Computer gets dramatically slower after 15ish minutes

Experiencing Persistent Performance Decline After 15 Minutes: Troubleshooting a Slowing Laptop

Introduction

A reliable laptop is essential for productivity and entertainment, but what happens when your device begins to slow down unexpectedly after a short period of use? Many users encounter this issue, which can significantly disrupt workflow and user experience. In this article, we explore common causes and troubleshooting steps for a laptop that performs well initially but degrades dramatically after around 15 minutes of operation.

Case Overview

Consider a two-year-old Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, equipped with an 11th Generation Intel Core processor, 16 GB of RAM, and an RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. The user reports that the device functions smoothly at first but then experiences a sudden and dramatic slowdown. Often, even basic tasks like browsing with Chrome become laggy or unresponsive, with tabs freezing and buffering.

Initial Observations and Suspected Causes

Based on the description, several potential reasons could contribute to this performance issue:

1. Thermal Throttling: Gaming laptops like the Acer Nitro 5 are designed with powerful hardware that generates substantial heat. Overheating can trigger the CPU or GPU to throttle performance in an attempt to prevent damage, leading to noticeable slowdowns after sustained use.

2. Background Processes and Resource Usage: Excessive background applications or processes might consume CPU, RAM, or disk resources over time, causing the system to become sluggish.

3. Cooling and Ventilation Issues: Dust accumulation or blocked vents can impair cooling efficiency, increasing the risk of thermal throttling.

4. Hardware or Driver Anomalies: Outdated or incompatible drivers, or hardware issues, could also impact performance stability.

5. Malware or Software Conflicts: Although initial scans suggest no malware presence, some infections or software conflicts may evade basic scans.

Troubleshooting Steps

To identify and address the root cause, consider the following steps:

1. Monitor Temperatures and Performance

2. Use hardware monitoring tools such as HWinfo, HWmonitor, or MSI Afterburner to observe CPU and GPU temperatures while the laptop is running.

3. Check if temperatures exceed normal operating ranges (typically 80–90°C for CPUs and GPUs under load).

4. Observe performance metrics like CPU load, GPU load, and clock speeds over time.

5. Verify Cooling and Ventilation

6. Ensure vents are clear of dust and debris.

7. Use