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8 Potential Problems You Encounter While Gaming on a Laptop

Advancement in technology led to the introduction of robust gaming laptops that come with high end-graphics and faster performance. Today’s users have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to gaming laptops. 

If you’re an avid player, you would love to spend hours gaming on your laptop. There are times when you find that your laptop is not performing as usual, and this might be due to a hardware breakdown or software malfunction, or any other similar issues. 

In this article, we will discuss the problems you face with your laptop while gaming. And how we can troubleshoot the device in case it starts to show signs of distress.

Overheating

Excessive heating of the laptop is a common problem that keeps your laptop from functioning normally. There are a number of reasons that cause the system to overheat. 

Hardware breakdown, such as if the fans stop working, may result in a persisting problem. 

Additionally, faulty software that might be consuming excessive system resources or dust buildup can be the reasons why the laptop is not performing 100%. In many cases, cleaning the laptop from outside and inside or deleting heavy-load apps helps fix the issue.

Keyboard Not Working

For a smooth gaming experience, it’s important for all the internal and external components of the computer to work properly. If any of the devices, such as the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad, stops working, gaming on a laptop may not be possible. 
More often, users experience problems with the keyboard, such as the escape button not working Mac or the command key stops working, for example. This prevents them from exiting a window quickly or using gaming shortcuts on Mac.

Poor Battery Life

Battery drainage stops your computer from working even when there is no technical glitch with the hardware. Gamers must ensure that their laptops are fully charged before they start a long gaming session with friends. 

If the battery is draining quickly, you might need to replace the charge with a new one. However, check that the power outlet you use to plug the laptop charger is in good condition and is working properly.

Freezing Game Sessions

When you experience your games freezing continuously, one or more system components might be underperforming. For an uninterrupted gaming experience, it’s important that all the components receive sufficient system resources to work properly. 

Several high-end games consume a good volume of RAM, storage, processing power, and graphics resources, so keep track to prevent resource scarcity. Else, go back and deactivate other resource easting programs to ensure error-free gaming.

Graphics-Related Glitches

Graphics are a vital part of the gaming routine; without them, you can expect your gaming to be exciting. With video games, the artifacts may appear as misaligned geometrical elements, flickering objects, textures that display incorrectly, or strange visual output. 

If you see visual glitches, check if the graphics processing unit (GPU) drivers are up-to-date. You may also need to uninstall and then reinstall GPU drivers to make them work properly. If you see the signs of visual strangeness, the card is failing and needs to be replaced.

Random Shutdowns

Nothing can be more frustrating than your system shutting down randomly after every few minutes. The reason can be a missing system file, or the hard drive may have bad sectors on it. In that case, you need to take out the hard drive and get it repaired.

Traditional hard drives are prone to errors and failure; consider replacing them with SSDs. The solid-state drives are built on the latest technology and are fail-proof. Plus, they are relatively more power-efficient than the hard drives.

Distorted Videos

As mentioned above, outdated drivers can cause slow gaming. After you update your GPU drivers, make sure to check what version of video drivers you are running on your laptop and if there is an advanced version available on the manufacturer’s website. 

If an update is available, install it right then to avoid further glitches. Before you begin the process to update video drivers, make sure that the internet is working properly. You can do this by streaming a Youtube video on your laptop.

Slow Internet Speed

Another major reason that can cause sluggish and interrupted gaming is the slow WiFi. Check if the WiFi is working properly on other devices, such as the phone and tablets. If yes, the problem is with the laptop only, so detect the error to implement the right fix. 

Resetting the internet devices, such as the router and modem, can help. Turn off these devices and unplug them from the power outlet. Now wait for 20 minutes and then plug the devices back into the wall outlet. Turn them on and check if WiFi is working on the laptop.

Conclusion

While gaming on a laptop offers flexibility and convenience, it also presents potential challenges that can affect the overall gaming experience. From overheating and keyboard malfunctions to battery drainage and graphics glitches, these issues can be frustrating for gamers. However, with proper troubleshooting and maintenance, many of these problems can be resolved. By staying vigilant and taking proactive measures, gamers can ensure smooth and enjoyable gaming sessions on their laptops.