Question Odd gaming performance after repaste (throttling?)
Question Odd gaming performance after repaste (throttling?)
Hello,
I’m experiencing thermal issues with my Asus ROG Zephyrus s GX502GW (i7-9750H, RTX 2070). The BIOS version is 308, and the problem has also occurred with newer versions. Initially, when the laptop was new, throttle temperatures were reached shortly after gaming. The CPU would hit 95°C at around 3.4 to 3.6 GHz, while the GPU stayed at 86°C near 1350 MHz. These readings stayed fairly consistent during extended use. Over time, the GPU lost its ability to maintain the throttle temperature, sometimes exceeding 92°C and causing the clock speed to drop below 800 MHz. I decided it was time for a refurbishment.
After replacing the CPU and GPU temperatures, things improved significantly. However, a new problem emerged: I’m now experiencing repeated lagging. The laptop operates normally at throttled speeds for a few minutes (5-10), then the lag becomes very strong for 40-60 seconds before it recovers briefly...
When I checked the temperatures during these lags, they dropped quickly—within 3 to 8 seconds—to around 70°C for both GPU and CPU. The CPU load decreased roughly in half, while the GPU remained at full capacity but its clock frequency fell from 1350 to 1200 MHz. Frame buffer usage also decreased. The GPU temperature warning changed from a temperature limit to a utilization alert.
In games such as Halo Reach, FPS drops from about 200 to 60-70. In Jedi Survivor, it falls to 2-5 FPS. The 60 fps in Halo feels unusual—there’s much more noticeable sluggishness and delayed controls. Graphics settings don’t seem to help much, except screen resolution. At 1440p the lag appears every minute, while at 1080p it happens every 5-10 minutes.
Currently, I use Throttlestop to cap the CPU clock at 2.6 GHz and have reduced the GPU voltage. Lowering the resolution to 720p eliminated the lag entirely. Temperatures no longer reach throttle limits.
I suspect the 0.5 thermal pads might be too thin, so I had to do another refurbishment. This time I installed a cooler without paste or pads, using shims of varying thicknesses to find the right fit, and applied the appropriate thicknesses. Still, the problem persists. I’m using Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut and Arctic TP3 coolers.
I wanted to ask if there might be another cause I’m missing?
Thank you in advance.
Hey there,
I don't believe using a thermal pad is the right choice for a CPU, especially for a direct to die like the 9750h. A quality thermal paste such as Noctua NT-H2 would be better, and it can also work for the GPU.
Your approach with Throttlestop seems mixed up. You're aiming to push all core boost speeds to 4ghz for maximum FPS in games while maintaining lower temperatures. I own an HP Omen with comparable specs.
Run TS, then access TSBench and limits. Perform a quick test—it will clearly identify the cause of throttling, whether it's EDP, PL1, or PL2.
I applied paste to the CPU and GPU (Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut). The pads cover VRAM and several other components. Because they all use the same cooler, I had to replace the pads too.
Throttlestop reports no limit reason during lagging. The laptop previously handled throttle temperatures for extended periods. I believe this consistent lag isn't due to CPU or GPU throttling, as temperatures decrease when lag occurs. It could be related to VRAM overheating or another component. I can't see the temperature, so it's possible and could explain the varying behavior.