Strange game stutter

Squark

Squark

Squark

Soldato
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11 Apr 2004
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I've noticed something strange happening in a few games so I thought I'd ask for some advice.

Every 5/6 seconds my fps dips sharply for an instant (to about a ¼ of normal) before rising again. I've noticed it in E:TW and Stalker SoC, but it didn't happen in BiA:HH.

I'm currently running 9.3 cats, though it was doing it in 9.2s also.

Having Task Manager open seems to show it happening in synchronization with a small dip in #4 core of my CPU, though whether this is cause or effect is unknown to me.

Is it likely to be a hiccup with Win7 (still on 7057) or is it probably hardware related? I can't remember it happening on Vista x64 (but Stalker doesn't seem to want to run on that for me)

X4 9950B, M3A79-T, 4970X2, Xonar DX
 
When you have task manager open, can you see what process is taking the momentary CPU usage?
 
How long you had Vista installed ? You getting HD activity when it dips ?
 
I had a problem like this before and it took me AGES to figure it out. I use a program called RocketDock for opening applications, I have two running, one at the bottom of my screen and one at the side. If the two run together I get exactly what you are describing fps drop every 4 secs like clockwork, however it doesn't show up in the task manager. Close one of the RocketDock programs, and everything is fine. Weird huh?

I suspect it has some thing to do with RocketDock interfering with DirectX or DirectDraw in someway, but I just don't know. I took me so long to find the problem i was about to buy new hardware in the hope of fixing it.

Keep tinkering, eliminate each running program or service one by one and you'll find the problem eventually.

Nate
 
Nate--IRL-- said:
I had a problem like this before and it took me AGES to figure it out. I use a program called RocketDock for opening applications, I have two running, one at the bottom of my screen and one at the side. If the two run together I get exactly what you are describing fps drop every 4 secs like clockwork, however it doesn't show up in the task manager. Close one of the RocketDock programs, and everything is fine. Weird huh?

I suspect it has some thing to do with RocketDock interfering with DirectX or DirectDraw in someway, but I just don't know. I took me so long to find the problem i was about to buy new hardware in the hope of fixing it.

Keep tinkering, eliminate each running program or service one by one and you'll find the problem eventually.

Nate
Click to expand...

Cool, it's good to know that someone else knows just what the problem is like.

Thanks for your advice, I've been playing Stalker this afternoon and it didn't do it, not sure what programs where going different to before, but I'll investigate.
 
I think I've found the cause, when I have CCC open on the overdrive page on my second monitor it does the stutter, but not without.

The thing is I use that page for temp monitoring on my card, what can I use in its stead??
 
Squark said:
I think I've found the cause, when I have CCC open on the overdrive page on my second monitor it does the stutter, but not without.

The thing is I use that page for temp monitoring on my card, what can I use in its stead??
Click to expand...

GPUZ / Speedfan / Everest / Win7/Vista gadget

I have a Desktop Gadget in Win7 on my secondary screen that shows my GPU temps, and it doesn't use any CPU at all :)

Sultan of Swing said:
You could give HWMonitor a try.
Click to expand...

That looks like the king of all hardware monitors! If only they had skins for it, as it's fugly :p
 
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