The PC continues to stutter once it relocates to a new apartment?
The PC continues to stutter once it relocates to a new apartment?
Not too long ago I relocated to a new apartment, and since then my PC has been experiencing frequent brief stutters—often every 5 to 20 seconds. The screen, sound, and other functions freeze for a moment at a time, usually just once per cycle, but sometimes even twice or thrice within a couple of seconds. This issue is particularly noticeable while watching videos. In addition, the startup and shutdown times have become unusually long, sometimes lasting several minutes instead of the usual 20 to 30 seconds. I’ve never encountered such problems before, and they began right after I moved in.
I’ve observed some unusual behavior with CPU temperatures on HWMonitor, even when idle in the desktop environment. They typically stay around 30–40°C, but sometimes spike between 30 and 60 degrees within seconds. I attempted to correlate these spikes with activity in Task Manager, but nothing seemed abnormal. I also tested Asus’ monitoring tool using their motherboard, and the CPU readings didn’t match HWMonitor’s, which added to my confusion.
When using Ableton (a music production software), its CPU monitoring sometimes indicates a sudden jump to 700%+ during stutters, but Task Manager doesn’t show anything unusual. It also doesn’t always spike when the PC is stuttering. I’ve seen others report similar issues with Ableton, but I wasn’t able to find a solution that worked for me.
At first, I suspected the problem was due to a faulty power outlet, recalling that someone who lived in the house before mentioned some components could be faulty. I replaced the outlet and the issue resolved itself after a few boots. However, the same problems returned later. I had recently undervolted my CPU and tried resetting BIOS settings, but nothing helped.
I inspected the PC for loose parts inside and found the EATX12V cable slightly loose. I reinserted it properly and checked for damage, but the issues persisted. The CPU cooler was still securely attached, and the fans continued to operate normally, so I’m not sure that’s the cause of the temperature swings either.
I’m unsure what to do next. I’m convinced the issue lies with the CPU, but it doesn’t make much sense why it would deteriorate suddenly after moving in. Could it be that using the PC while the EATX12V cable was improperly connected caused lasting damage? The CPU model is an i7-7700k—any advice on what to check before replacing parts would be greatly appreciated!
There could have been something disturbed while moving, perhaps disassembling and reassembling the PC to eliminate that possibility? It might also be related to power issues, though I’d anticipate the system would shut down rather than just stutter. Testing it at a friend’s place could help determine if it makes a difference. If it does, you might consider using a UPS for more stable power supply.