Microstuttering in the entire PC?
Microstuttering in the entire PC?
it began to occur over a while and i don’t recall making any changes to the pc. i reinstalled windows, updated chipset drivers, used ddu in safe mode, and reinstalled the latest gpu drivers. i also bought a new dp cable just in case. after resetting the gpu, i can play games smoothly at 60fps without frame drops, though it stutters when moving the camera or watching videos. everything on screen moves properly. here are the hardware details. psu, monitor, mobo. any assistance would be greatly appreciated. thank you.
After extensive testing, it becomes clearer what might be the problem. The only remaining possibility is the MoBo. It may stem from the limited number of VRM phases your unit possesses—only four main ones. A shortage of VRM phases can cause game stutters. For more details on VRM, see the official guide: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/vrm/. There’s no solution other than replacing the MoBo with one that offers more phases. For instance, my Z170A Gaming M5 MoBo from 2016 (featuring an i5-6600K CPU) has just 12 VRM phases. It has remained stable for nine years without any issues. Right now I’m considering upgrading to a newer system, specifically the R7 9800X3D CPU, paired with a MoBo that supports 20 VRM phases.
It might be possible.
After checking the usual culprits—software, GPU, monitor, display cable—it seems VRM phases remain.
Alternatively, there could be unexplained behavior.
Your current setup uses a Z390 chipset, which is actually one of the more affordable options available. It's also among the least expensive Z390 chipsets you can purchase. The absence of VRM phases would likely be noticeable, especially through the small or thin VRM heatsinks. Another possible issue is the overall lack of quality in the components.
In general, it does have its advantages.
Specifically:
From the Userbenchmark test, your RAM runs at 2133 MT/s but is rated for 3000 MT/s. Have you activated XMP in the BIOS? If not, consider enabling 3000 MT/s XMP via BIOS and see if stutters disappear.
Additionally, confirm the RAM frequency using HWinfo64 by visiting the provided link.
In summary mode, RAM speed and timings are displayed once the operating system is loaded.
If your RAM remains at 2133 even after enabling 3000 from BIOS, it might be due to a third-party program that is altering BIOS settings.
it's not like that. three front intakes, two tops with an aio pump, one back exhaust. cpu temp stays under 70 during games and idle is around 30. psu info was in the first post. it hasn't been a few months since I bought a new modular setup—planning to swap my old mobo for the one I had. I think it's better than this stuff. i don’t trust userbenchmarks much, that’s why i’m here with a real brain. thanks. i’ll update soon.
The Z370 ROG Maximus X Hero also features 4 main phase VRM, similar to your current MoBo. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Z390 ROG Maximus XI Hero VRM phases, which also includes 4 main phase VRM; see the video for a clear explanation of how VRMs function. This four-phase setup is considered less ideal compared to an eight-phase VRM (starting at 14:10). Additionally, there’s a discussion on Asus forums about the issues with the VRMs in the Asus 300-series MoBos, which you can find here: https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/z370-z390/...d-p/761569. For a better replacement option, consider brands like Gigabyte or MSI, which offer eight-phase VRM solutions.