Internet speed drops drastically when launching any game (Lenovo 15IRX9)

Experiencing Significant Internet Speed Drops When Launching Games on Lenovo 15IRX9

Many gamers and remote workers rely heavily on stable and high-speed internet connections. However, some Lenovo 15IRX9 users have reported an unusual phenomenon: their internet speed drastically decreases upon launching certain applications or games, leading to degraded performance and frustrating lag spikes.

The Issue at a Glance

Users have observed that their internet bandwidth, which initially measures around 900 Mbps via Speedtest, can plummet to as low as 100 Mbps—and sometimes even less—immediately after starting a game. This decline isn’t just a minor fluctuation; it results in noticeable micro-lags, with connection quality dropping to under 10 Mbps, and upload speeds falling to approximately 0.1 Mbps. Such issues severely impair online gaming experiences, causing lag, stuttering, and overall network instability.

Affected Systems and Testing Conditions

The problem appears specific to the Lenovo 15IRX9 model but has been tested across different connectivity methods. Both Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connections have been affected, ruling out simple connection type issues. Standard troubleshooting steps—such as resetting DNS and IP configurations, disabling network driver power management settings, and rebooting both the laptop and modem—have not produced any improvements.

Potential Causes and Troubleshooting Approaches

While this issue can stem from multiple underlying causes, a few common factors might be involved:

Network Driver Conflicts: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause conflicting network behavior.
Background Processes: Applications or system processes consuming bandwidth during gaming sessions.
Resource Allocation: System resources being heavily taxed or misconfigured, affecting network priorities.
Power Settings: Power management settings that throttle network performance.

Recommendations for Resolution

If you are experiencing similar issues, consider the following steps:

Update Network Drivers: Ensure that your network adapter drivers are up-to-date with the latest version from Lenovo or the device manufacturer.
Check for Background Applications: Use Task Manager to identify and close applications that may be consuming bandwidth or system resources during gaming sessions.
Adjust Power Settings: Switch power plans to ‘High Performance’ and disable any power-saving features related to the network adapter.
Disable QoS or Traffic Shaping: Review your router’s Quality of Service settings to prevent prioritization issues.
Use Network Monitoring Tools: Tools like Resource Monitor or third-party applications can help identify unusual network activity