Problem with laptop performance across all tasks - ongoing issue
Problem with laptop performance across all tasks - ongoing issue
I'm assisting my son with his computer. He is using:
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-51G0
Processor
- Intel® Core(TM0) i7-870H CPU 2.20GHz
Mainboard
- Intel® HM370
Memory
- 16 GB DDR4-SDRAM
Display
- NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060
Energy Source
- LAPTOP AC power adapter, 180 W
Frequency: 50/60 Hz
Input voltage: 100 - 240 V
Storage
- SSD total capacity 1.13 TB
Storage type: HDD + SSD
Number of HDDs installed: 1
HDD size: 1 TB
Interface: SATA
Speed: 5400 RPM
SSD size: 128 GB
Interface: SATA III
Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
This issue began about two weeks ago and first appeared when running old Steam games that were recently reinstalled. Now it seems to affect other programs after several fixes. It’s causing delays in VR, all Steam titles, and some Microsoft apps. I suspect the hard drive might be failing.
Here’s what he has done:
We tested without a mouse or any USB devices connected. He reinstalled Steam completely, verified all files, updated Nvidia drivers, optimized games, ran defrag and chkdsk. The chkdsk command reported errors three times in a row, raising concerns about imminent drive failure. I’m unsure if he managed to clear it, so I’ll need to follow up tomorrow as he’s traveling.
He also ran clcleaner, updated DirectX, reinstalled Nvidia drivers, and updated laptop drivers from the official site, including audio settings. This appears to be a new issue over the past few weeks.
On games, audio is lagging during gameplay, with objectives updating slowly or loading issues causing significant delays. Frames drop from 300fps to 4fps for about 15 seconds before resuming. I think I might have missed something important, but I’ll gather any details needed.
Thank you.
It seems there is a high likelihood that your son’s hard drive is starting to fail. The best initial step would be to confirm the laptop is connected to a power source and functioning while playing games. Running on battery will cause significant throttling. I’m not sure this will fix everything, so the next action should be to reinstall the game, this time placing it on the SSD rather than the hard drive. If the performance improves while still plugged in, it suggests the hard drive is the issue.
You might also consider a full Windows reinstallation. This could be due to a failing Chkdsk process within the operating system. If your son has backed up his important files, you can restore Windows, reinstall Steam, and then install a game to check if the problem persists.
If none of these solutions work, replacing the hard drive is likely necessary. It appears it was primarily used for storing games, so it probably contains little valuable data. If it does, transfer it to an external drive or USB stick for backup. Make sure you have copies of the data before proceeding. Replacing the drive should be a straightforward process on most laptops. For guidance, refer to these videos:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdwSzRLftFE
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qCWh4UyfQU
As a recommendation, consider upgrading to a 1TB SSD with equal or greater capacity. SSDs are faster, more durable, quieter, and more energy-efficient—especially for laptops that move often. Here’s a suitable option:
Amazon.com