Intro

I'm essentially encountering stuttering in games and some applications, despite my temperatures being fine and low usage of the components.

 

Prior to all of this, I have had difficulties with the system since I purchased the parts, and built it. I have had 3 motherboard replacements due to hard freezing, which appears to have been a PCIe lane problem from PCIe Gen 3 on the board. This is now resolved.

 

I have also had a problem with my GPU throttling due to heat problems, this was replaced and considered a faulty part.

 

Description of Problem

On every setup I have tried, games will encounter some form of short micro stutter. This lasts a short amount of time, and occurs at seemingly unknown* intervals. It can happen in a series of stutters, or not happen for over one hour. Once it begins, it is very noticable and prominent. The stutter will last approximately between 250ms to 1 second. I observe that the frametime will often spike, but not always.

 

This was tested on both Linux and Windows 10, on separate drives, with fresh installs, over multiple disks. This has been tested under 'diagnostic' conditions, whereby I have installed and updated my drivers, and disabled anything that is not required, nor unrelated to the task at hand. 

 

There are no overclocks, though I have tested with stock speeds at higher voltage. And tested with overclocks. If anything, an overclock will help. Though, I am keeping it removed. This began before any overclocking took place.

 

I have attempted the following

 

* Replaced components

* Reinstalling the OS (and trying Linux, on different HDD's/SSD's, and removing them when other drive is in use)

* Flashing BIOS

* AMD chipset drivers

* Updating Nvidia drivers (and removing old ones with DDU)

* Reseating components

* Removing peripherals and components until the bare essentials

* Resetting CMOS

* Reducing GPU power target

* Checking VRM temps

* Disabling drivers, and keeping the bare esential drivers required to run

* Checking LatencyMon -- sometimes ntoskrnl will spike, sometimes it wont. Sometimes I will have a high ISR latency, sometimes I wont.

* Monitoring voltage

* 3 different monitors, cables and display interfaces (DVI, HDMI and displayport)

* Disabled and uninstalled monitoring software

* Reduced graphics settings in both Nvidia Control Panel and games themselves (remember, it happens in some applications, too) -- VSync off and on

* Using Prime95 for stability at stock settings -- passes all torture tests

* Tried different power plans, with different CPU % settings

* Purchased a PSU tester, and it passes all the tests.

 

I also disable unnecessary services and processes on both operating systems.

 
I've replaced the board, the GPU, and almost every other component. I've removed the network card and disabled the wifi and bluetooth drivers. My temperatures are good. To the point where Prime95 will max out around 78C on the test that produces the most heat. The GPU rarely goes above 70C unless in stress testing, and averages at around 61C during load. CPU averages around 58C during load.

 

There appears to be no throttling, or no obvious sign in monitoring software when this takes place.

 

The voltages appear to be fine, and hit the target voltages.

 

I do not know what to monitor anymore. I am kind of at a loss for where to look.

 

Clearing 'Standby Memory' on Windows appears to help for a short period of time, so I would have assumed disk/ram. Though, yesterday when I 'undervolted' (reduced power target) my GPU, it also helped for a long period of time. This does not always work, though. Sometimes I can remove the stanby memory and it will still happen, just less so. I cannot find the cause.



Component List
CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor
Motherboard: ASRock - AB350M Pro4 Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
Memory: Corsair - Vengeance LPX 8GB DDR4-2400 Memory (2 x 8GB)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Storage: Seagate - BarraCuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Video Card: EVGA - GeForce GTX 1060 6GB 6GB SC GAMING Video Card
Case: Thermaltake - Core V21 MicroATX Mini Tower Case
Power Supply: Corsair - TXM Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte - GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter
Monitors: Acer - XF240H 24.0" 1920x1080 144Hz Monitor x 2
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/p9mKsZ

 

SethH
Your component list isn't showing. 

 
Apologies, that link is added now. Please see the revised post.
 

SethH
Also, my first question would be: what games? 

CS:GO, Overwatch, League of Legends, but it appears to be any game I play. 
 

SethH
Have you monitored disk usage?

 
I have, a few days ago, yes -- https://i.imgur.com/RJv3q3f.png. I discovered that some files were written around the time it occurred... but please bear with me here. I had plenty of RAM available. Either way, I increased my page file, it still did it. I removed the page file, it still did it. I notice similar things with other games, too. 

I am.
 
But I have tried them off the HDD, too. Before and after reinstalling each operating system. It still happens on both.
 
I've tried to be methodical in my approach.

Have you tried running just the 2 matched sticks of Ram, and leaving out the different sized 3rd stick, as a possible cause ?
At least for a test.  I'm thinking this could be a factor in the performance/behaviour.
 
Greene

Greene MaChine
Have you tried running just the 2 matched sticks of Ram, and leaving out the different sized 3rd stick, as a possible cause ?
At least for a test.  I'm thinking this could be a factor in the performance/behaviour.
 
Greene

Hi, I just updated my original post. I can see how that could have been confusing. I have 2 x 8GB 2400Mhz DDR4. Single matched pair totally 16GB.
 

Sajin

mpw90
Though, yesterday when I 'undervolted' (reduced power target) my GPU, it also helped for a long period of time.

So the issue still occurs when the power target is reduced?

It does. I just did it again to confirm. I also just tested with Debug Mode in the Nvidia Control Panel. Still the same result.
 

Sajin

mpw90
I've replaced the board, the GPU, and almost every other component.

So you replaced the cpu?

I was recommended by ASRock to do so when I previously had board faults, which of course turned out to be a faulty PCIe Gen 3 lane that connected to the chipset.

Sajin
Time to do it.

Would AMD/Vendor be willing to do this, considering it's not confirmed it is the CPU? Also, what if the CPU is actually fine, and I receive a replacement that is not. That just adds to the problem.

Sajin
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-YD1600BBAEBOX-Desktop-RYZEN-5-1600-AM4-65W-with-Fan-Retail/323397145032?epid=3019375182&hash=item4b4bf8d1c8%3Ag%3AmFsAAOSwaZRbc2l0%3Asc%3AUSPSFirstClass%2176543%21US%21-1&LH_RPA=1#rpdCntId
 
That seller allows you to return the cpu for a refund within 30 days.

I suppose I could do it with Amazon, and incur the costs for better peace of mind. I suppose that would rule out the CPU.
 
Aside from the CPU, do you have any other ideas? Could it not be the GPU or PSU?

Sadly I don't have another system to test in. It's a shame that (and I don't point the finger at you) this is pretty much the industry solution to solving the issue. I understand it is the easiest way to do it, but not ideal if you cannot afford it, nor any local friends have a compatible system.

Sajin
Local pc shops can check the card for you.

Thank you. I would like to try that.
 
Here is a screenshot of the spikes (bottom graph, frametime ms). Every time there is a spike, the frametime shoots up. Please note: this happens with or without the monitoring software. Also when it is not installed.
 
https://i.imgur.com/nkuvFy7.png 

Something I noticed
 

 
 
Your page file is gradually increasing. This shouldn't be happening. It looks like you're accessing and using the page file for the game and this will cause hitching and stuttering. What else to you have running in the background?

mpw90

Sajin
Wow. Definitely let us know what the shop finds.

 
Of course, I will. I dislike unclosed threads where the solution is found! 
 

HeavyHemi
Something I noticed
 

 
 
Your page file is gradually increasing. This shouldn't be happening. It looks like you're accessing and using the page file for the game and this will cause hitching and stuttering. What else to you have running in the background?

Hi,
 
I assume that a lot is disabled, because I disabled a lot. Is there a preferred method for me to list my background processes? I have tried with a 32gb page file, and I've tried with no page file. It's all the same. Though, in this case, I would assume it's all the same -- it's simply paging during the game. Would that be correct? It's worth noting that I get the same result on Linux. 

I don't make assumptions about what others do to their system. For example many would assume you're running your page file on the same drive as your OS. Others put the page file on a different drive.   That aside, as this is not an OS issue, we can eliminate all software issues and concentrate solely on hardware issues because you say, the exact same thing happens on an entirely different OS. It surely is worth noting we can eliminate a huge list of potential issues.  So, we need from you is a specific list of games that you run on both OS's and exactly the settings you use for each game.
 

Are you playing online or stand alone only on your PC ?
 
If online which browser ?
 
What security software is running ?
 
Did you read / try this ?  https://forums.evga.com/FindPost/2727185
 

mpw90
Is it best to use Occam's Razor here and return this board for a final time, and change manufacturer?

Yes.

mpw90
As you're the moderator, do you mind if I use this space to keep potentially interested parties up to date with what is happening, please?

Don't mind at all. It's your thread.