Micro-stuttering appears in almost all video games.
Micro-stuttering appears in almost all video games.
Hello everyone,
I’m facing occasional micro-stuttering across various video games, both recent and older. It appears as brief interruptions when loading new sections, after cutscenes, or when numerous assets are being loaded—such as during many enemy spawns or entering busy environments.
System details:
- PSU: Seasonic G12 GM-Series 750W, 80+Gold
- CPU: Intel i5-12400F
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (Driver version 24.10.1)
- RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) via Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3200MHz C16 in dual channel
- Storage: Patriot 1TB 2.5 SATA3 SSD (30% free space)
- Monitor: 144Hz through DisplayPort
Previously, I had 4x8GB RAM; after removing slots 1 and 3, I experienced bluescreens and Windows Memory Diagnostic flags that disappeared once those slots were taken out.
Currently playing Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the game generally runs at high FPS, but micro-stutters appear in crowded scenes. AMD performance metrics indicate a 99th percentile drop to 25–60 FPS during stutters. The "Micro Stutter" metric rises to 12%, while it remains at 0% when the game runs smoothly.
I’ve experimented with:
- Enabling/disabling AMD features (Anti-Lag, Enhanced Sync, FreeSync) and VSync in the game settings.
- Adjusting the FPS cap to 60.
- Checking CPU and GPU temperatures.
I’ve also tested similar issues in Skyrim, Dragon Age: Veilguard, The Outer Worlds, Half-Life 2, and many other titles. The stuttering isn’t severe enough to disrupt gameplay, but I’m seeking a resolution.
What is the model of your motherboard? You can check with CPU-Z.
Does it support a gen3 m.2 ssd slot?
XMP only adjusts RAM to run at 3200, not the default speeds.
Is 16gb sufficient?
If you have apps like Discord or performance monitors running, it might not be enough.
Task manager can be misleading when checking RAM usage.
Windows keeps unused code in RAM until it’s needed again.
When an app tries to access data not in RAM, it must retrieve it from the page file and possibly overwrite older data, causing a hard page fault.
This can cause problems if the page file is on a HDD.
While running, open Task Manager and the resource monitor/memory section.
Check the hard fault rate column.
If it’s significantly higher than zero, consider adding more RAM.
Memory sticks are properly placed in the correct slots.
The motherboard is an Asus PRIME Z690-P D4 and it definitely supports M.2.
The hard fault rate is zero for most processes, including the game. Only one instance was recorded for Msmpeng.exe, which seems to be a Windows anti-malware program.
Hey there,
Have you experimented with enabling/disabling the game bar? I'm assuming you're using MSI Afterburner OSD or something similar to track FPS, frame time and 1% lows. Does this behavior change when you don't use those tools? (You need to notice any stutters).
Are there any open tabs running Chrome or other background applications?
Storage usage is hitting limits—16GB for new games is pushing hard. 32GB now seems ideal. Something to observe.
What BIOS settings are active?
Freesync on/vsync off still causes stutters? Is the performance better or worse compared to before, or similar?
Your 1% lows are minimal. That's likely where the stuttering originates.
Stuttering generally stems from a brief shortage of an essential part, usually the CPU.
It’s possible you’re encountering issues from another task or application.
Review your startup list in Task Manager/Startup to identify any unnecessary entries.
Check your installed programs for unfamiliar items.
Consider running Malwarebytes for a malware scan.
Uninstall apps that regularly check for updates, such as printer drivers and GPU software.