microstutters

Microstutters are brief, irregular interruptions in motion during video playback or interactive graphics, caused by nonuniform frame delivery. They appear as small, momentary pauses or choppiness even when the average frame rate seems high. Microstutter is distinct from macro stutter, which involves longer, noticeable pauses typically tied to a single heavy frame or processing spike.

Common causes include variation in frame rendering time (frame time variance), CPU scheduling delays, background processes, and driver or game frame-pacing behavior. Multi-GPU setups, V-Sync or aggressive frame limiting, and mismatches between the monitor and frame rate can also contribute. Hardware bottlenecks such as insufficient GPU headroom, thermal throttling, memory bandwidth limits, and PCIe contention can worsen frame time variability.

Diagnosis relies on measuring frame times rather than just average FPS. Tools that plot frame time graphs or render data (such as frame time analyzers or overlay utilities) help identify inconsistency, spikes, or irregular pacing. If microstutter correlates with certain scenes, settings, or hardware configurations, adjustments to pacing, synchronization, or headroom are often indicated. VRR technologies (frame synchronization like G-Sync or FreeSync) generally reduce perceived microstutter, though improper configuration can introduce it. Single-GPU systems typically experience fewer issues than some multi-GPU setups, which are more prone to pacing irregularities.

Remedies focus on stabilizing frame time and improving headroom. Enable appropriate frame pacing and VRR, and consider using a moderate frame limit to maintain consistent pacing. Update graphics drivers, close unnecessary background tasks, and reduce graphics settings to ease GPU load. If using multiple GPUs, evaluate disabling SLI/CrossFire or reconfiguring to a single-GPU setup. Ensure the monitor and GPU are configured for compatible refresh rates and timings, and check for thermal throttling or PCIe bandwidth constraints.