Laptop runs hotter on AC power than when plugged in. Suddenly started happening, no settings changed

[Nunya_Envy]

Hi all,

My year-old HP Envy 16 with OLED, i7-12700H and RTX3060 had been running fine up until a month ago.

The normal operating temps were:

STABLE IDLE (CPU at 1-2%):                      CPU: 44 C                                          GPU: 43-45 C

WEB BROWSING/STREAMING:                   CPU: 53-55 C                                   GPU: 46 C

But lately, it’s started running about 10 degrees hotter (CPU), AND the fans run more often, and faster. But this is ONLY WHEN PLUGGED IN. When I run on battery, the Envy runs the same activities at temps 6-12 degrees C cooler (IE acting the way it WAS before whatever happened, happened).

STABLE IDLE (CPU at 1-2%):                      56 C CPU (fan on 117 RPM)     48 C GPU

WEB BROWSING/STREAMING:                  65-68 C CPU (fans on 75 RPM, which ironically is faster/louder than 117) RPM)

53 C GPU

I have not changed any Power Profile settings (it was, and still is, set to BALANCED mode. I also have NOT added anything (except installing the regular Microsoft updates that come up). This problem JUST SUDDENLY began happening.

Does anyone have any idea why a laptop would suddenly begin running hotter, and only while on AC power, without having changed any settings?

Thanks,

-Walt

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Nunya_Envy,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

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

I understand your HP Envy 16 laptop might be experiencing thermal throttling or overuse of power when plugged into the AC, which is causing the higher temperatures and fan speeds. 

Here are a few possible reasons for this change and some steps to troubleshoot:

1. Power Profile Settings (Hidden Changes)

• Even though you haven't changed any settings, it's possible that an automatic system update may have adjusted the hidden settings. Windows or firmware updates could affect how the laptop manages power and performance.
   
• Check Power Plan Settings:
  1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options.
  2. Click Change plan settings for the Balanced profile.
  3. Click Change advanced power settings.
  4. Under Processor Power Management, check the settings for both battery and plugged-in states. Set the Maximum processor state to something lower, like 99%, to see if that reduces heat.

2. BIOS/Driver Updates

• Check if there’s been a recent BIOS update or driver changes (especially chipset, thermal, or power management drivers). These could have changed the power delivery settings.
• Visit HP’s support website and look for recent updates for your model, especially BIOS or system firmware.

3. NVIDIA Graphics Settings

• The RTX 3060 GPU might be drawing more power when plugged in, causing higher temps.
• Open the NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings.
  • Try changing the Power Management Mode to Optimal Power or Adaptive for when the laptop is plugged in, rather than Maximum Performance.

4. Background Processes or Software

• Check for any background processes that might have started running, causing higher CPU usage when plugged in.
• Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and see if any processes are using excessive resources when on AC power.

5. Thermal Paste or Dust Buildup

• Since the laptop is a year old, there could be some dust buildup in the cooling system or degradation in thermal paste, making cooling less efficient when the CPU/GPU draws more power (which happens on AC power).
  • You can try cleaning the fans or having a technician check the internal cooling components.

6. Windows Updates or HP Bloatware

• A recent Windows Update or background HP software could also be influencing how your system manages power. You might want to check Windows Update history and HP preinstalled apps for any recent changes.

7. Battery Saver vs. Plugged-In Behavior

• Windows or the GPU may be running in a more power-efficient mode when on battery, reducing performance and keeping temps low. When on AC, it could be using full power, increasing heat. You might test this by temporarily switching to a Power Saver mode while plugged in to see if temperatures drop back to normal.

Steps to Test:

1. Run on Battery: Confirm that the laptop performs cooler on battery as you observed. HP PCs - Testing for hardware failures

Refer to this document: HP ENVY 16 inch Laptop PC 16-h0000 (67T92AV) User manual 

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.