I have a Dell Vostro with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD running Windows 11. Even after closing my apps, I keep finding Roblox using around 1.5 GB of memory and Microsoft Edge using about 1 GB, despite not opening either one. Ending their tasks only makes them return later. My games also start around 64 FPS and then drop to about 25 FPS after a few minutes, so I have to restart the computer to get smooth performance again. What can I do to stop unnecessary background processes and figure out what is causing the slowdown?
2 Answers
Use Task Manager’s Startup apps page to disable anything you do not want launching with Windows, then inspect the Processes tab when the FPS falls. Do not repeatedly force-close random Windows services, since some will restart normally and others are required by the system. If memory usage is high but CPU, GPU, and disk usage are low, RAM probably is not the actual cause. For the gaming slowdown, update the graphics driver, make sure the laptop is plugged in and set to its best-performance power mode, and check for overheating or throttling.
First check Task Manager while the slowdown is happening and sort by CPU, memory, disk, and GPU usage. A program appearing in memory does not automatically mean it is harming performance—Windows often uses spare RAM for caching, and Edge can keep background processes active for startup features. In Edge, open Settings and disable the option that allows it to continue running background extensions and apps. Also check Roblox’s startup entries and uninstall it if you do not need its launcher running. The FPS drop suggests you should also check CPU/GPU temperatures, power mode, graphics-driver issues, and whether another process is consuming CPU or disk resources.
The main problem is the FPS dropping from about 64 to 25 after a few minutes. Restarting temporarily fixes it, but the slowdown comes back even when I am not actively using those apps.