game Settings

If you're using the laptop for gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks, ensure that in-game settings are optimized for battery usage. Lowering the resolution and graphic settings can help.

Power Management Software

Some laptops come with manufacturer-specific power management software (such as HP Command Center). Check if your laptop has this software and use it to adjust power settings.

Monitor Background Processes

Make sure there are no unnecessary background processes or applications running that might be utilizing the GPU.

Task Manager:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Check the "Processes" tab to see if any applications are using the GPU excessively.

By following these steps, you should be able to reduce the power draw of your RTX 3060 and improve your laptop's battery life when unplugged.

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