Windows 11 runs slowly even when using minimal resources.
Windows 11 runs slowly even when using minimal resources.
Hi, I need some help troubleshooting my computer. For the last few weeks I have been having really bad lag, and its not related to resources. Even if I did not have 2024 gaming hardware, its only running at <25% CPU, GPU, and RAM. When the lag is happening (about anytime that the computer is using more than 5% CPU) it has frame drops every 0.5-2 seconds or so, and these seem to be not just in games, but other software and windows itself. If the hurt to productivity was not bad enough, it makes watching YouTube almost unbearable; it freezes for a second or 2 every 15 or 20 seconds (video stops, audio keeps playing), and when its really bad, it will play at 50% speed with really bad audio ~30% of the time. Also it certainly was not always like this, not to long ago I'd be running 5 Intellij's a few instances of Minecraft, 4-5 hundred tabs in my browser (most snoozed) and able to watch YouTube fine. What have I tried so far? I ran check disk, but it found no issues, I ran some command to scan for corrupt files and it "found and repaired some files", but that seemed to make little or no difference. I've uninstalled old apps, I've turned off almost all startup apps, I've made sure almost nothing is running in task manager, but no luck. I don't think its the issue, but I'm running a full virus scan right now, so I'll see if that archives anything. Anyway, I'd much rather not do a fresh install, but if I cannot fix this lag otherwise, I am open to the idea. Thanks in advance for the help, not knowing enough about troubleshooting computers, I've been quite lost. P.S. I'm not sure, and its not regular, but it seems like the lag often comes in spikes every 1/2 second or so, and not just continues, does that mean anything? Also I hope the is the correct category, mb if its not.
You need to mention your PC specifications first. If a fresh install solves it, it's clearly a software issue. If it doesn't, it's a hardware issue. Keep updating with more specific details op.
Same issue here, but I also face a problem where the system believes the C button is pressed. I assumed it was malware or a W/E, but after reinstalling Windows and updating everything again, it still lags and keeps pressing the C button (only this machine). I tried using three different keyboards... it doesn’t work on other PCs.
You're using a Dell G16 7630 with an Intel i9-13900HX processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, 64GB Crucial 4800MT/s RAM across two slots, an NVMe S880 2TB SSD. The problem you're facing is newer than your recent RAM upgrade. You mentioned you have some free time tonight to reinstall drivers and see if that resolves the issue. Thanks!
oef and i thought i had an issue examining the i9 it could be that... i have a friend who has swapped his i9 nine times already.... the specs here are intel i5 14600k asus rog strix z790-h gaming wifi corsair ddr5 vengeance rgb 4x16gb 7200 nvidia geforce rtx 5080 founders edition samsung 980 pro 2tb m.2 ssd, 2tb xpg spectrix s40g rgb gaming, samsung 990 pro 4tb m.2 ssd corsair hx1000 v2 power supply windows 11 pro (installed wednesday)
After completing the virus scan, some additional suggestions led me to disable McAfee. Almost immediately, most of the lag disappeared, which seems to be another case of antivirus interfering with users. Overall, thank you very much for your assistance and responses. Whenever I reach out on these forums, it’s usually because I can’t locate helpful information on Google, and everyone here is so supportive.
Hello, I see you're curious about why some people still use third-party AVs such as McAfee while Windows Defender handles things well now. It's understandable—there are valid reasons for those choices. Let me know if you'd like more details!
Your message also mentions that your issue has been resolved, which is great to hear.
I sometimes check my PC and have reset it too hard, making it tough to restore. That’s why I usually run Malwarebytes whenever I want a scan, then delete it right away. Third-party tools are much easier for me since they handle exceptions better. I do many specialized tasks on my system, and Microsoft Defender often marks everything as threats—even when it’s safe. It also forces all folders into exceptions, so I just wipe it clean. After scanning, I install Malwarebytes whenever needed. That’s the simplest approach for me.