Micro-stutter problem has been present since the beginning, and the new GPU hasn't resolved it.
Micro-stutter problem has been present since the beginning, and the new GPU hasn't resolved it.
right from the day i got my system it never felt 'right'. not even scrolling up or down pages in a browser feels smooth. videos looks terrible. and almost every game stutters. some games look and feel pretty smooth if their reported fps is over 120, some still feel stuttery with fps over that. and every game feels stuttery beneath it. which means every game locked to 60fps is simply off the table. even with stable fps and frametimes reported by afterburner there are constant 'microstutters'. they are most visible when panning, they never show up in recording or reporting software, and fps doesnt drop. but the stutters are THERE. and i know im not losing my mind (entirely) because my nintendo switch looks great at 60 fps.
to start, i spent countless hours over the course of YEARS trying to isolate this issue. driver versions out the yazoo. upgraded to win 11, reformatted and went back to win 10. various bios chipsets. every configuration of settings you could think of; freesync, vsync, advanced sync, etc. ran every diagnostic i could; everything from furmark (looks great, but cant be sure there are no stutters cause it doesnt pan), memory diagnostic (says everything is good). read hundreds, if not thousands, of various forum threads trying all sorts of odd 'fixes' here or there that worked for one person or another. everything from disabling xmp, to disabling pageswapping. and the stutter remains. it *seemed* such a minor thing i was sure it was just a setting or toggle somewhere that was set wrong, which was why i kept messing with it until the warranties expired rather than returning it as i should have done at the outset.
so, replaced the monitor. figured since everything before that reported it was running fine it might be that. nope. new monitor, same issue (and the guy i loaned my old one to broke it so stuck with the new one now). didnt work, still stutters. tbh, this was a lazy attempt at fixing it i should have known better than. anyway, failing all those software/settings fixes i finally just said
<Mod Edit>
it and bought a new video card. the. stutter. remains.
currently, i am at a total loss what could be the issue. i just borrowed some coin and ordered a new processor out of desperation, because i simply dont know what else could resolve this. a new motherboard is the only other part i COULD replace. but as far as i can tell when a processor or motherboard is faulty the computer just doesnt POST or will frequently BSOD, and i dont have those issues. and it has run the same for years. none of which matches up with the symptoms of a faulty mobo/processor, but again i dont know what else to do. im very much HOPING when the new processor arrives it will sort the issues out, but i thought the same thing while waiting for my card to arrive. i've made dozens of posts on various forums, with all the same advice and troubleshooting steps to follow being offered and have run the gambit so many times it isnt even funny. but this time i figured since i just replaced the video card that should eliminate a LOT of potential causes and maybe someone here can offer an insight that has otherwise been missed
so please. if you have ANY idea what the hell could be going on i would be eternally grateful
cpuz report
https://mega.nz/file/LVBTxL5B#M80pQtfcK9...lmBoM5AXFo
complete system specifications available. brand and model of the power supply included.
AMD Ryzen 5 2600X with six cores, 3.60 GHz
Installed RAM: 16.0 GB
System: 64-bit OS, x64 processor
Radeon RX 6600
Hello there,
What operating systems are you presently using? Some of the older ones have stuttering problems, so updating to the newest version might fix this. You can check the installed bios with CPU-z.
Also, perform memtest86+ on your RAM to check if it's working properly.
https://www.memtest86.com/tech_creating-window.html
Stuttering results from a brief shortage of an essential component. Usually the CPU. Perform a brief test and run the cpu-Z benchmark to examine single-thread performance ratings. Expect a rating around 478.
https://valid.x86.fr/bench/p2d7tu
Your 5950 should achieve a score of 647, which could indicate improvement if CPU power is the problem.
With 16GB of RAM, you should be fine for gaming alone.
However, if you're using additional applications such as Discord, Chrome, or streaming, 16GB might be insufficient.
If a required program isn't in RAM, Windows experiences a hard page fault and processes are slowed until the needed page is swapped in.
Open Windows Task Manager, choose the Resource Monitor.
Check the Memory tab and the Hard Fault Page Rate.
If either exceeds zero, you're lacking sufficient RAM.
What is your RAM speed?
Ryzen relies on quick RAM for optimal performance. I’d aim for around 3600 MHz.
Hello once more,
I understand... but this seems like a rather basic question. Have you explored my other recommendations? Could you please share all your details so we can review them? It would help to know:
Your CPU (you've already checked this).
Your GPU.
Your motherboard.
The brand and speed of your RAM modules.
Your storage devices (did you perhaps forget to run "CHKDSK" on them?).
Your power supply unit (your issue might stem from its quality or power).
And don’t overlook trying my previous suggestions... In fact, here are the remaining options for you:
Provide your specifications to ensure there are no bottlenecks or performance issues.
Turn off screen scaling and disable Vsync/FreeSync/GSYNC on your monitor.
In the NVIDIA Control Panel, select "Adjust desktop size and position" and choose "No scaling" under the "Scale" tab.
On Radeon Software Adrenalin, navigate to Display settings and turn off "GPU Scaling" (⚠️ this may not work if you haven’t used it before).
Try connecting your screen to the GPU using a different cable.
Please let me know if this clarifies things. If you’re unsure how to view your specs, take a screenshot of Speccy™—an app that displays your components. For the PSU, you’ll need to inspect it physically. Also, keep in mind @geofelt’s response, which might be relevant to your problem.
@Vikko151
It’s actually strange to notice how much attention seems to be directed toward a script rather than my original message. I detailed my efforts: performing memtest, testing various BIOS versions (currently 64f or similar), using CPU-Z and Task Manager to track resource usage—never seeing any single component hit 100%. I checked all cables, ports, monitors, and adjusted every possible setting for FREESYNC, along with other options.
I excluded the graphics card since swapping my Radeon RX 590 for a 6600 didn’t make a difference. The power supply is a Seasonic Platinum+ 650W, and the DRAM clock runs at 1600MHz (which I understand as 3200). Feature settings are either default or turned off, scaling is disabled. Occasional hard faults appear, but they don’t seem linked to the constant stutters in most applications.
Regarding resource shortages... nothing ever reaches 100% usage. The GPU occasionally spikes to 100% during games, but it never stays that way. CPU and RAM usually hit around half capacity regardless of what I do. When launching Witcher 3, Age of Wonders 4, and Grim Dawn at once, my system used over 9 of the 16GB it has. None of my cores ever reached 100%. Also, this stutter occurs even when nothing is running except Windows and a folder to scroll. I tried Temp OS on a Hiren’s BootCD to clear software, but the stutter persisted while scrolling.
Two observations stand out: graphics settings barely influence frame rates or stutters, and running multiple demanding games doesn’t make a difference.
Witcher 3 looks and performs well, especially at ultra settings. Even when FPS drops to around 80, it feels smooth. It runs perfectly even with background games. Path of Exile is generally smooth as long as FPS stays above 120. The Furmark benchmark game ran flawlessly. Never experienced anything on this system so smooth—almost managed to play it twice just to enjoy a stutter-free experience.
Terraformers feels terrible, even with FPS capped at 60 and monitor refresh at 60. It looks like poor quality. No setting combination I’ve tried has made this game run smoothly. It seems Terraria isn’t utilizing any resources fully, and Age of Wonders 4 reports FPS over 80 while appearing to be around 10. StarSector (with ~300MB install) is fine, King’s Bounty runs well, Heroes of Might and Magic 5 is unplayable (same with 6 and 7), Octopath Traveler 2 is smooth and visually appealing, while watching cartoons is nearly impossible due to severe stuttering.
CPU-Z benchmark with all requested data.
https://valid.x86.fr/fzyt38
Edit – just an extra note to add to the peculiarities: while Witcher 3 operates smoothly, the loading screen animations are problematic. FPS drops to 37 and appears choppy, similar in Grim Dawn. The game functions adequately, but those pseudo-still screens are disappointing. I’m aware this is low on the radar, but it might be a timing issue with the new GPU.
It appears you've attempted various fixes over time, but the problem continues. Recent updates include a new monitor and installations of Windows 10 and 11. Driver updates have been made, along with tips from forums. A new GPU has been added, and temperatures are normal. You mentioned having a new AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, and you're considering alternative solutions. It seems your concerns are about system stability and video performance. Have you tried switching to a different mouse and keyboard? Disabling hardware acceleration in Steam and Chrome might help. Also, ensure your hard drive health is checked.