Stuttering below frame rate limit

xYankler

Honorable
Jun 20, 2013
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10,510
Hi - I am new to this forum, so I hope I posted it the right place.

I've been having this problem ever since I bought my laptop Asus N56VZ. I've had two versions of this pc and I also had two of the Acer v3-571g which had the same problem:

I get terrible stuttering in all of my games whenever my frame rate drops below the frame rate limit. If no FPS limit is set, I can't play any games below 60 FPS and the suttering also occurs above 60 fps. For example, if my frame limit is set to 60, then the game runs smooth as long as my fps stays on 60 - if it drops to just 56, it feels like I'm running the game at 10 fps because of the stuttering. However, if I set the frame limit to 50, there is not problem running the game at this FPS.

I tried updating my Nvidia drivers, tried messing around with v-sync but nothing helps! I also downgraded from windows 8 to 7 and even connected my TV to check if that was the reason. If I play the games on the onboard intel card, there is no stuttering.

Any ideas are welcome :)


CPU: Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Mainboard: Intel HM76 (Panther Point)
Memory: 8192 MB, 2x 4GB DDR3
Graphics adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M - 2048 MB, Core: 835 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, DDR3
Display: 15.6 inch 16:9, 1920x1080 pixel, Samsung 156HT01-201, glossy: no
Harddisk: Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024, 1000 GB 5400 rpm
 

AtaliaA1

Distinguished
Feb 22, 2009
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18,540




Conceder replacing that 5400rpm HDD with an SSD, and what game are we talking about or is this just a general issue with all games?
Also the 2.3Ghz processor does meet the minimum system requirements for the game?

 
Leave Vsync off, because any time your game drops below 60fps, you'll immediately be stuck at 30fps, which feels very stuttery. If it's already off, you may be seeing screen-tearing and think that's stutter. You also may just be feeling the slowdown from 60 to 50 or less - the constant switch between perfectly-smooth and a variable framerate is jarring.

Personally, I cap the framerate in all my games to keep everything smooth. If 50fps is smooth for you, then leave Vsync off and go for it. It's not that far off of 60fps, and feels very smooth if it's perfectly consistent.
 

xYankler

Honorable
Jun 20, 2013
4
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10,510
Thanks for your answers. Atalia, it is a problem in every game. I'm no expert, but I don't think it is my hard drive, although 5400rpm is a bit slow.. regarding the CPU I believe it's more than capable for most games. Also - I'm not having any problems getting the FPS to an acceptable level.

Jessterman, I also have a little troble with screen tearing, but this is really just heavy stuttering if the FPS drops below the frame limit. At the moment I am capping at 45, which is acceptable in MMORPGs, but in games like Battlefield 3, I would prefer 60 fps with the occasional frame drops - but only if the frame drops wouldn't result in the stuttering. Regarding vsync, I actually find, that I can't get it to lock the FPS at 30 when it dips below 60 - any advice on this?

I appreciate it!
 


I think you can do it in the driver - Adaptive Vsync - Half Refresh rate. But if not, just turn Vsync on with a framerate cap of like 32. That will keep it at 30 - though that's pretty slow for some games.