Issue with PC freezing or lagging when playing games or watching videos.
Issue with PC freezing or lagging when playing games or watching videos.
I own a Dell Optiplex 9010 with a 275w PSU, 8GB RAM, a Core i7-3770, and previously attempted to set it up using an ASUS GTX 1050 ti. After installing the drivers for both the system and the graphics card/audio, I noticed the video would stutter and produce glitching sounds during games and videos every second or so, even though nothing was heavily used. I also have a Netac 128GB SSD and a Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB hard drive for storage. There is no overclocking on the CPU or GPU, but this issue is quite bothersome. When testing with an MSI GT 1030 2GB GDDR5, the same problems persist.
CPU utilization while watching YouTube is around 13%, GPU usage is at 40% (for the GT 1030), SSD usage stays between 0%-4%, and memory is only using about 31%. Nothing seems to be running at full capacity. I’m really puzzled by this situation and don’t know where to look for a solution or what might be causing it.
Thank you in advance for your help. I truly appreciate any feedback or advice, as I’m quite confused about the problem and how to identify its source.
My system's stuttering problem seems to stem from a problematic image installation of Windows 10. It likely occurred when using the USB drive, possibly due to an incorrect or faulty installation that interfered with the Windows 10 setup. I performed several checks—testing RAM, CPU, and verifying the PSU output—but the main issue appeared to be related to the hard drives. After reinstalling Windows 10 on a mechanical hard drive, the system functioned normally, and I created a fresh Windows 10 installation USB. Now everything is working properly.
I own a Dell Optiplex 9010 equipped with a 275w PSU. The age and condition of the power supply will affect its performance. Check for any pending BIOS updates on your prebuilt model. Use DDU to clear all GPU drivers, then reinstall the latest driver from Nvidia's support site. If you don't have a dedicated GPU, does the system operate smoothly?
I further investigated the issue and after removing the Netac SSD, running Windows on the Western Digital Caviar drive worked flawlessly with the 1050 ti. Could this have been due to a problematic Windows installation on the SSD, or is there a chance the SSD itself might be defective? Since I bought the SSD directly from Netac, I should be able to request an exchange or refund if needed. I've purchased several of these drives before and this is the first time it's occurred, so I'm uncertain what to expect. Appreciate your response! It's reassuring to see others still using Optiplexes.
My system's performance problems seemed linked to a problematic image setup for Windows 10. It likely occurred when the USB drive was used without issues before, but now caused installation difficulties. I attempted basic checks like RAM, CPU, and power supply output, leaving hard drives as the main concern. After reinstalling Windows 10 on a mechanical hard drive, the system worked normally again. I formatted the SSD, made a fresh USB with the latest Windows 10 ISO, and reinstalled successfully.
Please note that if you encounter similar issues, verify your installation media and consider creating a new one using Rufus 4.3.2090 (Portable) with the current official Windows 10 version.
Thank you to @Lutfij for your response. I hope this assists anyone facing the same challenge. Cheers.