Micro Stuttering Windows 10

pat

I've recently encountered an issue with micro stuttering on my Windows 10 system, which seems to occur mostly during gaming and high-definition video playback. The stutter manifests as brief, periodic pauses that disrupt the smooth running of graphics and audio outputs. Here's what I've tried so far:

Updating Graphics Drivers: Ensured that the latest driver for my NVIDIA/AMD graphics card is installed.
Optimizing Power Settings: Changed the power plan to 'High Performance' to ensure maximum resource allocation.
Checking System Resources: Monitored the CPU, GPU, and RAM usage through Task Manager to see if there's any bottleneck or excessive usage during stutters.
Disabling Background Applications: Tried shutting down unnecessary background applications that might be consuming system resources.

Despite these steps, the problem persists. The specifications of my PC are as follows:

Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1080
SSD for OS and games

Has anyone experienced similar issues or own additional troubleshooting suggestions that could address this problem?

Monica

Certainly, micro stuttering can be a frustrating issue, especially with a high-spec setup like yours. Since you've already tried some common solutions without success, we might need to look into some less obvious fixes. Here are a few additional steps you could consider:

V-Sync and G-Sync/FreeSync Settings: Sometimes, enabling or tweaking these settings can help. If V-Sync is off, turning it on might encourage synchronize the frame rate of the game with your monitor's refresh rate. Conversely, if it's on and causing the stutter, try turning it off.
SSD Health Check: Since you're running games and your OS from an SSD, check the health of your SSD using tools like CrystalDiskInfo. An SSD close to its life expectancy or with bad sectors can cause issues such as stuttering.
Monitor Refresh Rate: Ensure that your monitor’s refresh rate in Windows settings matches its actual capabilities. Sometimes mismatched refresh rates can induce screen stutters.
BIOS Update: This is a bit more technical and should be approached with caution, but sometimes updating the BIOS can resolve compatibility issues that manifest as stutters.
System Restore: If this issue started recently, consider whether any changes or updates occured around that time (new hardware installation, significant software updates). You might try restoring the system to an earlier state before these changes were made.
Hardware Temperature Check: Overheating could also cause stuttering issues. Use software like HWMonitor to check temperatures of your CPU and GPU while in use.

If none of these strategies rectify the problem, it might be worthwhile considering professional diagnostics from a trusted technician as there could potentially be an underlying hardware fault.