Fps stutter in multiple games, don't think it's a cpu or gpu problem.

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

My specs:
16gb 2133mhz ram
Windows 10
Geforce GTX 1060 6gb
Intel i5-6500
Seasonic 520w PSU
256gb SSD
2TB 7200rpm HDD

I have been having a problem with multiple games for a month now, where they will drop frames for a couple of seconds, then shoot right back up, and will happen contstantly. Some of these games I fixed by moving from my HDD to my SSD, but one of my games, Dark souls 3, experiences the same problem on my SSD. I have done scans on both of these drives, and they both show as healthy. I have also done a memtest, reinstalled windows, disabled antivirus, done malware scans, tried switching SATA ports, tried setting power settings to high performance in both the Nvidia control panel and the system settings, and I have tried reducing settings. This is a more recent problem, as I've had this computer since November. I don't think it's a gpu or cpu problem, as I've used MSI afterburner to monitor them, and have never noticed any usage spikes or core clock and memory clock drops. The temps also seem normal, with the cpu staying around 50-60 degrees and the gpu 60-70 degrees.

kaptainkuftic · Jun 23, 2017

Try using Display Driver Uninstaller to get rid of all graphics drivers, then reinstalling only the latest ones

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

kaptainkuftic :

I have tried doing that, as well as installing older drivers, and it sadly hasn't worked.

kaptainkuftic · Jun 23, 2017

Does it drop frames if you turn all graphical settings to their lowest values?

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

kaptainkuftic :

Yes it still did it, just less frequently.

kaptainkuftic · Jun 23, 2017

JohnMarston :

If you have time to test, try dropping all settings to lowest except for one, which you put at max, test to see if the stutter is worse. Then drop that to low, and move to the next setting. Do this until you either isolate one/a few settings causing you problems, or it doesn't seem to be doing anything

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

kaptainkuftic :

JohnMarston :

If you have time to test, try dropping all settings to lowest except for one, which you put at max, test to see if the stutter is worse. Then drop that to low, and move to the next setting. Do this until you either isolate one/a few settings causing you problems, or it doesn't seem to be doing anything

I tried, but couldn't pinpoint any specific setting that caused the lag.

kaptainkuftic · Jun 23, 2017

JohnMarston :

kaptainkuftic :

I tried, but couldn't pinpoint any specific setting that caused the lag.

Huh, sorry mate, I'm out of ideas, good luck!

cherry blossoms · Jun 23, 2017

Something else to try would be using Nvidia Profile Inspector to set your max framerate to help with pacing, and to set to change# of pre-rendered frames. You didn't indicate if your monitor supports g-sync, and this would affect your choices available.

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

cherry blossoms :

It does not support g-sync, and I have adaptive v-sync enabled. What should I set pre-rendered frames to?

cherry blossoms · Jun 23, 2017

If your monitor is 60Hz, set max framerate to that...no sense having your GPU trying to draw frames it won't be able to use. Enter this number manually, don't use the menu options.

Pre-rendered frames you'll have to experiment with for YOUR rig, start low (like 1) and work your way up.

Please note, every time you install new drivers you'll have to redo the settings.

I am assuming you have turned off the any DVRs built into your system so they aren't trying to write (like the xbox app dvr, anything installed with your drivers, etc)

Next step would be to start to turn off Win10 functions.

JohnMarston · Jun 23, 2017

cherry blossoms :

Any functions I should look for to turn off?

cherry blossoms · Jun 23, 2017

Just for starters, but a good place to start (if you don't need them)

Disable Prefetch and SuperFetch. You're booting from an SSD, and should have your most common apps there..loads fast.

Turn off sleep functions. Writes current state to drive for wake in current state. SSD...just turn off..boots fast enough

Disable the hibernation system. See above

Disable Win compatibility telemetry. Scans without need most of the time. Ever have win10 boot and not be usable for a minute or 2 when first booting?

Go into Xbox app and turn the DVR off.

Check your video apps to see if they have recording functions ( GeForce Experience, Video card software, etc), make sure to turn those off if they are on.
Geforce experience not really needed either unless you use its automatic setting functions, DVR, or automatic driver updates. Disable also Nvidia telemetry from starting up (SYSINTERNALS tools helpful to do this easily..Autoruns)

Make sure you aren't trying to defrag the SSD automatically

Disable search indexing

Depending on your NIC, you may need a drivers only package if your current drivers are leaking memory.

Disable live tiles for win10 apps that you don't need it for.

You can do the above with a variety of turning services off, disabling startup items with autoruns, registry edits, and group policy edits if you have Win10 Pro.

Any programs that are caching writes to your SSD? might be worth getting rid of.

A helpful program to disable some of win10 telemetry items would be W10Privacy. Might be worth running that as well to see what else you can get rid of.

amtseung · Jun 23, 2017

On top of that:

Windows Notifications, disable it as much as it can be disabled. It's notorious for murdering PC performance, even if it's "off" in the settings.

Make sure that your power management mode in the NVIDIA Control Panel is set to "Prefer maximum performance".

There should be a CPU power thing somewhere deep inside the windows control panel as well. Don't remember how to find it off the top of my head. This does override BIOS C states and EIST settings, since they're functionally the same thing.

Keep that SSD trimmed and HDD defragged.

Make sure all of your memory is actually addressed properly. If you look into resource monitor and see that a large chunk of your memory is hardware reserved, better sort out your memory sticks/slots. Something is wrong.

cherry blossoms · Jun 25, 2017

TY amtseung, that reminds me:

Use the advanced power settings if you haven't already done so:

Minimum/maximum CPU Processor state both 100%.

Set the drives to long times before they power down (I use 240 minutes).

PCI Express Link State Power Management (off)

JohnMarston · Jun 27, 2017

cherry blossoms :

I have tried these, but to no avail. Any chance this problem could have to do with my motherboard or PSU?

JohnMarston · Jun 27, 2017

amtseung :

Was not able to fix it with these solutions, and when I checked my memory in resource monitor, it said I have 42 mb reserved, which I'm assuming isn't bad. Anything else you'd suggest I do?

cherry blossoms · Jun 28, 2017

Are you using third party antivirus or Windows? (not sure which you turned off)

Is Storage Sense OFF?

recommend for next step turning off all the telemetry /(anti)privacy churn

If you don't specifically need an app to have access to something..deny it access/running in the first place.

Are you running Win 10 Pro and have access to Group Policy Editor? (gpedit)

One program to help deal with telemetry is W10Privacy.

https://www.winprivacy.de/english-home/

It takes a little bit for this program to start as it scans your entries already in place. Go through ALL the tabs, see what you can disable in all the groups or things you absolutely have have to live with. Only you know that, but you'd be surprised how much you can turn off.

Unsure of your experience level: for basics using within Windows settings try this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdb4iybN8gg

Fps stutter in multiple games, don't think it's a cpu or gpu problem.

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