[SOLVED] Low 1% and 0.1% FPS drops that cause stuttering

[bthizle1]

Posted not long ago, but no response

I have been getting very low 1% and 0.1% FPS numbers that cause stuttering, when otherwise getting a solid 60 FPS
It's across multiple games, my 1% and 0.1% lows are like 5-25, while I can maintain an FPS at above 60 and even average FPS remains high. Thinking maybe it's something wrong the the CPU or MOBO? But I cannot buy another MOBO or CPU just to determine this.

Using MSI afterburner none of the hardware is usually even above 70% usage when this happens. (Monitoring RAM, CPU (all cores), and GPU) Temps essentially never get above 60 c.
Userbenchmark and HWinfo show my RAM clocked at different MHz though...see below. I have noticed that RAM clock doesn't go over 2000 MHz though, in game while using MSI Afterburner, would this make that big of a difference?

It tends to happen more frequently when in urban areas, or when there are multiple "people" in an area/battlefield (be it a strategy game, or RPG etc...) Although this is not always the case as it happens otherwise as well. So far I've noticed it in Assasins Creed Odyssey, Fallout 4 (vanilla and modded, though modded is somewhat worse), Total War Warhammer 2 and Arma 3. I should upload a picture of the Odyssey benchmark, it's anywhere between 90FPS and 19 on any settings. So average says around 60 but low goes to 19 the chart makes it very obvious.

I did notice that in the Assasins Creed Odyssey benchmarking menu, my CPU framtetime spikes seem to coincide with the FPS drops (doesn't seem like the GPU frametime does as much). Could this indicate CPU, despite intel test diagnostic being fine?

Specs:
CPU: i5 9600k
GPU : rx660xt 8GB
RAM: Corsair 16GB 2666Mhz Ram (it's 4000MHZ RAM, but the CPU and MOBO have it clocked at this, hwinfo also says it's running in dual channel 18-18-18-43)
Storage: 500GB nvme samsung evo 970 (OS is on this as well as the games I am trying)
MOBO: MSI B365M PRO-VH (MS-7C31)
PSU: EVGA 600W

Some things I've tried:
Changing power plan
High performance mode
Intel diagnostic for CPU
Memtest for RAM
Postponing windows updates
Using/not using Vysnc in game and with 3rd party software
Lower settings to very low, still get same issue
BIOS is up to date
GPU drivers are up to date
Have tried enabling XMP in BIOS, although this MOBO I don't think allows much of that.
Memtest
intel cpu test

Additional Info:
Userbenchmark
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/51406287
PC Info:
https://ibb.co/ZV7JsV5

 

[rgd1101]

check ssd usage during the drop?
getting low on ssd space

 

[mdd1963]

6c/6t is not exactly overloaded with CPU resources for WIn10 in any game these days...(and neither is my 4c/8t CPU, either!)

Via your taskbar and task manager, I'd turn off every last unnecessary app/service, such as all cloud storage services, everything not related to the game and a minimal AV if needed. I'd disconnect any unneeded storage devices, temp disable WIndows updates after ensuring all up to date, as we don't want anything 'kicking off' during a gaming session such as background file indexing, a check for Windows updates, or even an AV scan, etc...... l

If you have HWMonitor and CPU-z installed, you could run the latter's bench/stress CPU for 1-15 minutes, noting temps and sustained clock speeds for the duration of the test. (if clock speeds drop below 4.0-4.1 GHz after 1-2 minutes but temps seem well under control, i.e, at least under 90C, Intel's XTU app might allow you to override boost duration and TDP limits for your CPU. (Please post back your temps and sustained clock speeds under the above brief test, and, be sure to hit 'stop' when your stress /testing session is done)

 

[bthizle1]

6c/6t is not exactly overloaded with CPU resources for WIn10 in any game these days...(and neither is my 4c/8t CPU, either!)

Via your taskbar and task manager, I'd turn off every last unnecessary app/service, such as all cloud storage services, everything not related to the game and a minimal AV if needed. I'd disconnect any unneeded storage devices, temp disable WIndows updates after ensuring all up to date, as we don't want anything 'kicking off' during a gaming session such as background file indexing, a check for Windows updates, or even an AV scan, etc...... l

If you have HWMonitor and CPU-z installed, you could run the latter's bench/stress CPU for 1-15 minutes, noting temps and sustained clock speeds for the duration of the test. (if clock speeds drop below 4.0-4.1 GHz after 1-2 minutes but temps seem well under control, i.e, at least under 90C, Intel's XTU app might allow you to override boost duration and TDP limits for your CPU. (Please post back your temps and sustained clock speeds under the above brief test, and, be sure to hit 'stop' when your stress /testing session is done)

Sure, I have thought about that myself. That being said many have apparently ran all these games with this CPU or lesser just fine without such drops.
For what it's worth I noticed in AC Odyssey in the benchmark that there are somewhat higher lows the second and third time I run the benchmark. Something to do with rendering?

I ran the stress test while monitoring. Individual core clocks varied, but overall core clock never went below 4.2. Ran for around 15 minutes
Also, I am running on high performance mode so turbo is set to 100% min at all times. (Have drops/stutters regardless)

Image of HWinfo
https://ibb.co/gVgjFgL

Max temps on CPU package was 59 and core was 59 as well. This rig runs cool.

When installing windows to the nvme I did have to fiddle around with the BIOS settings A LOT, and it's in CMS mode as I cannot boot from it in the specific UEFI mode. Can't imagine this would cause this though...

 

[bthizle1]

check ssd usage during the drop?
getting low on ssd space

I've had around 100GB of free space or more while these drops have happened....