A Dell Precision 5690 is built for heavy work, with a Core Ultra processor and an NVIDIA RTX graphics card, so slowness is nearly always settings, heat or software. Dell Optimizer and the thermal profile control how hard it runs: the Quiet or Cool profile holds speed back, and Ultra Performance lets it run at full power. Check the profile in Dell Power Manager or the My Dell app. On battery the laptop saves power by limiting performance, so plug in the original 130 W or larger adapter; a smaller one makes the laptop throttle under load.
Check Task Manager for a process using the CPU, GPU or disk, and note that workstation applications can use the NVIDIA card only when set to; open the NVIDIA control panel and assign the application to the high-performance GPU.
The checks in more detail
Update the BIOS, the Intel and NVIDIA drivers and ISV drivers if you use certified software. Heat is a factor: clean the vents and use a hard surface. A drive nearly full slows large projects. Check also that Windows Game Mode and Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling are not causing stutter in your applications, and update the Windows build; and, for certified applications such as CAD or video software, install the ISV-certified NVIDIA RTX Enterprise driver rather than the Game Ready driver, since it is tested with those applications.
A final possibility on a workstation is memory pressure: open Task Manager, Performance, Memory, and watch committed memory during your usual work. If it sits near the limit, the laptop pages to the drive and every application slows, and the fix is to close tabs and background tools or to ask Dell about a memory upgrade, since the memory capacity is fixed by the configuration.
Differential
Likely causes of “Dell Precision 5690 is running very slowly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A quiet thermal profile
What separates it Speed is held back
How to confirm Dell Power Manager: choose Ultra Performance when plugged in
- 2
A low-power adapter or battery power
What separates it It throttles under load
How to confirm Use the original high-wattage adapter and plug in
- 3
An application on the integrated GPU
What separates it A 3D or CAD app is slow
How to confirm NVIDIA control panel: set it to the high-performance GPU
- 4
Heat
What separates it It slows after minutes of load
How to confirm Clean the vents and use a hard surface
- 5
Old BIOS or drivers
What separates it Stutter or freezes
How to confirm Update from Dell's support page
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The thermal profile
- Whether it is on the original adapter
- The GPU used by the application
- The temperature under load
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedCheck the thermal profile
ReversibleDell Power Manager or My Dell.
Plug in the original adapter
ReversibleA high-wattage one.
Assign apps to the NVIDIA GPU
ReversibleIn the NVIDIA control panel.
Look at Task Manager
ReversibleFor a busy process.
Clean the vents
ReversibleAnd use a hard surface.
Update the BIOS and drivers
ReversibleFrom Dell's support page.
Install the certified driver
ReversibleUse the NVIDIA RTX Enterprise driver for ISV applications.
Test with Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling off
ReversibleSettings, System, Display, Graphics, and compare.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Thermal profiles
- They trade noise for speed.
- GPU assignment
- Workstation apps need the NVIDIA card selected.
- ISV drivers
- Certified drivers are tested for professional software.
- GPU scheduling
- It can help or hurt depending on the application.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it throttles at idle temperatures, contact Dell
- !If the SSD reports errors, back up and ask Dell
- !Check ISV certification for your software
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why is my Precision 5690 slow?+
A quiet profile, battery power or an app on the wrong GPU.
Which adapter does it need?+
The original high-wattage one.
What is Ultra Performance?+
A thermal profile for full speed.
Do I need ISV drivers?+
For certified applications, yes.
Should I use the Game Ready driver?+
The enterprise driver suits professional apps.
What is GPU scheduling?+
A Windows graphics feature.