Question Stuttering with external SSD ?

[universalrule]

I recently transferred every game to my external SSD for my gaming laptop. What I noticed that it has stuttering issue while the cut scenes are playing. Not so much stuttering in game.
Is it normal or am I missing something?
I read many articles that people play games with external drive with no issue. But I have no experience like that. Every time I use external drive or hard drive (even internal one), most games have stuttering issue.
What I guess is that this is the problem of every laptop. The ones who haven't faced the issue must be desktop users.

== Spec ==
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.4 GB usable)
Windows 10 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Nvidia GTX960M
Internal Storage:
C drive - Micrion CT250MX500SSD4 250.0 GB, 30.7 GB free
D drive - Micron CT1000MX500SSD1 1000.2 GB, 246 GB free
E drive - HGST HTS721010A9E630 1000.2 GB, 286 GB free
External Storage:
K drive - Samsung Portable SSD T7 1000.2 GB, 338 GB free
M drive - Samsung Portable SSD T5 2000.3 GB, 1.25 TB free

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

External SSD: USB connection to host gaming laptop?

Does the external SSD have its' own power supply or perhaps getting power from an independently powered USB hub that is connected to the gaming laptop?

My thought is that the laptop is not able to meet the necessary power requirements.

 

[universalrule]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

External SSD: USB connection to host gaming laptop?

Does the external SSD have its' own power supply or perhaps getting power from an independently powered USB hub that is connected to the gaming laptop?

My thought is that the laptop is not able to meet the necessary power requirements.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I just updated the spec you requested.
All external drives are connected with only indepent usb cable. They don't need power cable. I definitely connected them to the laptop usb port and I don't use usb hub for that.

 

[Viking2121]

What kind of games are you playing? If the game you are playing is maxing out the CPU, you could see stuttering as USB does use some CPU, and I would imagine the more data is moved through USB the more CPU it will use.

 

[universalrule]

What kind of games are you playing? If the game you are playing is maxing out the CPU, you could see stuttering as USB does use some CPU, and I would imagine the more data is moves threw USB the more CPU it will use.

I played Resident Evil 3 Remake with lots of stuttering recently, and am playing Resident Evil Revelation now. It doesn't have stuttering issue in game, but it does when cutscene plays.
I also tested SF X Tekken and it has the same issue with RE Revelation. Not only these games, but there are many cases.

 

[Ralston18]

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

PSU has a history of heavy gaming use - correct?

Yes. USB drives can and do get power via the USB ports. However, if there is not enough power available via the USB ports then there will be problems.

That is why using an independently powered USB hub can resolve power problems.

Especially where power demands may spike during game play. The host computer's/laptop's available USB power may not be able to keep up.

There are also other factors such as the make and model drive, capacity, how full, etc..

What are the power demands of the installed components and overall system? Is the laptop's power able to meet those power demands in both wattage and response time?

= = = =

Windows has some diagnostic tools that , even if indirectly, can prove helpful.

Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

Use all three tools but only one tool at a time to observe system performance. First while not gaming and then while gaming.

Pay attention to what resources are being used, to what extent (%), and what is using any given resource.

Temporarily disconnect some of the drives as part of the observation process.

Key is to discover, if possible, a configuration that does not lag and stutter. Compare the performance metrics to the configuration(s) that do lag and stutter.

Takes time and effort and you must be methodical. Change only one thing at a time allowing time between changes.

Process Explorer:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Or, if possible, simply obtain an independently powered USB hub, connect the external drives to the hub, and determine if the lags and stutters end.

 

[geofelt]

While a ssd can access data quickly, the usb connection is not so fast.
I think you would do better by upgrading your C drive to a 2tb unit and putting everything on it.

Use the usb connected drive for backup.

 

[universalrule]

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

PSU has a history of heavy gaming use - correct?

Yes. USB drives can and do get power via the USB ports. However, if there is not enough power available via the USB ports then there will be problems.

That is why using an independently powered USB hub can resolve power problems.

Especially where power demands may spike during game play. The host computer's/laptop's available USB power may not be able to keep up.

There are also other factors such as the make and model drive, capacity, how full, etc..

What are the power demands of the installed components and overall system? Is the laptop's power able to meet those power demands in both wattage and response time?

= = = =

Windows has some diagnostic tools that , even if indirectly, can prove helpful.

Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

Use all three tools but only one tool at a time to observe system performance. First while not gaming and then while gaming.

Pay attention to what resources are being used, to what extent (%), and what is using any given resource.

Temporarily disconnect some of the drives as part of the observation process.

Key is to discover, if possible, a configuration that does not lag and stutter. Compare the performance metrics to the configuration(s) that do lag and stutter.

Takes time and effort and you must be methodical. Change only one thing at a time allowing time between changes.

Process Explorer:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Or, if possible, simply obtain an independently powered USB hub, connect the external drives to the hub, and determine if the lags and stutters end.

OMG! There are so many things to do! I'll give it a shot when I'm free.
Thx for the details!

 

[universalrule]

While a ssd can access data quickly, the usb connection is not so fast.
I think you would do better by upgrading your C drive to a 2tb unit and putting everything on it.

Use the usb connected drive for backup.

Well, that's what I thought too. The game has no issue when it is installed in D drive. I should organize the files in D drive.
Thx!