The VPN connection on your HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U makes internet browsing and file access significantly slower than without VPN – downloads drop to a fraction of normal speed, video calls stutter on corporate VPN, or Teams meetings freeze during VPN sessions. Split tunneling and protocol optimization restore VPN performance on the HP EliteBook 840 G11.
This guide covers VPN split tunneling, protocol selection, Wi-Fi driver updates, and Ethernet use for the HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U in Windows 11.
“HP EliteBook 840 G11 Core Ultra 7 165U internet was very slow on corporate VPN. IT enabled split tunneling and changed VPN protocol to IKEv2. Internet speed returned to near-normal for non-work sites while corporate resources remained accessible via VPN. Video calls stopped buffering.” – Mohd Rizan, IT support engineer from Putrajaya

Why VPN Is Slow on HP EliteBook 840 G11
VPN slow speed on the HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U is most commonly caused by full-tunnel VPN configuration where all internet traffic is routed through the corporate VPN server. In full-tunnel mode, even loading a local Malaysian website first travels to the corporate server (possibly in KL, Singapore, or abroad) before returning to the user, adding significant latency and reducing bandwidth compared to direct internet access. VPN encryption and decryption overhead also adds CPU processing load, though the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U has hardware AES acceleration that minimizes this for modern VPN protocols like IKEv2 and WireGuard compared to older OpenVPN configurations.
- Full-tunnel VPN routing all internet through corporate server – no split tunneling
- VPN server located far from user – high latency for all tunneled traffic
- OpenVPN UDP/TCP protocol adding significant encryption overhead compared to IKEv2
- Wi-Fi interference causing packet loss amplified by VPN retransmission

Fix 1 – Enable Split Tunneling (Contact IT)
Split tunneling routes only corporate resources (internal servers, SharePoint, corporate email) through the VPN tunnel while sending general internet traffic directly to the internet without VPN encryption. For corporate-managed VPN clients (Cisco AnyConnect, Palo Alto GlobalProtect, Fortinet FortiClient), split tunneling must be configured by the IT administrator on the VPN server policy. Contact IT support and request split tunneling or ask if a split-tunnel policy profile is available. If using a personal VPN service (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark), open the VPN application settings and enable Split tunneling – add applications or sites that should use direct connection rather than VPN tunnel on the HP EliteBook 840 G11.
Fix 2 – Switch VPN Protocol to IKEv2 or WireGuard
If VPN client allows protocol selection (NordVPN, Mullvad, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN), change from OpenVPN to IKEv2/IPSec or WireGuard. WireGuard is the fastest modern VPN protocol with minimal CPU overhead – the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U processes WireGuard encryption efficiently using hardware-accelerated ChaCha20 cipher, delivering VPN throughput within 10-15 percent of unencrypted speeds. IKEv2/IPSec uses hardware AES-256 acceleration available in the Core Ultra 7 165U and provides stable reconnection on network changes (switching from office Wi-Fi to cellular hotspot). Both protocols are significantly faster than OpenVPN on the same network and server on the HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U platform.
Connect via Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi
VPN performance is directly limited by the underlying network connection. Wi-Fi introduces variable latency (from 2ms to 30ms depending on interference) and occasional packet loss that VPN protocols amplify through retransmission. Wired Ethernet via the HP EliteBook 840 G11 RJ45 port (or USB-C to Ethernet adapter) provides consistent 1-5ms latency and zero packet loss, improving VPN throughput and reducing disconnection events. For video calls over VPN, Ethernet provides the stable low-latency connection that Teams, Zoom, and WebEx require for clear audio and HD video without buffering. Use Ethernet at the desk and Wi-Fi only when mobility requires it during corporate VPN sessions.

Fix 3 – Update Intel Wi-Fi Driver for Better VPN Stability
Open HP Support Assistant and install Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 or Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 driver updates. Updated Intel Wi-Fi drivers improve packet scheduling performance that benefits VPN tunnel throughput on wireless connections. Specifically, updated drivers reduce the transmission queue latency that causes VPN retransmissions over Wi-Fi, improving sustained throughput on WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols. After driver update, disable Wi-Fi adapter power saving in Device Manager – Network adapters – Intel Wi-Fi – Properties – Power Management – uncheck Allow computer to turn off for power save. Keeping the Wi-Fi adapter fully powered prevents the 1-2 second reconnection that disrupts VPN tunnels when the adapter wakes from its low-power scanning state on the HP EliteBook 840 G11.
Fix 4 – Select Nearest VPN Server
For personal VPN services, select a VPN server geographically close to your location for lower latency. From Malaysia, servers in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong provide the best latency (20-60ms) compared to European or US servers (200-350ms). Lower base latency from server proximity improves all VPN-tunneled traffic including web browsing, video streaming, and file downloads. Check the VPN application server list for the ping time shown next to each server location and connect to the server with the lowest ping for best performance on the HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U. Corporate VPN server selection is typically determined by IT policy based on which regional gateway the license is assigned to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix VPN slow speed on HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U?
Enable split tunneling (ask IT for corporate VPN). Switch protocol to WireGuard or IKEv2. Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Select nearest VPN server. Update Intel Wi-Fi driver via HP Support Assistant.
Why is HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U internet slow on VPN?
Full-tunnel VPN routing all traffic through corporate server (no split tunneling is most common). Split tunneling, faster protocol, and nearest server selection are the three biggest speed improvements.
Does HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U support WireGuard VPN?
Yes – WireGuard client available from wireguard.com for Windows. Compatible with WireGuard VPN providers (Mullvad, ProtonVPN, NordVPN). Hardware ChaCha20 acceleration on Core Ultra 7 165U provides fast WireGuard throughput.
Why does HP EliteBook 840 G11 VPN disconnect frequently?
Wi-Fi power saving interrupting tunnel. Disable Wi-Fi adapter power management in Device Manager. Ethernet provides most stable VPN connection. IKEv2 protocol reconnects automatically faster than OpenVPN after brief disconnects.
Conclusion
HP EliteBook 840 G11 Intel Core Ultra 7 165U VPN slow speed in Windows 11 is addressed primarily by enabling split tunneling to route only corporate traffic through the VPN while allowing direct internet access for general browsing, eliminating the latency and bandwidth reduction from routing all traffic through remote corporate servers. Protocol switch to WireGuard or IKEv2 reduces encryption overhead compared to OpenVPN, leveraging Intel Core Ultra 7 165U hardware acceleration. Ethernet connection eliminates Wi-Fi packet loss amplification in VPN retransmission. Nearest server selection minimizes base latency contribution to all VPN-tunneled traffic performance on the HP EliteBook 840 G11 corporate remote work platform.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has spent over 15 years troubleshooting Windows hardware and driver issues across major laptop brands. He writes practical, step-by-step guides for everyday users at softwaredriverdownload.com.
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