Why do my games feel stuttery with a Ryzen 7 3800X and RTX 4070?

August 31, 2026 3 answers
Asked by MellowCactus42
I'm using a Ryzen 7 3800X with an RTX 4070, but games don't feel smooth even when the average frame rate seems acceptable. I notice stuttering or a delayed, laggy feeling in titles like Red Dead Redemption and Skate, and sometimes while using an Xbox 360 emulator. I currently have 48 GB of RAM installed as three 16 GB sticks. What should I check to find the cause?

Answers

QuietRaven18
Three RAM sticks can be less ideal than using a matched pair because the system may not run in the best dual-channel configuration, and it may become unstable at the advertised memory speed. Try using two matching sticks in the motherboardโ€™s recommended slots, usually A2 and B2, then enable the memory profile and test again. Updating the BIOS and chipset drivers may also help, especially with emulation.
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CopperMango63
The exact games and performance numbers matter here. Check whether the GPU is actually near full usage; if it isnโ€™t, look for CPU limits, background programs, shader-compilation stutter, or inconsistent frame pacing. Limiting FPS slightly below your monitorโ€™s refresh rate and using appropriate V-Sync or VRR settings can also make gameplay feel smoother.
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PixelHarbor7
Start by checking frame-time consistency rather than just average FPS. Monitor CPU and GPU usage, temperatures, RAM usage, and the 1% and 0.1% lows while the problem is happening. Also confirm that DOCP/XMP is enabled, the RAM is running at its rated speed, and Resizable BAR is enabled in the BIOS if your system supports it.

MellowCactus42: I have 48 GB installed, but itโ€™s three 16 GB sticks.

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