Question Random Stuttering on EVGA RTX 3080

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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Hi all,

I just built a new PC over the weekend and it has run smoothly with the exception of random fps stutters when I play video games. It has occurred the most frequently while playing Valorant, but also occurs in other games and I'm not really sure what the cause is. Tried full screen vs windows maximized and tweaking some settings to no avail. Here are my specs:

Specs:
-GPU: EVGA RTX 3080
-CPU: Ryzen 5800x
-Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
-RAM: 32GB (16x2) of G.Skill DDR4
-Storage: 3TB of mixed storage (SSDs, NVMES)
-PSU: Corsair RM850X
-Display: 144hz ROG Swift PG248Q

UserBenchmark:
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/47206849

Any help/insight is appreciated. The games pretty much run flawlessly but every couple of minutes will freeze (stutter) for 1-2 seconds before resuming gameplay.

Thanks for your time :)
 
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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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That cooler is definitely up to the task. There's something else going on here.

Did you remove the protective plastic from the bottom of the CPU block before attaching? What thermal paste did you use? Are you monitoring your Masterliquid ML360R temps?

Yes / Coolermaster's thermal paste / temps look fine to me
 

Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Oh, can you not monitor the AiO temps with the Masterplus+ software? Read up on it beforehand as I read that you have to update firmware before installing the software.

Ah I see. I ran Time Spy again with Masterplus and it looked fine/average temps. I disabled G-SYNC and turned the Nvidia Control Panel to high performance, which seemed to have helped a little (only stutters once every 8-10min now). Hopefully I can narrow down the issue with the CPU/SSD

Edit: Nvm :/ seems I just got lucky for an hour or so. It's back to the usual intervals
 
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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Those temps still seem a little on the high side.
Can you game unitl you see some bad stuttering, with HWiNFO64 logging in the background, and then upload the log file somewhere we can grab it?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qbp0vq8tte5avi/ValorantGP1.CSV?dl=0

Here's a log - I stopped logging a few seconds after the stuttering occurred (so the clues should be toward the bottom of the sheet). Row 86 stands out at first glance; CPU Core Power dropped off ~50%.
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qbp0vq8tte5avi/ValorantGP1.CSV?dl=0

Here's a log - I stopped logging a few seconds after the stuttering occurred (so the clues should be toward the bottom of the sheet). Row 86 stands out at first glance; CPU Core Power dropped off ~50%.
Your system wasn't being taxed much in this log..

Let's try two separate tests both with HWiNFO64 logging in the background. Run Prime95 (blended test with all AVX settings off) for at least 5 minutes and then Furmark (max resolution) for at least 5 minutes.

Upload the log files so we can check them.
 

Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Your system wasn't being taxed much in this log..

Let's try two separate tests both with HWiNFO64 logging in the background. Run Prime95 (blended test with all AVX settings off) for at least 5 minutes and then Furmark (max resolution) for at least 5 minutes.

Upload the log files so we can check them.

Okay, ran Prime95, Furmark, and another Valorant session. See below:

Prime95 Test - https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qyvjvs5g7juqyv/Prime95.CSV?dl=0

Furmark Test - https://www.dropbox.com/s/100ju4zgd5h7j8s/Furmark.CSV?dl=0

Valorant Test - https://www.dropbox.com/s/hwb2blocawcs0ov/ValorantGameplay.CSV?dl=0
 
Oct 12, 2021
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Hey man, I have somewhat the same problem as you. During every game I tested I get random fps drops (not a certain point in the game, but just pure random). It's driving me crazy and I can't find a fix either. But somewhat your memory clock seems a bit odd in the GPUZ thingy. Have you tried turning on "Performance mode" in the nvidia control panel? It keeps the core clock and memory clock stable at the highest point.
 

Unfortunately, HWiNFO64 doesn't give throttle limit/power limit reasons for this CPU yet.

When running Prime95 I noticed that your CPU started at an average of 4500MHz but quickly dropped to ~4300MHz. Some of your cores are also hitting 90C. They are throttling due to high temps.

It the Furmark test I noticed that your GPU is hitting its Power Limit.

Look at line 367 in your Valorant test. This is your CPU clocking down to default levels, again, probably due to thermal throttling.

You need to get a handle on your CPU temps, first and foremost.
 
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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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Unfortunately, HWiNFO64 doesn't give throttle limit/power limit reasons for this CPU yet.

When running Prime95 I noticed that your CPU started at an average of 4500MHz but quickly dropped to ~4300MHz. Some of your cores are also hitting 90C. They are throttling due to high temps.

It the Furmark test I noticed that your GPU is hitting its Power Limit.

Look at line 367 in your Valorant test. This is your CPU clocking down to default levels, again, probably due to thermal throttling.

You need to get a handle on your CPU temps, first and foremost.

I see, so you're pretty certain it's an overheating issue causing the micro-freezes due to throttling?

Any suggestion as far as how to calm the CPU temps? I'm guessing another fan will be needed in the case then.
 

Mondeezy

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Hey man, I have somewhat the same problem as you. During every game I tested I get random fps drops (not a certain point in the game, but just pure random). It's driving me crazy and I can't find a fix either. But somewhat your memory clock seems a bit odd in the GPUZ thingy. Have you tried turning on "Performance mode" in the nvidia control panel? It keeps the core clock and memory clock stable at the highest point.

Hey! Yeah, it's on high performance mode. It was one of the first things I tried but unfortunately had no effect on the random microfreezes.
 
I see, so you're pretty certain it's an overheating issue causing the micro-freezes due to throttling?

Any suggestion as far as how to calm the CPU temps? I'm guessing another fan will be needed in the case then.
I see throttling happening. The first step will be to handle that.
Stuttering regularly occurs with online games. Whether it's your hardware or internet causing it remains to be seen.

What does your max CPU voltage get to during Prime95?
What thermal paste did you used when you attached the CPU block?
Can you give us some screen shots of what the Masterplus software says it's temp and the CPU temp are? Please include before Prime95, during, and after for at least a minute.
 
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OK, I tried to read all of that, What about going into the BIOS and make sure PBO is disable? Many motherboards come from factory with it enabble by default.

(I mean OP could even try to disable PB just for testing too, if CPU temp is the issue runing at base clock may temporarily "fix" the issue).
 
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Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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I see throttling happening. The first step will be to handle that.
Stuttering regularly occurs with online games. Whether it's your hardware or internet causing it remains to be seen.

What does your max CPU voltage get to during Prime95?
What thermal paste did you used when you attached the CPU block?
Can you give us some screen shots of what the Masterplus software says it's temp and the CPU temp are? Please include before Prime95, during, and after for at least a minute.

Hey @alceryes - apologies, I had to go out of town for a few days. Just getting back to this. I re-seated all of the parts and ran the benchmarks requested, see below:

What does your max CPU voltage get to during Prime95?
View: https://imgur.com/a/8YzgXgQ


What thermal paste did you used when you attached the CPU block?
The Coolermaster Thermal Paste that came with the cooler.

Can you give us some screen shots of what the Masterplus software says it's temp and the CPU temp are? Please include before Prime95, during, and after for at least a minute.
View: https://imgur.com/a/E4OKzzP
here are the screenshots - not sure if Masterplus is having issues but doesn't seem to be reading the voltage or temps properly.
 

Mondeezy

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Jul 24, 2016
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OK, I tried to read all of that, What about going into the BIOS and make sure PBO is disable? Many motherboards come from factory with it enabble by default.

(I mean OP could even try to disable PB just for testing too, if CPU temp is the issue runing at base clock may temporarily "fix" the issue).

Tried this (disabled) and didn't seem to fix it unfortunately :/
 
Haven't tried wiping the m2 nvme SSD and starting from scratch (fresh install, single drive), that might be the next step if we can't find an issue with the hardware.

I'm also still unsure why my SSDs are benchmarking so low, despite being totally up to date drivers/firmware wise. https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/47554804

Is the 980 pro installed on the first m.2 slot (the one closer to the CPU)?, thats the only one thats pcie v4.0. https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B550-TOMAHAWK/Specification

Are you runing a network cable or a wifi connection for internet?, Are the ethernet network and wifi adapters drivers up-to-date?