[HP OMEN 16 MAX] RTX 5080 Laptop GPU Power Suddenly Locked at 80W (PerfCap: Pwr)

[LR1030]

Hello everyone,

I'm seeking help for a sudden and critical performance issue with my new HP gaming laptop.

The Problem: My GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, which I received on monday,  is now strictly limited to ~80W of power under 100% load (tested with FurMark 2). GPU-Z confirms the PerfCap Reason is constantly Pwr (Power Limit), even though GPU temperatures are very low (around 58-60°C).

Crucial History: This issue started about 2 days ago. When I first received the laptop, it worked perfectly. During stress tests, the GPU power draw was correctly reaching over 100W as expected. The hardware is clearly capable, but something has recently changed and created this 80W power wall.

Here are my detailed system specifications:

• Laptop Model: OMEN MAX 16
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
• OS: Windows 11 Pro
• VBIOS Version: 98.03.5C.00.61
• NVIDIA Driver Version: 573.19
• Control Software: OMEN Gaming Hub

Troubleshooting Steps I Have Already Taken:

I have tried everything I can think of to resolve this, but the 80W limit remains:

1. OMEN Gaming Hub: Set the Power Mode to Unleashed Mode (the highest setting).
2. Graphics Switcher: Set to Discrete Mode (dGPU only) via the OMEN Gaming Hub.
3. NVIDIA Control Panel: Set "Power management mode" to "Prefer maximum performance".
4. Power Adapter: Confirmed I am using the original, high-wattage HP power adapter that came with the laptop.
5. System/Firmware Updates: I have checked the HP Support website for my specific model. I have the latest BIOS and there are no new VBIOS updates available at this time.

Given that the laptop was working correctly just a few days ago, I suspect this might be related to a recent software update (perhaps from Windows, NVIDIA, or OMEN Gaming Hub itself).

Could anyone offer any advice?

• Has anyone else experienced this sudden power limit issue on a similar HP machine?
• Is this a known bug with a recent update?
• Are there any other diagnostic steps or potential solutions I could try?

Thank you for your time and assistance. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @LR1030 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

It looks like other users have reported similar issues with the RTX 5080 Laptop GPU power suddenly locking at 80W on the OMEN MAX 16. Based on the information available, here are some steps you can try: 

Troubleshooting Steps

 

Step 1: Reset OMEN Gaming Hub Settings

1. Open OMEN Gaming Hub.
2. Navigate to Performance Control.
3. Switch to Unleashed Mode and manually adjust PL1, PL2, and PL4 power limits:
   • PL1: 130W or less
   • PL2: 160W or less
   • PL4: 240W or less
   • IccMax: 263A or less
4. Restart your laptop and test GPU power draw again.

 

Step 2: Check for Recent Updates

• Since the issue started suddenly, it may be due to a Windows, NVIDIA, or OMEN Gaming Hub update.
• Try rolling back your NVIDIA driver to an earlier version (e.g., 572.xx).
• Disable automatic updates in OMEN Gaming Hub and Windows Update temporarily.

 

Step 3: Verify Hybrid Power Settings

1. Open OMEN Gaming Hub.
2. Check Hybrid Power Settings under Performance Mode.
3. Ensure Maximum Battery Drain (%) is set between 10% and 40%.
4. Charge the battery above 90% before testing.

 

Step 4: Perform a Clean GPU Driver Installation

1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
2. Boot into Safe Mode and run DDU to remove all NVIDIA drivers.
3. Restart and install the latest official NVIDIA drivers from HP’s support page.
4. Restart again and test GPU power draw.

 

Step 5: Check External Power Delivery

• Ensure you are using the original 330W HP power adapter.
• Try plugging into a different power outlet.
• If possible, test with another compatible high-wattage charger.

Let me know what results you get, and I can refine the troubleshooting further!

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[LR1030 · Accepted solution]

I solve the problem by reintall the gpu driver using the relative old version. I guess it related to nvidia app or the driver installed with cuda

[Hawks_Eye]

@LR1030 

That makes a lot of sense! Sometimes newer drivers introduce compatibility issues, especially when bundled with additional software like CUDA or specific NVIDIA app updates. Reverting to an older, stable version can often resolve unexpected crashes or performance drops.

Glad you found the solution! If you ever need help optimizing settings or troubleshooting further, 

I'm here to assist. Well done!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye