Why does my computer continue to run slowly when playing certain games?
Why does my computer continue to run slowly when playing certain games?
I’m attempting to understand the reason my machine experiences noticeable delays while running games such as DOOM or APEX Legends – specifically during initial loading screens or simple mouse movements within the main menu. My system’s hardware surpasses the minimum specifications recommended for these titles.
Hardware Specifications:
Intel Core i7-6700HQ Processor @ 2.6 GHz, with 4 Cores and 8 Threads
SMBIOS Version 2.8
8 GB of Installed RAM
3.5 GB of Available RAM
5.28 GB of Available Virtual Memory
Graphics Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M
Video Memory – 2 GB
The presence of a 6700HQ processor and graphics card strongly suggests you’re using a notebook. Consequently, any device equipped with that particular processor and its corresponding graphics card necessitates a 1080p display. Initially, the designation “960” doesn’t apply to laptops; it's actually a “960m.” NVIDIA’s “m” series GPUs within the 9-series line were historically known for poor performance. However, this situation improved with the introduction of the 10 series, as NVIDIA began utilizing identical chips across laptop models. By 2019, the “960” is outdated when running demanding graphics and will become entirely irrelevant in the near future. A minimum of 2gb of video memory is insufficient for anything beyond moderate textures. Furthermore, your system’s RAM presents a significant concern; it's most likely DDR3 with a slow speed and limited capacity. I believe the notion that “8gb is sufficient” can be definitively refuted, as it will struggle to perform adequately in many games.
The presence of a 6700HQ processor and GPU strongly suggests a laptop configuration. Considering this, I’m basing my assessment on the standard display resolution for these machines – 1080p. Initially, a “960” designation within a laptop context isn’t accurate; it's actually a 960m. The NVIDIA’s “m” series of the 9-series graphics cards were historically poor performers. However, with the introduction of the 10 series, NVIDIA began utilizing identical chips across laptop models. By 2019, the 960m became outdated at demanding settings and will rapidly become irrelevant. A mere 2gb of VRAM is insufficient for anything beyond moderate textures. Furthermore, your system's memory presents a significant concern – likely DDR3 with limited capacity and slow speeds. The notion that “8gb is sufficient” can be refuted definitively; while it might suffice for some games, it won't deliver competitive results in many titles, particularly Apex Legends. The CPU is adequate for multitasking at 2.6ghz, though its single-core turbo speed reaches 3.5ghz and it has 4 cores with 8 threads, not processors. For games like Doom, texturing issues and sluggish RAM will severely limit performance. Employing Vulcan API in Doom can help mitigate this. For Apex Legends, realistic expectations of good performance are unrealistic. I recommend maximizing CPU power through power management and ensuring the laptop has adequate ventilation by placing it on a solid surface. If overheating occurs, the CPU will intentionally slow down to prevent damage. These older components – DDR3, the 960m and the 7600HQ – are simply no longer capable. Lower your graphics settings and accept a lower frame rate.