Check your processor condition and see if an update resolves the issue.
Check your processor condition and see if an update resolves the issue.
I recently assembled this system three weeks back: power supply unit EVGA 750GQ, motherboard Asus Prime Z690-A, processor i5 12600K, RAM 16x2 Klevv DDR5 at 6000MHz, graphics card 3060 Ti, operating system WD Blue 500GB WDS500G2B0A. All devices run Windows 10 Pro. The problem is minimal smooth performance; most titles freeze or stutter, regardless of age. I've tried numerous troubleshooting steps—mem testing, CPUZ analysis, GPU benchmarks, fresh OS install, driver updates, chipset and BIOS tweaks, even XMP settings turned off and graphics pushed to extremes. I've also experimented with other drivers and tested with a different 1070 Ti model, but results remain consistent. Despite these efforts, stuttering persists across games, especially during intense sequences like 3D Mark runs or VRM load. I've switched multiple Nvidia drivers cleanly using DDU, yet nothing resolves the issue. The only solutions I've found so far involve disabling ECores in BIOS or a strange configuration that works for some titles. For Elden Ring, I now achieve smooth 60 FPS with random pauses, followed by brief GPU freezes lasting 4-5 seconds. Following a YouTube tutorial, opening Task Manager, right-clicking the game executable, and adjusting CPU affinity helped—games ran smoothly afterward. I've also tried BIOS settings for legacy titles to disable ECores via scroll lock, but this didn't fix the problem. It seems my CPU might be failing or overheating under stress, though temperatures stay below 60°C. Windows 11 is being considered as a potential fix, but opinions differ. I'm running out of options and feel discouraged about continuing PC gaming from here. This video captures the Task Manager solution that resolved the issue for one game.
Intel might have worked with Microsoft on Windows 11 to improve handling of the 12th generation CPUs. Based on YouTube test results, fewer unusual performance issues appear under Windows 11, though it doesn't fix every problem across all applications.
I'm curious about the resolution you're using. It might not be ideal if you're aiming for 4K, as it could cause performance issues. I saw your performance video and noticed the GPU would freeze at 100% and then shut down. Do you have a different GPU from an older system?
I noticed earlier in the post and will include it later. I'm currently at 1440p but have also experimented with lower resolutions. It didn't make much of a difference. I switched GPUs too—my usual 1070 Ti worked just fine, but the 1080 Ti had the same problems. That's something worth noting. Recently, I played the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy. The 2013 version ran smoothly, while Shadow maintained steady 60fps despite occasional hiccups. Rise performed perfectly. I also increased ray tracing in Rise; although I couldn't reach 60fps, it felt fluid with no stuttering or performance drops, even under maximum GPU load.
Windows 10 doesn't work with 12th Gen or newer processors. It handles P and E cores the same way. Tasks that randomly run on slower E cores may lead to performance issues.