Game Stuttering Across Different Devices

[Natebubba]

My computer has had a problem with video games, including flash games, and videos stuttering for some time now. I believe it may have started in February. I didn't really notice it at first since it only shows up in certain games and in certain videos, and I didn't realize how widespread it was until recently. The stuttering is short, repetitive, jarring pauses in the framerate. It seems to be associated with the game loading things in to memory, at least with certain games, because, for example, in Red Orchestra 2, when I first enter a match, I get huge stutters, but over time they go away. Though in some games the stuttering is consistent, regardless of how long I've been playing. The stuttering can be reduced in some games by turning down the graphics settings, but my computer should be able to handle these games with higher settings, I think, and it still stutters some.

Specs: ATI Radeon 5970
4 GB RAM
10,000 RPM Velociraptor
Corsair HX750 (replaced a Corsair GS 600)
i5 750 @ 2.66

Ran virus and spyware scans.

Tried updating drivers, didn't work, eventually reinstalled Windows and fresh installed drivers, still didn't work.

So I started testing the hardware.

First I tested with Prime95 for about 12 hours, no errors. Then I tested with Memtest86+ for about two hours (I know that's not that much) and no errors.

Bought a 750 watt psu, since I wasn't sure the 600 watt was sufficient, but it didn't change anything.

I've monitored my temps and they all look normal.

GPU gets up to 86 C when stress tested, CPU gets to 50.

Then I got on the other family computers (I'm 18) and strangely, they have the same problems with stuttering in the same games... though they aren't used for gaming, one of them is capable.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I ended up buying a PS3 because I wanted something that worked and wanted to play a bunch of PS3 exclusives, but, lo and behold (actually, not unsurprisingly) the PS3 also exhibits stuttering behavior.

It's so strange that I question whether I'm just paranoid, but every time I go to play games it's there.

How could all the computers in my house be experiencing the same stuttering issue in the same games, as well as the PS3 (different games on the PS3, though). Is it just coincedence, and the problems are separate, or are they related? Is that even possible? Also, none of it is totally game breaking stuttering, it's just enough to really annoy you and make you want to stop playing. Maybe the different machines are unrelated, it just seems like quite a coincedence.

I've been thinking maybe it has something to do with the power in the house. I think the problem may have started when my grandparents were here and one of them broke a dimmer switch by hitting it way too hard (which caused light bulbs to blaze and then go out), even though that seems disconnected, but it's the only thing I can associate with the problem.

So what should I do? Where should I ask about this, if this isn't the right place?

 

[smeezekitty]

Your GPU temp seems alittle warm. You should try cleaning out the heatsink from any dust.

But if you are noticing stutter on all computers AND your console, then chances are you are just very sensitive to it.

All computer generated graphics have some variation in frame timing.

 

[lxxjordan23xxl]

I am the same way in that I notice stuttering (usually frame latency) on any game when I used to not. It didn't happen until I tried PC games and could play games at 60 fps extremely smooth and going back to a console made low frame rate much more noticeable and some stuttering very annoying. The only way I dealt with it was making myself focus on what I was doing in-game to the extent that I just didn't notice/it didn't bother me.

 

[Tabris DarkPeace]

Tried http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.php yet?

 

[Natebubba]

If that is true, I would have to assume that a lot of games are just poorly coded, and it's kind of hard for me to believe that. I mean, flash games stutter as well, and they work for other people...

And games, for example Red Orchestra 2 and Metro Last Light would have stuttering problems to an extent that I can hardly believe people play them, or that really (in MLL's case) it is legal to release it. Of course, nobody would bring a lawsuit against them because... it's just a game. But I mean, idk, it just doesn't make sense to me.

It's a bit ridiculous, but if it was something is there anything it could be, I mean I guess if I have bad power there's nothing I can do... to figure out what is wrong with it

 

[lxxjordan23xxl]

If that is true, I would have to assume that a lot of games are just poorly coded, and it's kind of hard for me to believe that. I mean, flash games stutter as well, and they work for other people...

And games, for example Red Orchestra 2 and Metro Last Light would have stuttering problems to an extent that I can hardly believe people play them, or that really (in MLL's case) it is legal to release it. Of course, nobody would bring a lawsuit against them because... it's just a game. But I mean, idk, it just doesn't make sense to me.

It's a bit ridiculous, but if it was something is there anything it could be, I mean I guess if I have bad power there's nothing I can do... to figure out what is wrong with it

In all honesty it has to be something on your end whether it is some power problem or not. I have not personally experienced anything that is as severe as you are describing. I played Metro Last Light on the xbox 360 and while it was extremely choppy for the most part, I was able to deal with it by playing it more.

 

[smeezekitty]

I think the key is stopped being so obsessed over the stuttering and you won't see it much.

 

[Natebubba]

Now I'm certain that it is caused by the game accessing the harddrive, as in certain games it is obvious to see the correlation between loading in stuff and stutter, so.. what do I do?

Also, the PS3 stutters always occur when the PS3 makes a noise (it's either reading from the hard drive or it's reading from the disk) so... what, PS3's just stutter? Lol, I don't really believe that.

 

[Tabris DarkPeace]

Use IObit GameBooster so that there is less other stuff running on your system while gaming.

It will also free up memory (temp stop services and unwanted processes) which will increase the size of the OS Disk Cache, which means less physical disk reads as the cache hit rate for for storage subsystem rises.

e.g. It may also be able to enable or disable the SuperFetch service, which sometimes prefetches data when a DirectX title wouldn't desire it to do so.
- Most games cache some of their own data, and expect a 'normal' OS Disk Cache, especially games that are WinXP compatible.

Could also be a real-time virus scanner update that now looks deeper into game files than it did before.

512MB of less junk running means 512MB more RAM for the game and/or Windows to use for caching.

 

[lxxjordan23xxl]

Use IObit GameBooster so that there is less other stuff running on your system while gaming.

It will also free up memory (temp stop services and unwanted processes) which will increase the size of the OS Disk Cache, which means less physical disk reads as the cache hit rate for for storage subsystem rises.

e.g. It may also be able to enable or disable the SuperFetch service, which sometimes prefetches data when a DirectX title wouldn't desire it to do so.
- Most games cache some of their own data, and expect a 'normal' OS Disk Cache, especially games that are WinXP compatible.

Could also be a real-time virus scanner update that now looks deeper into game files than it did before.

512MB of less junk running means 512MB more RAM for the game and/or Windows to use for caching.

Game Booster is a joke unless you are playing on a 5 year old laptop.