I have used my Dell XPS 15 7590 as my daily laptop for about six years and would like to keep gaming on it rather than buying a new machine right now. It has an Intel i7-9750H, 16 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 alongside Intel UHD Graphics 630, and about 831 GB of storage in use.
The NVIDIA and Dell drivers are updated, and the system passed Dell's hardware scan. Older or less demanding games such as The Sims 4, Fallout 4, Call of Duty, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order generally run acceptably at reduced settings. However, after an update, Fallen Order developed severe visual problems and performance issues, and Blood of Dawnwalker runs badly even with everything set to minimum. Cutscenes are especially difficult to get through.
I understand the laptop is several years old and that newer games may not run perfectly, but is there anything worthwhile I can do to optimize it? I would consider spending some money on upgrades if they would make a meaningful difference, although replacing the laptop is currently difficult financially.
4 Answers
Upgrading to 32 GB of RAM or replacing a slow drive with an SSD can improve general responsiveness and reduce loading or stuttering caused by storage. However, your 16 GB of RAM is usually adequate for gaming, and those upgrades will not substantially improve graphics performance. I would only spend money on them if you also need more storage or use the laptop for memory-heavy work.
The main limitation is the GTX 1650 mobile GPU, which was entry-level even when this laptop was released. Newer AAA games, especially demanding Unreal Engine 5 titles, can be below what this hardware can handle at 1080p. Updating drivers is still good, but it cannot overcome the GPU’s performance ceiling. Try lowering the resolution to 720p or using FSR or another upscaling option if the game supports it, though the result may still not be smooth.
Your laptop still has some life left for older games and lighter settings, but the newer game you mentioned is probably just beyond its hardware. The XPS line also was not designed as a high-performance gaming series, so cooling and sustained power can be limiting factors. It makes more sense to stretch this machine with reduced resolution and settings, then save toward a replacement with a newer dedicated GPU when possible.
There are a few low-cost things worth checking: make sure the laptop is plugged in, use the high-performance power mode, confirm the game is running on the NVIDIA GPU rather than Intel graphics, and monitor temperatures for thermal throttling. Cleaning dust and replacing old thermal paste might help if it is overheating. Closing background programs or debloating Windows can also free up a little headroom, but none of these changes will turn it into a modern gaming system.
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