Question Help me identify constant stuttering in Windows11

[thisisrossonomous]

Hi all,

First post here & I'm hoping someone can please help me figure out what's going on.

Basically, I have Windows11 Pro and I'm having intermittent stutters with day to day use of browsers, applications and Windows as a whole. The stuttering is like my entire Windows just blipping for a second or two, or doing it multiple times within a 10-20 second window. Sometimes the mouse just completely disconnects for 1-2 seconds at a time too (or it is also stuttering). It's driving me insane, I can't even browser or use Excel without random blips every few minutes. Note - I play a few games and don't have any issues while in-game.

I did a full reinstall of Windows a few weeks back and this didn't fix the issue. I've tried removing all AMD drivers and putting them back on. Also made sure GPU is fully updated.

Can you please advise what I can do next? I've got a fairly OK build so I'm starting to lose my mind that I'm having these issues. I got this PC from a facebook purchase a few months ago, specs are:

Win11 Pro
B450 AORUS ELITE
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core
Corsair Vengeance 32GB RAM
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB

Happy to run tests if you can advise correct tools I should be using.

Thanks

 

[boju]

Can't be Windows / something installed since you did a reinstall. So that leaves drive health the OS is on and cpu temperature, if too high causing clocks to drop resulting in hiccups and stutters. What is cooling the cpu?

Assuming an SSD for OS drive? Didn't list it.
Check drive health with Crystaldiskinfo.

CrystalDiskMark

About CrystalDiskMark CrystalDiskMark is a simple disk benchmark software. Download Standard Edition Aoi Edition Shizuku Edition System Requirements OS Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022 Architecture x86/x64/ARM64 Key Features Important Notice -> FAQ Unit M...

crystalmark.info

Check cpu temp and frequency with Core Temp. Cpu should reach expected frequency while doing something, browsing or whatever whilst not thermal throttling.

Core Temp

Core Temp is a compact, no fuss, small footprint, yet powerful program to monitor processor temperature and other vital information.

www.alcpu.com

 

[thisisrossonomous]

Can't be Windows / something installed since you did a reinstall. So that leaves drive health the OS is on and cpu temperature, if too high causing clocks to drop resulting in hiccups and stutters. What is cooling the cpu?

Assuming an SSD for OS drive? Didn't list it.
Check drive health with Crystaldiskinfo.

CrystalDiskMark

About CrystalDiskMark CrystalDiskMark is a simple disk benchmark software. Download Standard Edition Aoi Edition Shizuku Edition System Requirements OS Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022 Architecture x86/x64/ARM64 Key Features Important Notice -> FAQ Unit M...

crystalmark.info

Check cpu temp and frequency with Core Temp. Cpu should reach expected frequency while doing something, browsing or whatever whilst not thermal throttling.

Core Temp

Core Temp is a compact, no fuss, small footprint, yet powerful program to monitor processor temperature and other vital information.

www.alcpu.com

Thanks.

OS drive is a Western Digital 240GB M.2 SSD SATA

Fan over the CPU is NFA12x25 PWM Chromax, case is Noctua RM850 (2 top fans, 1 at back, 3 at front) and it's sat on a stand above carpet.

Screenshot of core temp under load (youtube video + other tabs and apps -

https://imgur.com/a/rU672Gh

View: https://imgur.com/a/rU672Gh


Running CrystalDiskMark at the moment.

 

[thisisrossonomous]

And this is from Crystal -

https://imgur.com/a/N80iwOp

View: https://imgur.com/a/N80iwOp

 

[SkyNetRising]

Fan over the CPU is NFA12x25 PWM Chromax

That's just a 120mm fan. What cpu cooler are you using?

case is Noctua RM850 (2 top fans, 1 at back, 3 at front) and it's sat on a stand above carpet.

Does Noctua make pc cases? Didn't think so.
RM850 is Corsair PSU (not a pc case).

Can you show a photo of your system with side panel removed?

 

[SkyNetRising]

The stuttering is like my entire Windows just blipping for a second or two
Sometimes the mouse just completely disconnects for 1-2 seconds at a time too (or it is also stuttering).

Have you tried with a different mouse?
Do you get USB disconnect sound, when mouse disconnects?

 

[thisisrossonomous]

That's just a 120mm fan. What cpu cooler are you using?

Does Noctua make pc cases? Didn't think so.
RM850 is Corsair PSU (not a pc case).

Can you show a photo of your system with side panel removed?

Ahh I'm sorry. The case has a Noctua badge/emblem next to power button and the RM850 is a label which is flush with the case so looks at a glance like it's on the case itself.

Not sure on cooler but images below:

https://imgur.com/LTuyiVQ

View: https://imgur.com/LTuyiVQ

https://imgur.com/ZhQStYS

View: https://imgur.com/ZhQStYS

https://imgur.com/3Hm0ykx

View: https://imgur.com/3Hm0ykx

https://imgur.com/nDDm57f

View: https://imgur.com/nDDm57f

https://imgur.com/a/McqMrW7

View: https://imgur.com/a/McqMrW7

https://imgur.com/zYQED85

View: https://imgur.com/zYQED85

https://imgur.com/WUJi1NX

View: https://imgur.com/WUJi1NX

 

[thisisrossonomous]

Have you tried with a different mouse?
Do you get USB disconnect sound, when mouse disconnects?

Yep, same issue on a Alienware 610M mouse. Current one I'm using is Razer Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed.
Both have been when using with a wireless dongle.
I haven't actually tried bluetooth on this mouse so wil switch it to that and try.

 

[thore]

Hi, I think you can run the boot test on a Linux live.If you run a live Linux, it's bound to be slower than an OS installed on disk, but it will have the advantage of seeing if it's at the OS/driver/software level. If you still have the problem while testing, it's probably a hardware issue.Have you updated your BIOS?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Not sure on cooler but images below:

Front facing fan on your cpu cooler is in wrong orientation.
Fans on your cpu cooler are fighting each other. There is basically no airflow going though your cpu cooler.

Yep, same issue on a Alienware 610M mouse. Current one I'm using is Razer Basilisk V3 X Hyperspeed.
Both have been when using with a wireless dongle.

So - all those are wireless mice?
There could be wireless signal interference. For example a microwave oven being operated nearby can kill wireless signal.

Try with a wired mouse instead.

 

[stonecarver]

I got this PC from a facebook purchase a few months ago, specs are:

It might not be the solution to your issues but the first thing I would do is clean out the PC.

You might find an ace in the hole and it could be contributing to you PC anomalies.

And I agree with thore

 

[thisisrossonomous]

Thanks all.

@thore - No idea about BIOS so will have a look at that & leave your other suggestion for after.
@SkyNetRising - OK got it. Looks fairly easy to remove and change so I'll get that sorted this weekend then! Gotcha on the mouse point, I use a wireless headset & keyboard as well so everything running on dongles (i like the clean desk look). Could order a cheap wired one though to see if that's the cause.
@stonecarver Got it, have ordered a can of compressed air and will do this at the same time as trying to sort the fans.

Will hopefully be able to come back with an update on Sunday. Thanks again all!

 

[thisisrossonomous]

@stonecarver @SkyNetRising Alrighty so tower has been blasted with compressed air and I have moved the fan around so airflow should hopefully all be going in the right direction now. I'll see how things get on and hopefully on Wednesday I will know if the issue persists or not as I'll be using it all day. I will return to update soon. Thanks again for the helo so far.

P.S Mouse on bluetooth (instead of dongle) has worked without a hitch so far

 

[Zerk2012]

@stonecarver @SkyNetRising Alrighty so tower has been blasted with compressed air and I have moved the fan around so airflow should hopefully all be going in the right direction now. I'll see how things get on and hopefully on Wednesday I will know if the issue persists or not as I'll be using it all day. I will return to update soon. Thanks again for the helo so far.

P.S Mouse on bluetooth (instead of dongle) has worked without a hitch so far

One stick of your memory is also in the wrong slot.

 

[thisisrossonomous]

One stick of your memory is also in the wrong slot.

Oh OK thanks for this. Have just googled the motherboard manual and looks like they should be in slot 1 & 2. Changing right now!

 

[thisisrossonomous]

@Zerk2012 OK I had slight squeaky bum time for a minute there! Moved a RAM stick across, booted and it sounded louder than normal and displays wouldn't come on. Also couldn't get it to power back down with the power button so had to flick the switch. Removed the RAM and put it straight back in again and all good this time.

 

[Zerk2012]

@Zerk2012 OK I had slight squeaky bum time for a minute there! Moved a RAM stick across, booted and it sounded louder than normal and displays wouldn't come on. Also couldn't get it to power back down with the power button so had to flick the switch. Removed the RAM and put it straight back in again and all good this time.

Now it should be running in dual channel instead of single.

 

[thisisrossonomous]

@SkyNetRising @Zerk2012

Sorry for the delay. Performance and general stutters have been markedly better since these changes! Definitely not getting the multi-second blips anymore so that is great. So thank you very much for this, I can actually use it for general office work without this constant annoyance now.

I have just realised though, I need to put on new thermal paste right? I ended up unscrewing the cooler from the inside the case when sorting the fans out then just screwed it back in, but it's just occurred that the paste needs replacing now. So I've ordered some of that then hopefully that's everything sorted.