Thanks for providing details! Lag in Stardew Valley after a short play session is fairly common on systems with integrated graphics or limited memory, but there are some targeted steps you can try:
1. Graphics Driver Update
- Make sure your Intel graphics drivers are the latest version. Outdated drivers can cause sudden performance drops, especially after the game runs a while.
2. Power Settings
- Go to Control Panel → Power Options, and set your laptop to “High performance.” Laptops sometimes throttle GPU/CPU speed on balanced/power-saver plans, which causes lag during gameplay.
3. In-Game Optimizations
- Keep “VSync” enabled (to prevent excessive frame drops).
- Set “Lighting Quality” to Low and turn off “Bloom.”
- Lower the game’s resolution to 1280x720 if you’re running at 1080p.
4. Background Processes
- You’ve closed background apps, but double-check for heavy processes (open Task Manager and sort by CPU & Memory usage). Windows Update, Antivirus scans, or cloud sync (OneDrive, Google Drive) can spike unexpectedly.
5. Game Installation Location
- If Stardew Valley is installed on a traditional HDD and not an SSD, try moving it to an SSD if possible. Spinning drives can bottleneck asset loading, leading to stutter.
6. Disable Full-Screen Optimization
- Right-click Stardew Valley’s shortcut → Properties → Compatibility → Check “Disable full-screen optimizations.”
7. Temperature & Throttling
- Monitor your laptop’s temperature. Thermal throttling after a few minutes of play is common, especially on slim laptops with minimal cooling. Use free tools like HWMonitor to check if CPU/GPU temps shoot up while playing.
8. Optional: Try Compatibility/DirectX Modes
- Stardew Valley has a DirectX and OpenGL option: try launching with the opposite API (Steam → right-click Stardew Valley → Properties → “Launch Options” → enter --opengl or --force-d3d).
If you’re still having trouble:
Let me know if you see high CPU/RAM usage in Task Manager, or if your laptop feels hot or noisy when the lag starts—that can narrow down if it’s throttling or a memory leak.
Feel free to upload a DxDiag report for a closer look at your system specs and logs. Let’s get your farm running smoothly!