Program Lags when plugged in to power source

[Anonymous]

My colleague and I are both having trouble, suddenly, with our CAD (both 2020 and 2021) lagging when we're plugged in. As soon as our laptops are unplugged and running on battery we have no issues. We have updated our graphics drivers (Radeon Pro), our CAD is updated, we've tried working on the files off our network and just on the hard drive. We have set the GPU to high performance and still can't seem to find a solution. Our ITS department has run out of ideas so we're looking for fellow CAD users help!

[RobDraw]

It's not an issue with the program. Check your power saving/performance settings on the laptops.

[Anonymous]

Rob - I have looked there, and changed graphics power settings to maximize performance when plugged in, but that doesn't seem to do anything. And the settings for battery power are "maximize battery life" and yet CAD works better on battery. Thoughts? 

[RobDraw]

I think there is something that is different between the settings. Check everything.

[Anonymous]

I have checked everything, but am not sure what it should be. Are you able to tell me what the settings are supposed to be?

[RobDraw]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Are you able to tell me what the settings are supposed to be?

---

Nothing more than the ones that are assigned to battery power but you know that already.

Let me ask you this. When you are plugged in, are you also connecting into other things like a network or is everything else equal except for the power.

Also, could this be integrated video vs. dedicated switch happening when plugged in?

[Anonymous]

Everything is equal except the power source. 

What do you mean by: integrated video vs. dedicated switch? 

[dmfrazier]

"What do you mean by: integrated video vs. dedicated switch?"

@RobDrawis referring to the fact that in many notebooks (particularly for CAD) there are two graphics processors - one relatively low-powered on the motherboard (which helps to save battery power when not plugged in) and another, more high-powered one, on a "discrete" add-in card. Usually there is a utility that handles switching between the two under different circumstances, and it can be configured based on your preferences. However, if this were the issue here, one might expect the higher-powered graphics to kick in when you're plugged in, which should speed things up rather than slow them down.

This is not an easy nut to crack - so more information will help.

[pendean]

"suddenly" means something changed with both laptops: what is that? It could be something simple as a change to your location, or a Win10 update, or you added or removed software, or...? Find out, it is important, something changed for sure.

What are the make/model of these laptops?
And you are plugging into what exactly? Has that changed "suddenly"? is there an update for it that needs to be sought (or removed if it got installed "suddenly")?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Okay that's great. I have an Intel processor and a Radeon Pro one. Where would I go to find out how those preferences are set to so I can see if the higher powered one is being over ridden somehow when I'm plugged in? I have since discovered that turning off the graphics acceleration under "options" in CAD works, but am not sure if I should be addressing the root of the problem still?

[pendean]

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCA...
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-f...

[Anonymous]

@pendean  - our computers are set up to do automatic updates after hours, so I'm not sure what was scheduled to be installed. I'm on an HP Zedbook, Intel Core17, 64-bit operating system, windows 10, it also says there's a window feature experience pack? I'm not really sure what all is important....

I plug into a docking station, but also have a power cord when I'm at home. Same issues happen in both offices (home and campus). We've done all the windows updates, Radeon Pro updates some sort of BIOS updated at the end of last week too....

[dmfrazier]

In Windows Graphics Settings you should be able to set a preference for the high-powered processor when running AutoCAD.

I suspect, however, that you may have discovered the solution yourself when you turned off hardware acceleration. But this may be because the Radeon was not being used, so maybe once you force it to be used you can turn it back on and things will improve even more. (Who knows?)

[pendean]

The "experience pack" is a way for Microsoft to add/remove bloatware more seemlessly to your system: https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-windows-10s-windows-feature-experience-pack/

Options your IT should explore:

Step 1 Hard Reset -
1) Shutdown the computer.
2) Unplug all the Adapter and peripherals connected.
3) Remove the Battery.
4) Press and hold down the power button for 15 to 20 seconds.
5) Plug-in the Adapter and put the Battery back into the computer.
6) Try to turn on the laptop.

Step 2 BIOS Defaults -
1) Shutdown the computer.
2) Turn the computer back on again and repeatedly tap on the ESC until a Startup menu appears.
3) Press F10 once for BIOS.
4) Press F9 for BIOS defaults.
5) Press F10 to save and exit.

Otherwise... sounds like the laptop throttling performance when plugged in, which happens when you connect a power adapter that either has less wattage than the system is designed for, or a power adapter whose wattage can’t be determined. In the former case, the system reduces its performance to try to operate within the lower power budget. In the latter case, the system tries to play it safe by drawing as little power as possible from the unknown adapter, but adapters can become unknown due to hardware issues. Go into the BIOS, go to the Battery Information section, and check the indicated wattage of the AC adapter. If it says Unknown, then you either need a new AC adapter, a new motherboard (unlikely), or a new AC adapter jack if that’s a separate part within your system. Or you all have sudden issues with your batteries.

Also contact HP support: they need to be involved to diagnose the issue further. Pay $$ if needed.

Good luck.