▲ 1 r/pchelp
Need help diagnosing ThinkPad T470s: Windows lags badly, Linux runs fine
I have an old ThinkPad T470s with i7 6th gen, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD.
• The issue started around 5–6 months ago when the laptop began lagging heavily
• Initially thought it was a Windows corruption issue, so Windows was reinstalled, but the problem remained
• Took it to a repair shop
- One technician said motherboard replacement is needed (almost the cost of the laptop)
- Another said it is not fixable
• Current usage goal is basic tasks like YouTube, MS Word, and PowerPoint
• Observations during troubleshooting
- Works fine on Ubuntu/Linux
- Lags heavily on Windows even during boot
- BIOS shows no lag or issues
- CPU temperatures go above 90°C if not limited
- Currently temperature is capped at 75°C in settings
- Behavior suggests possible thermal throttling but not confirmed
• Fixes already tried
- SSD replacement
- Switching between Windows and Linux installs
- Multiple thermal paste applications
- Last thermal paste job was not perfect (done for testing), which may contribute to high temperatures
• Additional issue
- After repair attempt, keyboard and speakers were damaged
• Looking for advice on
- Whether this can be fixed cheaply
- How to make it usable again for basic browsing and documentation work
NOTE:
I have tried minimal install windows 10 MULTIPLE TIMES.
The lag here is not like the normal lag, mouse has 1 sec delay while moving with 10 FPS, things are not opening. If you say k increase ram, I have tried with 16GB stick same issue, even windows explorer doesn't work smoothly.
u/Big-Ebb-2765 — 3 days ago