Gaming laptop only runs smooth when plugged in - battery mode is trash

[Andrul]

What's up everyone,

Got this really annoying problem with my laptop and I'm hoping someone here has dealt with this before.

My specs:

• 8GB RAM / 512GB SSD
• AMD Radeon RX 6500M (4GB)
• Can't remember the exact CPU but it's decent enough

The issue:So I've been trying to play some newer games like Uncharted 4, Resident Evil (the newer ones), and basically any recent game. When I'm running on battery, the performance is absolutely terrible. We're talking like 15-20 fps, stuttering, the whole nine yards. Makes games completely unplayable.
But here's the weird part - the SECOND I plug in the charger, boom. Smooth as butter. 60fps no problem, no stuttering, everything just works perfectly.

What I've tried:

• Messed around in Windows power settings (set to high performance)
• Updated GPU drivers
• Checked if there's some battery saver mode screwing things up
• Made sure the games are actually using the dedicated GPU and not integrated

Nothing seems to help. It's like my laptop just refuses to use its full power when unplugged.

The real problem:I travel a lot for work and wanted to game during flights and in hotels. Can't always find a power outlet, you know? Kinda defeats the purpose of having a gaming laptop if I need to be tethered to the wall all the time.
Is this just how gaming laptops work? Like, am I being unrealistic expecting decent performance on battery? Or is there some setting I'm missing that's throttling everything when unplugged?
My buddy says all gaming laptops do this but I feel like there's gotta be a workaround. Maybe some advanced power settings or BIOS tweaks?
Really hoping someone here has figured this out because right now my "portable" gaming setup isn't very portable at all lol.
Any help would be awesome. Even if it's just confirmation that I'm stuck with this, at least I'll stop banging my head against the wall trying to fix it.


Thanks guys!

 

[ChatGPT]

You’re describing one of the most frustrating realities of modern gaming laptops: severe performance throttling on battery power. Here’s why this happens, what you can (and can’t) fix, and a few advanced “try-at-your-own-risk” tweaks.

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Why Your Laptop Tanks on Battery​

In a nutshell:
Modern gaming laptops—especially with discrete GPUs like your RX 6500M—are designed to limit performance when on battery to avoid:

• Draining the battery in minutes
• Overheating components that aren’t designed for turbo-mode without wall power
• Exceeding what the battery can safely deliver (most battery circuits can’t handle max CPU+GPU load continuously)

So yes, your friend is right:
Nearly every gaming laptop does this, and the effect is especially brutal with AMD and NVIDIA's recent mobile GPUs.

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What You’ve Tried (Good Steps!)​

• Windows Power Settings: Setting to “High Performance” does help, but many laptops ignore this while on battery, following firmware-level limits.
• Drivers: Having the latest AMD GPU drivers is essential, but these cannot override hardware-imposed throttling.
• Battery Saver: Good to check, but again, the system usually throttles even with saver OFF.
• Ensured dGPU Use: Smart move, but on-battery the dGPU is still limited for power reasons.

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What You Might Be Able to Do​

1. Check Manufacturer Control Software​

• Many brands (like Asus Armoury Crate, Lenovo Vantage, MSI Dragon Center) let you pick “Performance Mode” specifically on battery and sometimes relax (a little) the limits.
• Message: Sometimes these only affect plugged-in state, but dig deep in “Advanced” or “Battery” menus for “Maximum Performance” or “High Performance on Battery”.

2. BIOS/UEFI Tweaks​

• Some BIOS setups let you alter CPU power profiles, disable “Battery Safety” features, or select “Performance over Battery Life”.
  Warning: The majority of OEMs lock this down to prevent warranty and hardware damage issues.
• Look for:
  • CPU Power Throttling / Power Limits
  • GPU Modes or Dynamic Switchable Graphics settings
  • Platform Power Modes

3. AMD Adrenalin Settings​

• Open AMD Radeon Software (Adrenalin), look for Power Tuning, and see if you can set a custom power mode for “On Battery.” It’s often locked, but worth checking.

4. Windows Group Policy (for Advanced Users)​

• You can occasionally nudge Windows to be less aggressive by making/tweaking these policies:
  • gpedit.msc > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management
  • Adjust “Energy Saver” and “Processor Power Management” settings.
• Results are mixed and very OEM-dependent.

5. Extreme Measures (Not Recommended)​

• Throttlestop or equivalent: Some tools let you tweak CPU/GPU behavior, but for most laptops, these still can’t override firmware-level battery caps.
• Battery Life Sacrifice: Even if you “unlock” higher performance, your real-world gaming will usually be under 1 hour per charge—sometimes less, with heat and instability risks.

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TL;DR: Is This Fixable?​

• If your BIOS and vendor utilities don’t offer an override, then no: Current gaming laptops are deliberately designed not to run at full performance on battery.
• Even the few that allow it offer minimal battery life because modern CPUs/GPUs are too powerful for current battery tech to keep up.
• You’re NOT being unrealistic—marketing makes these things look way more “portable” than reality delivers for gaming workloads.

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Practical Advice​

• For travel gaming:
  • Lower settings/resolution on battery (sometimes helps a bit, but the FPS cap is often imposed anyway).
  • Try cloud gaming if you have reliable internet in hotels.
  • Carry a compact high-wattage power bank with a compatible DC or USB-C (100W+) output, if your laptop allows charging this way—it might allow for “plugged-in” speeds on the go.
• Otherwise, use the laptop for less demanding games or emulator gaming off-battery.

You’re not “stuck” because you missed a secret setting—it’s a frustrating, very common reality of gaming laptops today.

If you want to post your exact laptop make/model or upload a screenshot of your BIOS or vendor utility settings, I can take a closer look for any rare exceptions. But for 99%: full gaming power = wall outlet, sadly.
Let me know if you want step-by-step checks for your model!