I've been experiencing lag on my laptop while trying to play online games, but it wasn't an issue just a week ago. I own a Predator PHN16-71 with an NVIDIA RTX 4050 and an Intel Core i5, and I run Windows 11. Games like Fortnite and Marvel Rivals have started lagging heavily, while I can still play 3D games just fine. My internet seems stable too. I followed prompts from the NVIDIA application to install new drivers, but the lag is still present. I'm not sure what caused this change, and I could really use some help! (P.S. Sorry if my English is off; it's not my first language.)
3 Answers
It sounds like your laptop still has the specs to run those games, so it could be an overheating issue or a software conflict. Check your background applications and make sure there aren’t resource hogs running when you’re gaming. Also, keep your drivers updated and consider monitoring your temperature when playing.
When your laptop starts lagging, do the fans get super loud? If they are, it might be time to clean them out. Sometimes, the thermal paste that comes pre-installed isn't great, and replacing it can help with heat management as well. Just be careful if it’s liquid metal; that’s trickier to deal with than standard thermal paste.
You might want to try doing a clean install of your NVIDIA drivers. There’s an option you can select that removes previous versions, which can sometimes help with performance issues. Also, check if your laptop's fans are clean; dust buildup can cause overheating and lag during gameplay.
How do I clean the fans effectively? Any tips?