Brief latency fluctuations
Brief latency fluctuations
Let's begin with a breakdown of my computer’s specifications. I purchased this PC from Cyberpower in 2013, and I've upgraded nearly all of its components besides the processor and motherboard since then.
My system includes an Intel Core i7-4820K processor running at 3.7GHz, a 1TB SATA III hard drive with a rotational speed of 7200RPM, and a 64GB solid-state drive. My graphics card is an EVGA GeForce GTX 970, and the motherboard is an MSI x79A-GD45 Plus. I have 16GB of RAM and a dual monitor configuration.
Over the last week, I’ve experienced a persistent problem where games frequently freeze—these freezes typically occur within a second and rarely last longer than one second. The issue is most noticeable in certain games, quickly becoming intensely irritating. I’ve kept my task manager open during these freezes to monitor for any unusual activity, but haven't found anything significant.
Additionally, my PC has crashed with a blue screen only twice this month—though I believe I've identified the cause of those crashes, as my CPU temperatures were consistently high (around 85°C) when it occurred, exceeding the maximum safe temperature of 80°C. This was due to a complete lack of thermal paste on the CPU heatsink, which I'm currently addressing by ordering some new thermal paste. During testing of the freezing issues, my CPU temperatures hovered between 70°C and 75°C. I’m seeking guidance or suggestions to investigate further, as I'm unsure of the root cause at this point, especially if it isn’t related to the CPU's temperature.
I applied thermal adhesive to my processor yesterday, and the temperatures decreased by 15 degrees Celsius. However, the delay issue persists, and I’m struggling to locate relevant information online due to the difficulty in finding details about these brief “stuttering moments” using search engines.