Discussion Ryzen 5900x + RX 6950 XT - I have tried everything and cannot get rid of stuttering in games!

[thexyad]

I have had weeks of troubleshooting and cannot for the life of me figure out the source of the constant stuttering I get in games.
Please HELP ME OUT if you have the knowledge to fix it because I've spent so much money on this system at this point and I'm really feeling awful about the constant issue.
By stuttering I mean I see sudden fps drops of at least 5fps to sometimes 50fps and then back up to the max of the game.

My system specs:

GPU: XFX - SPEEDSTER MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6950XT Core 16GB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core Processor 3.70 GHz
Motherboard: ASUS TUF B450M-PLUS GAMING AM4 AMD B450 SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
BIOS Version: 4002 x64
RAM: 32GB Total: TEAMGROUP T-Force Xtreem ARGB 3600MHz CL18 32GB (2x16GB) PC4-28800 Dual Channel DDR4
PSU: GAMEMAX 1050W ATX 3.0 & PCIE 5.0 Power Supply, 80+ Gold Certified
Operating System & Version: WINDOWS 11 22H2
GPU Drivers: Tried on Adrenalin 23.5.1, 23.5.2, 22.Q4 (Pro) and 23.7.1
Monitors: KOORUI 27 Inch QHD Gaming Monitor 144 Hz, IPS, 1ms, DCI-P3 90% Color Gamut, FreeSync G-Sync Compatible, (2560x1440)

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Here is all the troubleshooting I've done and nothing has removed the stutters:

- Reinstalled drivers after uninstalling with DDU
- Tried multiple variants of Adrenalin drivers including PRO and Driver-only (no tuning software)
- Turning on and also off Resize BAR and SAM
- Turned on DOCP profile for RAM to 3600 Mhz and turned it back off
- Tried different RAM (but both from TeamForce)
- Tried FreeSync and Enhanced Sync
- Tried lowering graphics quality to LOW
- Tried lowering resolution to 720p
- Turning off AMD capture or ReLive
- Turning off lower power state in Regedit
- Turning off Game Mode in Windows 11
- Reinstalled Windows 11
- Updated MB Chipset drivers
- Updated CPU drivers

None of these yielded any results.

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Extra details that might be relevant:

- When the stutters happen, the GPU is around 60-70% and CPU barely over 3%, while System Memory is only 10-12GB and temperatures are in the 60s - max 70, for both GPU and CPU.
- All games are on a 2TB Samsung SSD that's half-empty
- Windows is on a 1TB SSD that's more than half empty
- This particular RAM is on the QVL list of my motherboard
- The RAM is running at 2400 Mhz without DOCP profile currently
- I used to have 16 GB of RAM (G.Skill) and a RTX 3070 OC 8GB while having the same CPU and MB. I did not have stuttering on this combo
- I also tried a different PSU (850W) and the stuttering was still there

 

[Misgar]

I'm wondering if the VRMs on your motherboard are being overwhelmed by the CPU upgrade.

The main problem though is the Gamemax PSU. It's 'Tier F - Replace Immediately' in this list. Replace it with a 'Tier A - High End' PSU.

https://cultists.network/140/psu-tier-list/

 

[thexyad]

I'm wondering if the VRMs on your motherboard are being overwhelmed by the CPU upgrade.

The main problem though is the Gamemax PSU. It's 'Tier F - Replace Immediately' in this list. Replace it with a 'Tier A - High End' PSU.

https://cultists.network/140/psu-tier-list/

Not sure what VRMs are but I did have this MB and CPU together with the RTX 3070 and did not have stuttering.

Ok will replace the PSU. But would it realistically cause the stuttering? I just assumed that if it was the PSU I would get BSODs or black screens....

 

[Nighthawk117]

The VRM's (voltage regulator module) regulate the voltage from the PSU to components in your PC. Specifically he is talking about the VRM's around the CPU socket that regulate the voltage to your CPU. These vary in number and quality depending on the board. More expensive boards have stronger VRM's to cope with the power requirements of higher end CPU's and overclocking. If you pair a high end CPU with a cheap entry level board, for example a Core i9 13900K and a budget board, the VRM's would be overwhelmed, run at extreme temperatures and cause performance and stability issues.

I'm unconvinced that's the issue in your case though. You could perhaps test it though by setting the CPU to eco-mode in the bios and therefore lower the power requirements. As @Misgar suggests, that particular PSU brand is not well thought of, impossible to know if it's the cause of your issues without trying another PSU.

What slots on the motherboard do you have the RAM in?

 

[geofelt]

Stuttering is caused by a momentary lack of a critical resource.
Most likely CPU, but it could be graphics, a hard page fault, or gpu.

The most telling factor is that you ran well with a 3070 gpu.
I would suspect that your RX6950XT is the cause.
Can you try using a comparably performing GTX4080 or better Nvidia card?

AMD processors like fast ram.
Seems to me that you should be running at the advertised 3600 speed.
Is there a reason why not?
Test your ram.
Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

Running several more passes will sometimes uncover an issue, but it takes more time.
Probably not worth it unless you really suspect a ram issue.

Sometimes stuttering can be caused by a momentary throttling of the cpu.
What is your cpu cooler?
Run HWmonitor while gaming.
It will record the current, minimum and maximum cpu temperatures.
The minimum should be perhaps 20c. over ambient if your cooler is mounted well and functioning.

Look at the maximum temperatures for each core.
If you see 90c. in red, it means that you have throttled, at least momentarily and that might be your problem.
I am more of an Intel person and the number is 100c.

There are some motherboard bios updates that may improve performance.
See if there are any that might be relevant to you.

Ultimately, the single thread performance of your processor is not the best.
The single master thread performance is all important to a game.
Run the cpu-Z bench test and look at the single thread performance rating.
You should see something like 668:

CPU-Z Benchmark for AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (1T) - CPU-Z VALIDATOR

Best CPU performance - 64-bit - January 2025

valid.x86.fr

To do better will require a motherboard change.

 

[thexyad]

The VRM's (voltage regulator module) regulate the voltage from the PSU to components in your PC. Specifically he is talking about the VRM's around the CPU socket that regulate the voltage to your CPU. These vary in number and quality depending on the board. More expensive boards have stronger VRM's to cope with the power requirements of higher end CPU's and overclocking. If you pair a high end CPU with a cheap entry level board, for example a Core i9 13900K and a budget board, the VRM's would be overwhelmed, run at extreme temperatures and cause performance and stability issues.

I'm unconvinced that's the issue in your case though. You could perhaps test it though by setting the CPU to eco-mode in the bios and therefore lower the power requirements. As @Misgar suggests, that particular PSU brand is not well thought of, impossible to know if it's the cause of your issues without trying another PSU.

What slots on the motherboard do you have the RAM in?

Thanks for the explanation.
The memory sticks are in A2 and B2 which is how it was recommended in the MB manual

 

[thexyad]

Stuttering is caused by a momentary lack of a critical resource.
Most likely CPU, but it could be graphics, a hard page fault, or gpu.

The most telling factor is that you ran well with a 3070 gpu.
I would suspect that your RX6950XT is the cause.
Can you try using a comparably performing GTX4080 or better Nvidia card?

I will try it out! Thankfully I can likely buy one and return it after testing.
I am just frustrated because I've seen many comparisons between RTX 4070 and my card (as they are the same price) and the 6950 XT performs better and there shouldn't be any issues with the card itself since it's so well-reviewed! Also was in the AMD discord and plenty of people said theirs runs like a dream 🙁

AMD processors like fast ram.
Seems to me that you should be running at the advertised 3600 speed.
Is there a reason why not?

I had issues with RAM before when I had mismatched RAM (I tried to upgrade my 16GB to 32Gb by adding 2 extra 8GB for a total of 4x8GB) that didn't like being pushed to max so after installing the new RAM (2x16GB) I just reset the BIOS to defaults to be safe thinking RAM was the issue again. But I've selected the DOCP profile and currently it's at 3600Mhz.

Test your ram.
Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

Running several more passes will sometimes uncover an issue, but it takes more time.
Probably not worth it unless you really suspect a ram issue.

Sometimes stuttering can be caused by a momentary throttling of the cpu.
What is your cpu cooler?

It's a Zalman CNPS 10X Performa Black, Extreme Performance CPU Cooler, LGA1700 Compatible, Powerful 135mm Annular Fan 1500RPM, 75 CFM, 180W TDP, 4 Copper Heat Pipes

Run HWmonitor while gaming.
It will record the current, minimum and maximum cpu temperatures.
The minimum should be perhaps 20c. over ambient if your cooler is mounted well and functioning.

20c over ambient? Meaning I should check the cooler temp while doing nothing and that's ambient?

Look at the maximum temperatures for each core.
If you see 90c. in red, it means that you have throttled, at least momentarily and that might be your problem.
I am more of an Intel person and the number is 100c.

There are some motherboard bios updates that may improve performance.
See if there are any that might be relevant to you.

BIOS is fully updated 🙁

Ultimately, the single thread performance of your processor is not the best.
The single master thread performance is all important to a game.

In both games I was noticing the CPU hardly ever goes over 3% which is why I wasn't thinking it's the CPU? In my mind, the stutters or issues should happen when something is running over 100%, no?

Run the cpu-Z bench test and look at the single thread performance rating.
You should see something like 668:

CPU-Z Benchmark for AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (1T) - CPU-Z VALIDATOR

Best CPU performance - 64-bit - January 2025

valid.x86.fr

To do better will require a motherboard change.

Dunno if this helps but here's how it all performed under 3D MARK Time Spy. Does this answer anything regarding the CPU?

(Also not sure if it matters but the score was apparently invalid because tessellation was modified? But I set my Adrenalin drivers to not modify the tessellation of any application.)

 

[Viking2121]

Temps look about normal to me, I mean my 5900x does peak to 90c on hot days if I ran synthetic benchmarks.

I'd first look into reinstalling your GPU drivers, First go and download DDU, and download the latest AMD drivers.

Now I like to disconnect from the internet, either physically, or you can disable the ethernet or wireless card, this just prevents Windows from trying its best to install its own drivers.

Restart your machine in safemode, you can do this by holding shift and clicking on restart at the same time (If this doesn't work, there are many different ways to get into safemode)

Extract and run DDU, and remove all of the AMD drivers it finds and let it reboot the machine.

Once windows is back up in normal mode, Install the AMD drivers you downloaded, once it's done and if it doesn't ask you to restart, restart anyway, enable or reconnect to the internet

If the problems still persists, I would download HWinfo64 and bring up the temp sensors and keep an eye on temps when you run a stress test or a game that you have problems with, might be tricky to find what the VRM or chipset temps as it doesn't always label them correctly. also keep an eye on your SSD temps, seen some m.2 drives cause this when they get a little hot.

You can try updating the bios is you haven't in a while.

PSU is not a good unit either, and not known to be the most stable thing either, I would look into trying a different unit first before pointing at the VRM's on the board myself.

But I'm still going to have to agree with @Misgar That boards VRM's is not the best for the 5900x, though shouldn't have a problem on paper, but being in a case and not a ton of air flow over that area, That sounds like it can be the problem.

Good Luck!

 

[thexyad]

Temps look about normal to me, I mean my 5900x does peak to 90c on hot days if I ran synthetic benchmarks.

I'd first look into reinstalling your GPU drivers, First go and download DDU, and download the latest AMD drivers.

Now I like to disconnect from the internet, either physically, or you can disable the ethernet or wireless card, this just prevents Windows from trying its best to install its own drivers.

Restart your machine in safemode, you can do this by holding shift and clicking on restart at the same time (If this doesn't work, there are many different ways to get into safemode)

Extract and run DDU, and remove all of the AMD drivers it finds and let it reboot the machine.

Once windows is back up in normal mode, Install the AMD drivers you downloaded, once it's done and if it doesn't ask you to restart, restart anyway, enable or reconnect to the internet

I have reinstalled the drivers like ten times, and tried different variants of the drivers based on random comments online, none have helped the stutters.

If the problems still persists, I would download HWinfo64 and bring up the temp sensors and keep an eye on temps when you run a stress test or a game that you have problems with, might be tricky to find what the VRM or chipset temps as it doesn't always label them correctly. also keep an eye on your SSD temps, seen some m.2 drives cause this when they get a little hot.

That's going to be my next step.

You can try updating the bios is you haven't in a while.

I did update it already.

PSU is not a good unit either, and not known to be the most stable thing either, I would look into trying a different unit first before pointing at the VRM's on the board myself.

But I'm still going to have to agree with @Misgar That boards VRM's is not the best for the 5900x, though shouldn't have a problem on paper, but being in a case and not a ton of air flow over that area, That sounds like it can be the problem.

Good Luck!

Thanks!

 

[thexyad]

Stuttering is caused by a momentary lack of a critical resource.
Most likely CPU, but it could be graphics, a hard page fault, or gpu.

The most telling factor is that you ran well with a 3070 gpu.
I would suspect that your RX6950XT is the cause.
Can you try using a comparably performing GTX4080 or better Nvidia card?

I tested today with a RTX 4070 Ti. Same stuttering. So it looks like it's not the GPU.

Is there a reason why not?
Test your ram.
Run memtest86 or memtest86+
They boot from a usb stick and do not use windows.
You can download them here:

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

MemTest86 is the original self booting memory testing software for x86 and ARM computers. Supporting both BIOS and UEFI, with options to boot from USB.

www.memtest86.com

Memtest86+ | The Open-Source Memory Testing Tool

Memtest86+ is an advanced, free, open-source, stand-alone memory tester for 32- and 64-bit computers (UEFI & BIOS supported)

www.memtest.org

If you can run a full pass with NO errors, your ram should be ok.

I ran two passes no errors.

Run HWmonitor while gaming.
It will record the current, minimum and maximum cpu temperatures.
The minimum should be perhaps 20c. over ambient if your cooler is mounted well and functioning.

Look at the maximum temperatures for each core.
If you see 90c. in red, it means that you have throttled, at least momentarily and that might be your problem.
I am more of an Intel person and the number is 100c.

Here's a screenshot of the temperatures. Nothing over 66.1C

Ultimately, the single thread performance of your processor is not the best.
The single master thread performance is all important to a game.
Run the cpu-Z bench test and look at the single thread performance rating.
You should see something like 668:

CPU-Z Benchmark for AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (1T) - CPU-Z VALIDATOR

Best CPU performance - 64-bit - January 2025

valid.x86.fr

To do better will require a motherboard change.

Single Thread: 637.6
Multi Thread: 9462.4

 

[thexyad]

I AM AT MY WITS ENDDDDD

I just redid my whole computer.
Changed PSU to Corsair RM1000e (2023) Fully Modular Low-Noise ATX Power Supply
Changed Motherboard to MSI Meg X570 Unify Motherboard
Reinstalled Windows

AND THE STUTTERING IS STILL HAPPENING!
Sorry for the CAPS but it's aptly conveying my mood right now.
My last troubleshooting is going to be to switch drives from an SSD to an M2 NVMe
UPDATE: Same thing. So it's not the drive either.

Anyone got any other suggestions? Plis? 😀

 

[ercd5]

I AM AT MY WITS ENDDDDD

I just redid my whole computer.
Changed PSU to Corsair RM1000e (2023) Fully Modular Low-Noise ATX Power Supply
Changed Motherboard to MSI Meg X570 Unify Motherboard
Reinstalled Windows

AND THE STUTTERING IS STILL HAPPENING!
Sorry for the CAPS but it's aptly conveying my mood right now.
My last troubleshooting is going to be to switch drives from an SSD to an M2 NVMe
UPDATE: Same thing. So it's not the drive either.

Anyone got any other suggestions? Plis? 😀

Did you ever solve the problem? I have the same problem on my configuration.