Question CPU wait GPU time spiking in Valorant (and possibly other games)

Jul 13, 2025
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Recently I have encountered weird stutters ESPECIALLY in Valorant that occured after a Bios update, however I also updated the Chipset along with the Bios Update and reset Windows 11, to have a fresh system, so it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause. I enabled all telemetry graphs in game and saw a spike in CPU wait GPU time randomly, sometimes every few minutes, sometimes every few seconds, sometimes VERY noticable making my game freeze and stutter for a second.

SPECS:
Intel i7 13700KF
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Windforce OC
Asus Prime Z690-A
Crosair Vengeance 6400MHz 32CL DDR5
WD Black SN750

List of things I have tried so far:
-using xmp1 instead of xmp2 and setting tREFI to 32767
-uninstalling the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver and letting windows install the optimal one by scanning for hardware changes
-installing a fresh version of Windows 11 from a USB, disabling Driver Installation in advanced system properties and running a bat file that disabled automatic driver updates
-going back to an older bios
-tried both the Intel Default Settings and the Asus OC profile
-resetting and trying with stock bios
-using an older safe GPU nvidia driver (566.36)
-manually OC'd my CPU and setting manual voltages and Level 7 Loadline
-disabling c-states, e-cores and hyperthreading

Right now I am on the newest Bios, newest Nvidia Driver, newest Intel ME version and firmware. I also ran some Cinebech R24 benchmark, CPU multicore scored around 1.6k and GPU scored around 24k, so everything performs "fine" in benchmarks.

 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

-uninstalling the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver and letting windows install the optimal one by scanning for hardware changes
You've advised to install the latest version found off your motherboard's support site, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Asus Prime Z690-A
+
Right now I am on the newest Bios
For the sake of relevance, what BIOS version are you on for your motherboard?

You forgot to mention the make, model and age of your PSU. How are you cooling the processor?

-installing a fresh version of Windows 11 from a USB, disabling Driver Installation in advanced system properties and running a bat file that disabled automatic driver updates
You're advised to install the OS in offline mode, then manually installing all relevant drivers in an elevated command with the latest driver versions while in offline mode. You can connect to the www after you've manually installed all drivers.
 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

-uninstalling the Intel Management Engine Interface Driver and letting windows install the optimal one by scanning for hardware changes
You've advised to install the latest version found off your motherboard's support site, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.

Asus Prime Z690-A
+
Right now I am on the newest Bios
For the sake of relevance, what BIOS version are you on for your motherboard?

You forgot to mention the make, model and age of your PSU. How are you cooling the processor?

-installing a fresh version of Windows 11 from a USB, disabling Driver Installation in advanced system properties and running a bat file that disabled automatic driver updates
You're advised to install the OS in offline mode, then manually installing all relevant drivers in an elevated command with the latest driver versions while in offline mode. You can connect to the www after you've manually installed all drivers.
You've advised to install the latest version found off your motherboard's support site, in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.
The latest version of the Intel MEI is installed

For the sake of relevance, what BIOS version are you on for your motherboard?
Version 4301

You forgot to mention the make, model and age of your PSU. How are you cooling the processor?
be quiet Pure Power 12M 850W and AIO is the NZXT Kraken 280