Lag for unknown reasons?
Lag for unknown reasons?
Sometimes when I play games (SC2, Dota 2, Europa Universalis 4, Hearts of Iron 4), my program freezes for a brief moment, causing huge lag. This is really affecting my gaming experience!
https://imgur.com/a/Z6W7k8i
During gameplay the GPU usage reaches about 18-22%.
https://imgur.com/a/V7VoGj4
Internet speed test results:
PC specs: Intel i7-9700F CPU 3.00 GHz, 16 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER, Windows 11, ASRock B365M IB-R motherboard.
I've run Malwarebytes twice but found nothing. No recent updates installed. Everything seemed normal yesterday.
Edit: I checked temperatures and fans are working properly. CPU only spikes to 40% during gaming, RAM usage stays low.
Aim for around 70 GB of free space on a drive that holds 465 GB, since the suggested amount is just 15% free. Also, MSI Afterburner, a popular and free tool among gamers, works well for monitoring CPU and GPU usage. It can display statistics during gameplay. Accurate tracking requires real-time usage monitoring. Additionally, note your power supply unit, the game you're running, and your monitor's refresh rate.
The difference arises from measuring during gameplay versus reducing the session to check Task Manager, which is the correct approach. I’m uncertain unless CPU and GPU usage are displayed onscreen through MSI AB’s Monitoring section, then a quick screenshot of the stats appears. The images you shared suggest you just minimized the game again, which isn’t the proper method, making it much more difficult for us to accurately determine the usage percentage. Your GPU supports H.264 architecture for capturing via ShadowPlay—definitely worth using, as it’s straightforward.
I have two monitors and use windowed fullscreen for my games. I plan to try the overlay next time and upload it then.
It's fixed now. Before the problem occurred, the biggest step I took was clearing out a lot of items from my SSD and moving them to my HDD. I also checked my case, cleaned up all the parts, and uninstalled Advanced System Care from my PC.
Mostly the issue stemmed from Advanced System Care. The overwhelming number of products claiming to be PC Boosters are actually more problematic than helpful.
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/f...575306090/
That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few genuinely effective registry cleaners available. The issue lies in the aggressive sales tactics and high expectations. CCleaner remains a well-regarded tool, often recommended by technicians on tech support boards. I’ve also personally used Glary Utilities without issues. These are the only two I’d suggest, and there probably aren’t many others that perform well.
I’ve been considering creating a PC performance troubleshooting manual—something I previously shared on a forum that attracted a lot of attention. It would help steer discussions away from repetitive threads about third-party software causing issues. The real value comes from people actually reading it, rather than simply posting urgent requests for assistance.
It seems the endless marathon threads often stem from individuals being misled by others’ experiences, especially when they’ve seen someone else’s testing reveal the risks of such products. Our caution is warranted (or perhaps forgotten), and driver updater tools are frequently questionable too.
Occasionally I overlook these discussions because I want the PC Gaming community to focus more on social interaction than technical support. The truth is, many problems arise from simple user mistakes—like using certain software—and it’s hard to predict them. It can become a tedious process trying to figure things out by asking so many questions, especially when the person isn’t pointing out these issues.
As I mentioned earlier, a clear and concise guide could be useful, but only if people actually take the time to read it. Based on what I’ve observed recently, most would probably ignore it unless they felt really desperate for help. If someone’s plea was genuine enough, I’d gladly recommend it without hesitation.
A few suggestions for keeping your system cleaner: apply filters to all intake vents and tweak the case airflow to maintain a slight positive pressure. This prevents unfiltered air and dust from entering tight spaces. Check the manufacturer’s CFM ratings on the fans and aim for a bit more intake than exhaust, especially if some fans can be adjusted.
I also emphasized the importance of having at least 70 GB of free space on an SSD with around 465 GB of usable storage—not just 65 or 70 GB. This is why I’m less involved in these discussions now. Many people dismiss expert advice, and some react defensively or casually, while others simply abandon their threads once they understand the problem—often through updates.
It’s clear there are numerous reasons to avoid such threads, yet many of these issues could be prevented if more folks listened to guidance from those who’ve dealt with similar challenges. I’m not suggesting we waste time, but the world is becoming less patient and understanding.