I've been having a long-standing issue with stuttering while gaming on both a mid-range and a brand-new high-end PC. I first built my mid-range PC about five years ago, and while it was decent, something always felt off. As I delved into more demanding games, I realized it was a specific type of stutter—steady across all graphics settings, and despite my efforts, it persisted. After upgrading to a high-end PC costing about €1500 more, the problem remained, although somewhat less intense in certain games. I've tried tons of solutions, from BIOS tweaks to Windows settings and even a fresh install of Windows 11, but nothing has worked. The stutters only seem to happen when I'm moving in-game. I'm looking for help to figure out what might be causing this and any possible solutions to get rid of these stutters for good.
6 Answers
It sounds like a software issue might be at play here. Have you fully wiped your drives and started fresh without transferring over old files or settings? That might help in eliminating any software conflicts that could be causing the stutter.
Yeah, I did a clean OS install. No old files came over with the new PC.
You might want to look into your BIOS updates. If you didn’t update it after upgrading your CPU, you could have a buggy microcode which can cause performance issues. Also, make sure your CPU and GPU temps are under control while gaming—overheating can lead to stuttering as well.
Good point! I’ll check the temps using HWMonitor next time I game.
Definitely do that. Keeping tabs on temperatures could shed light on any throttling issues.
Have you checked your storage setup? It’s essential to have an SSD, especially for gaming. A lot of newer games require fast data access, and using the right storage can help smooth things out. Also, verify that your power supply is rated for your new system and can handle the load consistently.
I use the Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB for my games, so that should be fast enough, right?
Sounds like a great choice! Just ensure it’s installed properly—sometimes having it on the wrong M.2 slot can slow things down too.
Just to confirm, did you replace absolutely every component from your old PC? If any parts were transferred, especially a storage drive, it could carry over the same issues. A completely fresh setup might be the solution.
Yep, everything is new this time around, including the power supply. I'm using a Cooler Master 850W.
Great! Sounds like you’ve done all the right things. If it’s all brand new, then let’s focus more on the software configurations and the operating system settings.
You might want to try disabling Windows Memory Integrity. It can sometimes cause compatibility issues with certain hardware configurations. It's worth a shot if you haven’t done it yet!
Have you changed your monitor or cables during this time? Since those have stayed constant for five years, they could be causing issues if they are of lower quality or incompatible.
Yes, I swapped out my old monitors and cables for new ones. Shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Good to hear! That narrows things down a bit more.
Alright, that's good! Keep an eye out for programs that might add overlays or any background processes that can interfere with gaming. Sometimes even system monitoring tools can cause problems.