• Happy holidays, folks! Thanks to each and every one of you for being part of the Tom's Hardware community!

Question I've had stuttering on my PC for 4 years ?

Nov 21, 2024
6
1
15
Hi guys,

First of all, i fell into this damn swamp 4 years ago. When i assembled the first system, i had R5 3600, R7 265 and B450M and 16 GB RAM. I remember i didn't have any problems when i first assembled it, i was enjoying it. Then, after months passed, these stuttering started to sprout. Basically, it was stuttering like a momentary stutter while scrolling while browsing websites in the browser, and then it started to spread to games. Then i upgraded to an RX 570 GPU and the same thing happened with it, even when windows first booted up, the mouse cursor would stutter like crazy on it, etc. I'll explain step by step what I'm going through now.

Then i switched to an RX 5500XT GPU, and the problems continued in the same manner. I thought it must be due to the AMD graphics card, so i reached the point where i started ignoring it. After the GPU, i also changed the motherboard and case. I upgraded from an MSI B450M Pro M.2 Max motherboard to the Mortar Max model, thinking maybe something would change, but nothing changed. It was still the same, as if nothing had changed. My power supply was an old model, a Gigabyte PSU that was about 6-7 years old at that time. I found a good deal on a Corsair CV650 PSU and installed it, but of course, nothing changed again. So far, i have changed a ton of parts, and nothing has changed. And there's more, keep reading.

After all of this, seeing that nothing was fixed, i began to think the problem might be with the CPU, so i upgraded from the R5 3600 to the R5 5600, even though i used two R5 5600s, one of which burned out, but i won’t go into those details. When i upgraded to the R5 5600, the motherboard was also changed, going from the Mortar Max to the Tomahawk Max 2, and once again, nothing changed everything continued as before. In fact, there was even a new issue with the mouse cursor stuttering. It stutters in games, while scrolling pages on websites, and occasionally in windows as well. When browsing through apps like Discord, Steam, etc., stuttering occurs, and in Steam, it was particularly noticeable with significant drops. Despite all these changes, none of this has been fixed.

We continue. The CPU was changed, the motherboard was changed, the PSU was changed, the case was changed, the GPU was changed, yet no improvement. I thought maybe the problem was with the RAM, because that was the only part i hadn’t changed. So, i swapped my Crucial 2x8 3000 MHz CL15 RAM for Corsair 2x16 3600 MHz CL16 RAM—basically upgrading from 16GB to 32GB. Again, no change, nothing was fixed.

At this point, i thought maybe it's cursed AMD and their drivers, so i started looking for a second-hand NVIDIA GPU and switched to an RTX 2080. After switching to the 2080, most of the drops in games were fixed, but they didn’t completely disappear. Even after switching to NVIDIA, 90% of the problems remain, and none of them have been resolved.

We’re still at it. The motherboard was changed again, and this time i switched to one of the best B550s, the ASUS ROG STRIX B550F Gaming. I also changed the case and PSU once more, switching from the Corsair CV650 to a High Power 800W Gold PSU. Yet, no improvement, of course, despite all these changes. I’ve also changed storage multiple times, but none of these solved the issue.

Finally, with another excuse, i swapped the CPU again and ended up with the R7 5700X3D, but once again, there was no significant change. All these changes have only cost me money, and although there were performance improvements, this damned 4-year-old problem still hasn’t been fixed. What do I need to do?

I’m about to pack up and switch to console; my psychology is ruined. Why should there be stuttering with such high-end parts? There shouldn’t even be a hint of stuttering in this damn system, but no. I’ve been using it this way for 4 years, pulling my hair out, but now i’m at my breaking point. I’ve tried everything, no method, part, or change has been left untried. Every possible Windows update has been installed, and there have been tons of driver updates in between, but none of these have fixed the issue. Some forums suggest that even the electrical installation could be affecting it, but i can't understand how the electrical installation could affect the system. In this time, even peripheral components have been changed, and now i’m so desperate that i’m willing to consider anything.

I’ve written all this in great detail, and i know there are thousands of people experiencing the same issue. I am one of those people, and i want to make it clear that changing parts won’t necessarily solve everything.
At this point, the only unchanged part is the AM4 platform. Should i be saying there’s some curse with the platform, but many people are using it without issues? Is there some setting in the BIOS i need to tweak? I don’t really understand this stuff, but i’d be really grateful if someone who actually knows could give me advice because, in the past 4 years, i’ve tried every method. Please don’t suggest basic things like MPO fix or DDU, i beg you. By the way, there are no temperature issues in the system, just to clarify.

The current state of my system:
  • R7 5700X3D CPU
  • ASUS ROG STRIX B550F Gaming motherboard
  • ASUS Dual RTX 2080 GPU
  • Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB 3600 MHz CL16 RAM
  • Phanteks Eclipse P360A case
  • High Power 800W +80 Gold PSU
  • Kingston KC3000 1TB, PNY CS3030 250GB, SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB, Samsung M3 500GB storage
 
What monitor and sync type?

Monitoring temperatures and keeping the rig clean of dust?

Are you using a wireless mouse? Are the stutters you are seeing a result of a graphics issue in your opinion, or a result of the mouse not actually sending a signal for the cursor or action to "move"?

Same storage drive this whole time?


Lastly, if you happen to have any of the previous three motherboards I have been sort of looking for a B450 with the BIOS updated....
 
What monitor and sync type?

Monitoring temperatures and keeping the rig clean of dust?

Are you using a wireless mouse? Are the stutters you are seeing a result of a graphics issue in your opinion, or a result of the mouse not actually sending a signal for the cursor or action to "move"?

Same storage drive this whole time?


Lastly, if you happen to have any of the previous three motherboards I have been sort of looking for a B450 with the BIOS updated....
Monitor: SAMSUNG LC24F396FHMXUF

Temperatures are normal. CPU 65 70 degrees
The gpu does not exceed 75. there should not be a problem with these temperatures, at least the idle temperatures are lower, considering that these problems occur even at idle. I clean the system regularly, there is almost no dust.

I use a wired mouse so i have eliminated it

not the same storage, i had the same problem with my previous storage. Windows was installed on them

and sorry, i don't have another mobo
 
I see that your monitor is a 1080/60 with Free Sync. I cannot really think of a situation where a static or 'just playing a video' would hitch. At the same time, I had an Acer monitor that was 1080/75 and it looked like pure trash all the time unless being run from an AMD graphics solution, be it the newer integrated stuff or a discrete solution. It liked being on AMD and Display Port. In its specific case my main problem with it was shimmer and tearing.

Do you have any other monitor you can try the system on, family TV, anything?
 
I see that your monitor is a 1080/60 with Free Sync. I cannot really think of a situation where a static or 'just playing a video' would hitch. At the same time, I had an Acer monitor that was 1080/75 and it looked like pure trash all the time unless being run from an AMD graphics solution, be it the newer integrated stuff or a discrete solution. It liked being on AMD and Display Port. In its specific case my main problem with it was shimmer and tearing.

Do you have any other monitor you can try the system on, family TV, anything?
i have 2 TVs at home, i tried both of them, unfortunately there was no difference
 
I have to admit a certain level of head scratching over here as well. Technically, this isn't even the same build so it makes no sense why the issue would follow along for all those hardware changes.

Not sure what to suggest at this point.
 
I will add some thoughts and suggestions.

Noted in Post #1:

"Some forums suggest that even the electrical installation could be affecting it, but i can't understand how the electrical installation could affect the system."

There are many ways.....

As I understand the overall post everything else has been replaced/changed etc..

The one constant during the 4 years being the electrical system.

What is your country's electrical system voltage? How stable is power in your area? Voltage range?

What about a UPS? Was that ever tried?

Have there ever been any electrical system inspections with respect to your home, apartment, neighborhood?

Any nearby industrial centers, military installations, airports, or other heavy electricity users such as elevators, etc.?

Electricity/electrical circuits can do all sorts of strange things. All the more so if not properly designed, installed, and maintained. Improper or failed grounding (earthing) can cause all sorts of seemingly mysterious problems. Instead of "stuttering" think "fluttering".

Look up "ground loops". Sketch out a diagram of your home electrical system as best you can.

And show all of your devices are plugged in and connected; both to the electrical system and to each other.
Electrical, audio, video, network - all connections and cables.

However there may be connections and problems that are not immediately known or even discoverable. An electrician with the proper test devices may find something.

After all that has been done, my suggestion would be to take the entire system to another location (or even two different locations) at least far enough from your home location to ensure that the system is being served by some other part of the electrical grid.
 
Besides the usual stuff you'd install after installing Windows like chipset, audio, lan and graphics, is there anything else? Such as motherboard utilities, peripheral software, NZXT cam, Discord etc? Try remember everything you would typically install right after a clean install of Windows. Btw have you tried testing your computer after installing only the basics as i described by usual stuff?

Which Windows are you running?

Maybe uploading some images might help. Screenshots of startup programs in task manager, also processes tab with cpu & memory column sorted highest to lowest, and of Cpuz SPD and memory sections.

If there is a drive being reused with stuff on it, that has tagged along during several hardware changes, perhaps do a Malwarebytes scan of that drive and everything else. Could be a virus being transplanted from it.
 
I will add some thoughts and suggestions.

Noted in Post #1:

"Some forums suggest that even the electrical installation could be affecting it, but i can't understand how the electrical installation could affect the system."

There are many ways.....

As I understand the overall post everything else has been replaced/changed etc..

The one constant during the 4 years being the electrical system.

What is your country's electrical system voltage? How stable is power in your area? Voltage range?

What about a UPS? Was that ever tried?

Have there ever been any electrical system inspections with respect to your home, apartment, neighborhood?

Any nearby industrial centers, military installations, airports, or other heavy electricity users such as elevators, etc.?

Electricity/electrical circuits can do all sorts of strange things. All the more so if not properly designed, installed, and maintained. Improper or failed grounding (earthing) can cause all sorts of seemingly mysterious problems. Instead of "stuttering" think "fluttering".

Look up "ground loops". Sketch out a diagram of your home electrical system as best you can.

And show all of your devices are plugged in and connected; both to the electrical system and to each other.
Electrical, audio, video, network - all connections and cables.

However there may be connections and problems that are not immediately known or even discoverable. An electrician with the proper test devices may find something.

After all that has been done, my suggestion would be to take the entire system to another location (or even two different locations) at least far enough from your home location to ensure that the system is being served by some other part of the electrical grid.
I can't deal with electricity right now, i'm putting it on the back burner.


Besides the usual stuff you'd install after installing Windows like chipset, audio, lan and graphics, is there anything else? Such as motherboard utilities, peripheral software, NZXT cam, Discord etc? Try remember everything you would typically install right after a clean install of Windows. Btw have you tried testing your computer after installing only the basics as i described by usual stuff?

Which Windows are you running?

Maybe uploading some images might help. Screenshots of startup programs in task manager, also processes tab with cpu & memory column sorted highest to lowest, and of Cpuz SPD and memory sections.

If there is a drive being reused with stuff on it, that has tagged along during several hardware changes, perhaps do a Malwarebytes scan of that drive and everything else. Could be a virus being transplanted from it.
After the clean install, i tried it without installing the programs and drivers i normally install. As soon as i install the GPU driver, i can clearly see the stuttering, even when scrolling in the browser. In fact, everything starts after installing the GPU driver. As long as i don't install the driver, there is no stuttering, of course there is no hardware acceleration, but i can't see the stuttering that way. Interestingly, i had the same situation with my previous RX 5500XT and RX 570 cards. Everything is fine without installing the GPU drivers, but after installing them, the problems start... There seems to be a problem with the GPU drivers on my system.

Replaced all your peripherals in same time?

It could be any hardware and seems consistent, so anything that just kept being used?

Does it happen in safe mode? that will remove drivers and non windows applications from blame.
I didn't change them all at once, i changed all the hardware gradually. In short, you can think of it as changing the system 3 times in 4 years. unfortunately i can't look in detail in safe mode, most programs don't work.
I can se everything else but Operating System and how and when it was installed.
bro i just installed 24H2 2 days ago
 
I didn't change them all at once, i changed all the hardware gradually. In short, you can think of it as changing the system 3 times in 4 years. unfortunately i can't look in detail in safe mode, most programs don't work.

So everything in and plugged into PC is new?

You need to test each part in PC and see if its okay. Since you have no starting point as such,
 
Try PCIEx 3.0 instead of Auto PCIEx 4.0 for your graphic card and see if the stuttering occurs. Just a suggestion with your current motherboard. Worth a try. All the Best. Please post your results. Thank You.
 
So everything in and plugged into PC is new?

You need to test each part in PC and see if its okay. Since you have no starting point as such,
Everything is new. As for trying one by one, i've already tried every single part one by one before this, so i didn't see any improvement in any way. The biggest improvement was after i switched to the nvidia card, but that only made a difference in games.
Try PCIEx 3.0 instead of Auto PCIEx 4.0 for your graphic card and see if the stuttering occurs. Just a suggestion with your current motherboard. Worth a try. All the Best. Please post your results. Thank You.
If it was because of that i shouldn't have a problem using a b450 motherboard, but i'll give it a try anyway man!

Also, maybe I’m not informed on that brand but I’m not sure I recognize the power supply listed in the build. Depending what power supply it is that could be a clue.

  • High Power 800W +80 Gold PSU
This is a psu brand that is more common in Turkey. It may not be very well known abroad, they probably print labels and sell them, but i can say that it is a quality product. I have changed the psu about 2-3 times. Before that i already had Corsair, but it was the same...
 
  • Like
Reactions: ohio_buckeye
Everything is new. As for trying one by one, i've already tried every single part one by one before this, so i didn't see any improvement in any way. The biggest improvement was after i switched to the nvidia card, but that only made a difference in games.
Buying new parts isn't what testing is... What I mean is, you run checks on the hardware currently installed to find the cause, you don't replace parts without knowing they are the cause. Its how you end up where you are now, 4 years, 3 brand new systems almost in that time. Still not sure what cause is. It is much cheaper in long run to test what you have than replace things hoping they will fix it.

So this is system now, no point thinking about what it was. Anything before that was replaced wasn't the cause.
  • R7 5700X3D CPU
  • ASUS ROG STRIX B550F Gaming motherboard
  • ASUS Dual RTX 2080 GPU
  • Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB 3600 MHz CL16 RAM
  • Phanteks Eclipse P360A case
  • High Power 800W +80 Gold PSU
  • Kingston KC3000 1TB, PNY CS3030 250GB, SanDisk Ultra 3D 500GB, Samsung M3 500GB storage

I will start at the bottom
Storage
not all storage makers have their own software:
Kingston ssd manager - run this and check health if it can, also updates firmware -
https://www.kingston.com/en/support/technical/ssdmanager
PNY don't have own software
Sandisk now owned by Western Digital and I believe you use this: https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/31759/~/download,-install,-test-drive-and-update-firmware-using-western-digital
Samsung - run diagnostics in Magician: https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/

For the PNY drive, run Crystaldiskinfo, download from blue icons here:
just open it and select the drive, it auto collects results. Can look at all your drives using it, just shows the SMART data - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Monitoring,_Analysis_and_Reporting_Technology
PSU: (I did see all the turkey links)
not many tests for PSU, many inside windows aren't accurate
multimeter https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually-test-a-power-supply-with-a-multimeter-2626158

or in the BIOS to check the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V. - https://www.lifewire.com/power-supply-voltage-tolerances-2624583

can't test cases...

GPU tests are more to see if it can run them without errors

https://geeks3d.com/furmark/
https://benchmark.unigine.com/heaven

No tests for motherboards, they sort of the last step. You check everything else out and narrow down possible causes.
Do you have latest BIOS?

Last two tests aren't short, best run each overnight. Prime can take a while.

ram
Try running memtest86 on each of your ram sticks, one stick at a time, up to 4 passes. Only error count you want is 0, any higher could be cause of the errors. Remove/replace ram sticks with errors. Memtest is created as a bootable USB so that you don’t need windows to run it

CPU:
Damn shame AMD don't have their own software to test CPU, Intel do.
Instead, we run Prime 95
All - https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/prime95-download.html
Prime 95 Instructions - https://appuals.com/how-to-run-a-cpu-stress-test-using-prime95/

It will run PC hot. So I wouldn't do it if its a hot day there. And I hope you have good cooling in case

Curious if you get any rounding errors in Prime.
 
Last edited: