The laptop is no longer able to play games it could before a few months ago, despite a complete reinstall.
The laptop is no longer able to play games it could before a few months ago, despite a complete reinstall.
Specs: Processor i5-12450H, Graphics RTX 3050 with 4GB VRAM, 16 GB RAM. I purchased this laptop in July and it performed well initially, consistently hitting around 60 FPS with stable performance even at higher settings. After a short gaming break, I returned to find only 40 FPS at best, often dropping to 20%. I ran a factory reset and reinstalled the OS, but the issue persisted. I’ve observed the CPU usage starts low (around 40%) when the game launches and then drops significantly to 10-20%. Anyone have insights on why the performance dropped so much? The game is Genshin Impact.
I opened it up a few days ago and cleared out most of the dust from the fan, using a wipe as well. Although it wasn’t very thorough, there was definitely less dust now. However, the improvement wasn’t significant. I suspect there might be an issue with the fan since the CPU consistently runs at high temperatures even when the load is low. It’s been under a year since I bought it, so I’m unsure if I should consider repasting. A cooling pad could potentially help.
Absolutely, if CPU temperatures stay high while workload is minimal, it might be worth a repaste.
Ensure the heatsink stays securely in position until other solutions are considered. After that, I spotted some dust accumulating inside the heatsink. Once cleared, return to normal. Visit a nearby office supply store and purchase compressed air cans. Carefully remove the laptop and spray it thoroughly through each vent opening. With modern fans and heatsinks, the channels are usually sealed tightly, so loosening fan screws can help improve airflow.
You placed an order for a can of compressed air, hoping it will resolve the overheating issue upon delivery. You plan to attempt loosening the screws and, if unsuccessful, consider whether the fan might be the root cause.
They mentioned the dust was mostly cleared away. I’d strongly suggest updating the thermal paste. After just 1.5 years of regular use, the paste on my GPU’s heat sink became very dry. Now three years in, I haven’t needed to replace it yet. One tip for @MuonicAnalysis is to let the device cool before testing the GPU load and watching how fast it warms up. A larger initial temperature rise indicates the paste has dried out and needs replacing. Cleaning the fans helped a bit, but it didn’t restore performance to its original level—only a fresh application resolved the issue.
I’m happy to help with your concerns. Choosing the right thermal paste depends on your laptop model—some recommend specific brands for optimal performance. Liquid metal isn’t common in consumer laptops, so you’ll want to confirm your device’s requirements first. Working with thermal paste can be tricky; even small mistakes might damage your motherboard if you’re not careful.