Severe frame rate fluctuations, jerky movement, and complete pauses.
Severe frame rate fluctuations, jerky movement, and complete pauses.
Recently, I’ve been experiencing a recurring set of problems detailed in the title; despite numerous attempts at resolution, these issues remain persistent.
Frame rate fluctuations and stuttering frequently occur while playing games such as GTA5 and Rainbow Six Siege, and this also happens with single-player titles like Generation Zero, though it’s absent in Dying Light. These games utilize diverse engines, yet the problem is strangely consistent.
Typically, I start a game and it runs smoothly, lasting for approximately one to two minutes before the frame rate drops from 60 to 10-20. This state persists for 15-20 seconds, after which it returns to 60. (I consistently use VSync to cap my frame rate.)
Additionally, when using Discord, my voice conversations sound strangely robotic and choppy—it has a distinctly “glitchy” quality.
Here are my system specifications:
CPU: AMD FX-6300 OC @4GHz (It has functioned flawlessly at its stock speed of 3.5GHz.)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM-VGS3 FX
RAM: Kingston DDR3 2x4GB PC3-12800 (800MHz)
Storage: Western Digital Blue 240GB SSD; a 1TB HDD is present, but it contains no games.
GPU: MSI GTX 1060 GAMING X 6GB
Cooling: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L RGB
PSU: 750W (The brand and exact model are currently unknown.)
Chassis: NZXT S340
Operating System: Windows 10 (I attempted the same games on a separate Windows 7 partition, and the problem persisted.)
Important note: My case has been modified with a vertical GPU mount and utilizes a Thermaltake PCI-E extender (installed two years ago). My temperatures remain satisfactory, generally hovering at 50° during intense gaming loads, never exceeding 55° for either the CPU or GPU. All fans operate at maximum speed (100%), with two intake and two exhaust fans.
I usually play graphically demanding open-world games on high or very high settings with minimal shadows, maintaining 1080p at 60fps. In smaller-map FPS titles, I can consistently run settings on ultra and reach 60fps. Reducing all graphics to low didn't resolve the issue.
Further observations: I frequently play online with friends via Discord, and the problem persisted even when attempting to use Discord without it. I performed a fresh installation of Windows 10, cleaned installed graphics drivers (using DDU), updated all drivers and the OS, and even tested with a 4G mobile connection to rule out network issues. I experimented with numerous in-game settings and the problems began approximately three or four months ago, only to disappear for a period before returning.
If anyone can offer any insights or suggestions on potential causes or further troubleshooting steps, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with this ongoing issue.
I suspect this might be unrelated, but I’ve experienced similar occurrences previously. Several years back, a friend resided close to a military installation and frequently experienced intermittent disruptions. He was unable to ascertain the cause, yet he suspected it stemmed from a microwave transmission facility at the base. After relocating, his symptoms ceased.
While I lack specialized knowledge, I relocated to my current home a year ago and experienced frequent changes in internet service providers due to exorbitant prices and insufficient speed.
It’s uncertain if this is related, but I didn't encounter these issues prior to my most recent provider. My computer connects directly via Ethernet cable, residing within a room featuring a balcony and an antenna – resembling a satellite dish (as illustrated in the images).
A colleague, who works in information technology for the military, suggested that such devices typically utilize their entire capacity, constantly saturating the network and effectively blocking genuine data transmissions.
I’m uncertain about its relevance, though; I'll include some images to provide a visual representation. I reside in Italy, where the scenery is stunning, yet my internet connection is considerably substandard.
Scenery
Dish
Balcony
While I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in computer technology, can you tell me about the temperature stability of your graphics card and central processing unit? Do you observe any patterns of heating up followed by cooling down?
Your computer's motherboard is inadequate for an FX-6300 processor. Motherboard rankings: Below AM3+ chipsets Below AM3+ chipsets (including 880G/ 760G models): If you intend to use an FX processor, avoid chipsets below Tier 1; Tier 2 chipsets are unsuitable for overclocking with any FX CPU due to insufficient power phases and inadequate heatsinks on the voltage regulator modules. Older 800 and 700 series chipsets should only be considered if… forums. You are probably experiencing performance limitations due to overheating motherboard VRM chips. I wouldn't invest any money in a new motherboard. The FX series is practically obsolete. $250 can provide you with a more powerful contemporary CPU, motherboard, and DDR4 memory.
My motherboard and processor are rarely overheating; my whole system typically maintains a temperature of approximately 55° Celsius during demanding tasks and sustained use. My central processing unit usually operates at 50° and remains consistently below that temperature, while my graphics card generally stays between 55° and 60° Celsius, rarely exceeding the latter. All other components on the board and the motherboard itself consistently hover around 56 to 57°. There’s absolutely no indication of thermal limiting, despite numerous checks. My CPU is overclocked, but this has not resulted in any difficulties—in fact, it performs significantly better when overclocked than at its stock settings. However, considering I’ve been utilizing this system for more than a year without incident until recently, it's been remarkably stable.