CPU and GPU usage drop while gaming

[ryanmoffat87]

SPECS:
CPU: Intel Core i7 7700k @ 4.20ghz
CPU Cooler: Kraken x62
MOBO: MSI Gaming M7
GPU: GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition (Base Clocks)
RAM: 4x 8gb (32gb) G.Skill Trident Z RGB 3000 - (XMP OC to 3000mhz)
STORAGE: Samsung 860 EVO 1TB
PSU: Corsair Ax760 (760W 80+ Platinum)
DISPLAY: Asus VG240QE 144hz 1080p

OS: Windows 10 Pro x64 (Version 10.0.17134 Build 17134)

PC is about 4-5 months old at most.


PROBLEM:

While gaming I am experiencing brief moments between 1 - 10 seconds of what appears to be graphics lag or delay of some sort at seemingly random times. When I monitor my hardware using applications like MSI Afterburner and HWINF064 I notice that during these episodes my CPU and GPU usage drop down to 0 or very close to that. Best I can tell is it seem like for brief moments my cpu and gpu act as though there is no load. I have done some extensive troubleshooting so far that I will layout below.


TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS SO FAR:

- Updated BIOS and checked for Windows updates
- Checked drivers for updates.
- Checked Temps using multiple applications such as; MSI Afterburner, CAM Software, MSI Command Centre, HWINFO64. GPU and CPU wont go passed 60c and MOBO/SSD etc does not exceed ~30c.
- Used DDU to remove current NVIDIA driver and reinstall. (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Used DDU to remove current NVIDIA driver and reinstalled previous driver. (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Adjusted power management mode in NVIDIA control panel to "Prefer Maximum Performance" also Threaded Optimisation to "On" (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Disabled all services excluding those associated with basic windows function called a "Clean Boot" detailed here; https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/929135/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Turned off the Windows Game Bar and disabled "DiagTrack" a.k.a. connected user experiences and telemetry service. (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Created a new Windows user account with admin rights to isolate corrupt user account issues. Detailed here; https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/instantanswers/5de907f1-f8ba-4fd9-a89d-efd23fee918c/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10 (With NVIDIA Online Support)
- Cleared CMOS
- Performed clean sweep of my SSD using Samsung Magician and reinstalled Windows
- Set power management mode in windows to maximum performance.
- Tested each stick of RAM individually but not in pairs.
- Removed GPU from PC and ran games on integrated graphics. (Going to test again)
- Applied new thermal paste to CPU.
- Completely disassembled and reassembled PC.
- Set RAM to default speed (no xmp profile active)
- Checked for viruses and Malware using Avast Antivirus and Malwarebytes

 

[shalehha]

I suggest you to try to get off the gpu and use intel hd graphic if the problem is still the same maybe the problem its in your proccessor

 

[ryanmoffat87]

So after extensive testing I have finally figured out what was causing my stuttering issue, and it is not what I would have expected. It turns out that there is a feature for Windows updates called "delivery optimization" which is a cloud-based application used to download Windows Updates for apps and other Microsoft products. I'm not sure yet if this was causing either a network or disk usage problem but anyway here is the fix;


1. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options.

2. Select Delivery Optimization.

3. Make sure Allow downloads from other PCs is turned Off.

(You'll get updates and apps directly from Windows Update and from Microsoft Store with Delivery Optimization; however, you won’t download from or upload to other PCs.)

https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows-10-windows-update-delivery-optimization
https://www.howtogeek.com/224981/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-uploading-updates-to-other-pcs-over-the-internet/