PC performance problems and FreeSync complications.
PC performance problems and FreeSync complications.
I recently assembled this system two weeks ago, and I've experienced stuttering problems since then. I managed to notice a marked improvement, but my games still occasionally freeze unpredictably. Additionally, I've observed instances where my game stutters even though the MSI Afterburner graph displays a steady line. I assumed this was just an illusion, but I opted to turn on my monitor's refresh rate display. These simulated stutters appeared to align with moments when my monitor's refresh rate fluctuated unexpectedly, even though my FPS and frametime remained consistently at 140 FPS and 7.1 ms. Should this change be expected if my FPS stays steady? I was testing Arkham Origins, which typically runs at 144 Hz but occasionally drops to 138, 135, or even lower. I'm using RTSS to lock my FPS at 140 Hz, so I expected a stable refresh rate of around 140 Hz. However, it sometimes fell back to the 70s. In Neon White, these adjustments in refresh rate seemed to impact my input responsiveness. While playing a level, I frequently failed to react when attempting to jump. My refresh rate would drop every time this occurred, even with steady FPS and frametime. There was also a moment when I examined a static image to check for dead pixels, and my refresh rate plummeted to the 70s repeatedly. Clearly, without an overlay I wouldn't have detected these shifts. It's possible that RTSS or my monitor's settings are misconfigured. I'm quite puzzled about resolving this issue, especially if it stems from a mismatch in my monitor's refresh rate synchronization. This is the approach I've taken to diagnose or attempt a fix. I'm using RTSS to cap my FPS at 140, swapped my 3200MHz RAM for a Corsair 3600MHz unit, adjusted the global minimum frequency to 2259 MHz (100 MHz below my default), tried Enhanced Sync and V-Sync, changed my DisplayPort cable, monitored temperatures reaching up to 70°C, disabled certain Windows services like High Precision Event Timer, ran system commands such as sfc /scannow, enabled Smart Access Memory, updated my RAM to 3600 MHz in BIOS, modified fan curves, refreshed drivers, and updated the BIOS. I've attached a screenshot here: https://imgur.com/a/4KfAzHc
System appears tidy with a few points to consider. - Are you using wireless? If yes, what is your internet speed? - Your hard drive configuration is something to review.
It’s nice to know my system is clean. This was my first build, so I feared I made mistakes. Here’s what I’ve done: I’m using wireless with 100 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload. I have a 2 TB SSD, but reinstalling Windows and making just an OS partition didn’t resolve the issue. I updated chipset, GPU, WiFi, SSD, and monitor drivers, plus BIOS. Are there any additional drivers I might be missing? I wasn’t aware of my monitor driver for a while, so I could have overlooked something. Regarding FPS spikes, it’s normal for some to happen—especially when loading new areas in a game. I expected smoother performance, but my FPS drops to around 110 when a new city area loads.
256 GB is more than enough for the operating system drive, though I usually opt for 512 GB (costs typically stay around a few dollars) or choose a 1 TB option if you spot a great deal. Keeping the OS drive for misc tasks such as images, files, and MS Office works perfectly. For GPU software, MSI Afterburner can be used for tuning the card—though it may not work with non-MSI cards, it still functions. Begin with nothing running or optimized to establish a solid baseline.
I recently upgraded to a new SSD and am testing whether switching my OS to another drive will resolve my stuttering and FreeSync problems. As a starting point, I’m experiencing these issues even when nothing is running. I attempted to adjust my card settings with Afterburner, but the problems persist. I’m hoping the next SSD will fix these matters.