What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: The 2017 Samsung 960 Pro case did not show that NVMe drives generally cause gaming stutter, or that the 960 Pro was defective. The original poster eventually said a clean installation of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update resolved the problem. That is a single-user report, not a confirmed fix for other PCs or an identified Windows bug.
What happened with the Samsung 960 Pro?
In a thread started on August 21, 2017, a user replaced a Samsung 850 Pro SATA SSD with a 1TB Samsung 960 Pro NVMe SSD. Samsung Magician reportedly showed the 960 Pro operating over PCIe 3.0 x4, while everyday use and synthetic benchmarks appeared normal. The problem emerged in games, most notably The Witcher 3 when entering Novigrad. The user saw frequent storage activity during the stutter. Batman: Arkham Knight showed a milder version, while Doom and Mass Effect: Andromeda reportedly did not show the same issue.
Returning to the 850 Pro with Windows and the games installed on it restored smooth performance, which made the new drive look like the cause. But that comparison also changed the Windows installation and potentially other software state; it was not a controlled test of the SSD alone. The original report is available in the AnandTech thread.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhy storage activity looked suspicious
The stutter happened during movement through an open-world area, and the user noticed storage activity at the same time. That is a reasonable clue to investigate: a game may be loading textures, geometry, or other assets as the player moves. The problem was also more noticeable in a particular location than as a constant system-wide slowdown.
#1 Best Overall
- MEET THE NEXT GEN: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD helps you reach near max performance with lightning-fast speeds; Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a tech guru, you’ll get power efficiency built for the final boss
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S FLASH MEMORY BRAND: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0 powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- IT’S A POWER MOVE: Save the power for your performance; Get power efficiency all while experiencing up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO; It makes every move more effective with less consumption
But an active drive light or a disk-usage spike shows activity, not a defective SSD. The game may be requesting data while the actual delay comes from asset decompression, shader compilation, CPU scheduling, memory pressure, a driver, or the game engine. The Linus Tech Tips discussion noted that Novigrad itself had streaming and shader-compilation behavior, so it is not an ideal place to isolate storage performance. See the discussion of the Witcher 3 symptoms.
Windows indexing was a false lead
The poster initially suspected Windows Search indexing, then later said the stutter continued; indexing was not the final explanation. It remains a plausible suspect if Search Indexer is doing work during a hitch, but it was not confirmed as the cause in this case.
Windows Search tracks file changes and updates its index, which can use system resources while building or maintaining the index. Microsoft recommends investigating index scope and activity rather than reflexively disabling Search. Its guidance explains how Search indexing works and how to adjust it, and details Search performance issues and troubleshooting.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Check Search activity before changing settings
During a reproducible hitch, use Task Manager or Resource Monitor to see whether SearchIndexer.exe is issuing disk I/O. If it is accessing a large, frequently changing game library, temporarily exclude that folder and repeat the test. Excluding only the relevant folder is generally a better long-term trade-off than disabling indexing globally, which can make Windows Search less complete or slower.
On Windows 11, inspect Settings → Privacy & security → Searching Windows. On Windows 10, depending on the release, use Settings → Search → Searching Windows or Control Panel → Indexing Options. Labels and availability vary by version. To inspect the service, open services.msc and locate Windows Search. From an elevated Command Prompt, you can check it with sc query wsearch; to restart it for diagnosis, use net stop wsearch followed by net start wsearch. A service restart is a test, not proof that indexing caused the stutter. Microsoft also documents repair and reset options for Windows Search.
Rank #2
- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
What the original poster said fixed it
On October 13, 2017, the poster reported that a clean installation of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update resolved the issue. The earlier Windows installation was from the Creators-era period. The poster attributed the change to Windows, but the thread did not identify a specific faulty component, service, driver, or setting, nor did it independently verify the cause. The final report appears in the Linus Tech Tips discussion.
Because the successful test involved a clean OS installation, it cannot establish that an in-place update would have worked or isolate the Windows build from changes to drivers, background programs, game files, indexing state, or other configuration. “Solved” means the user found a setup that worked for that PC; it does not mean a reproducible universal fix was established.
That installation is historical, not current advice. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. In 2026, use a supported Windows release rather than installing Fall Creators Update to reproduce this result. Microsoft’s current Windows performance guidance includes update and driver checks and notes the Windows 10 support end date.
What this case does—and does not—establish
| Claim | What the evidence supports |
|---|---|
| The user experienced real stutter | Yes, as an individual report. |
| The Samsung 960 Pro was defective | Not established; the thread provides no confirmed drive failure. |
| NVMe drives generally cause gaming stutter | No. The case does not support that generalization. |
| Windows Search indexing was the fix | No. The poster later said the problem persisted. |
| A clean Windows installation helped this user | Yes, according to the poster’s report. |
| The exact Windows cause was identified | No. The specific component or configuration was not established. |
How to diagnose gaming stutter on a modern Windows PC
Work from evidence before replacing a working SSD or reinstalling Windows. Record what happens at the moment of a hitch, then change one variable at a time.
1. Capture frame times, not just average FPS
Use a frame-time graph or logging tool and note GPU utilization, CPU use per core, system RAM, VRAM, disk activity, and temperatures and clock speeds. Average FPS can look healthy while isolated frame-time spikes make play feel uneven. A blinking activity light alone cannot tell you which process caused the delay.
Rank #3
- M.2 (2280): PCIe 3.0 x4 NVM Express SSD for Client PCs
- V NAND Client SSD ideal for GAMING, high performance tower desktops and small form factor PC’s
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 3500MB/s and Sequential Write Speeds up to 2100MB/s; Performance may vary based on system hardware & configuration
- Samsung magician software delivers SSD management and automatic firmware updates; 5 year limited warranty; Reliability (MTBF) : 1.5 Million Hours Reliability
- Interface:PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe 1.2
2. Reproduce the same action consistently
Repeat the same route or action with the same game build, save, map location, graphics settings, resolution, and frame cap. The original poster used a repeatable route near Novigrad’s Portside Gate. A consistent scenario helps compare results, although that location may itself stress the game’s streaming system.
3. Identify the process and nature of disk I/O
During the hitch, open Task Manager or Resource Monitor and check which process is reading or writing. Look for the game, Search Indexer, antivirus, cloud sync, backup software, game launchers, or update services. Compare active time with throughput and latency: high active time paired with low transfer rates and high latency is more suspicious than a short burst of fast sequential reads.
4. Test background activity in a controlled way
Temporarily minimize nonessential activity such as cloud synchronization, backup jobs, launcher updates, overlays, capture software, or hardware-monitoring utilities, then repeat the same route. A clean boot can help isolate interference. Do not permanently disable security software or Windows services on speculation; restore normal protection after the test.
5. Check Windows, drivers, and the game
Install available updates for your supported Windows version, and check for platform-appropriate motherboard chipset and storage drivers. If the evidence points toward graphics software, consider a clean GPU-driver installation. Check motherboard UEFI release notes before updating; do not flash firmware without a relevant reason and a safe update procedure. Verify the game’s files and consider whether a game patch, shader cache, or graphics-setting change affects the hitch.
6. Inspect drive and platform health
- Check the SSD’s health and firmware with the manufacturer’s official utility; for a Samsung drive, Samsung Magician provides supported drive information and maintenance functions. A normal report does not rule out every intermittent latency issue.
- Check SSD temperature under sustained load, available free space, and whether the drive is operating at the expected PCIe generation and link width.
- Review Event Viewer for storage or controller errors and confirm the drive is installed in a supported M.2 slot. Motherboard lane sharing, adapter limitations, or slot configuration can matter.
- Do not treat a normal benchmark as proof that no problem exists: a benchmark may not reproduce intermittent latency or the game’s particular access pattern.
7. Compare storage only when other conditions match
For a useful A/B test, keep the game, save, settings, GPU driver, Windows build, background processes, power plan, and test route the same. If possible, use the same motherboard slot and change only the storage device or installation under test. Swapping drives while also changing Windows, drivers, game files, or update state cannot show that the drive alone caused the difference.
Rank #4
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,400 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
Other causes to rule out
Disk activity can coincide with several different bottlenecks. Consider these possibilities when the hitch is limited to a game, location, or workload:
- Shader compilation or game-engine asset-streaming limits.
- GPU-driver changes, CPU scheduling, or a single-thread performance limit.
- VRAM or system RAM exhaustion, including paging.
- Antivirus scans, Windows Update, Search indexing, cloud sync, or launcher activity.
- SSD thermal throttling, low free space, heavy background writes, or an NVMe driver issue.
- Outdated motherboard firmware, PCIe lane sharing, a problematic M.2 slot, controller, or adapter.
- Corrupted game files, game-specific patches, overlays, capture tools, or monitoring and RGB utilities.
- Unstable CPU, GPU, RAM, or storage overclocks.
When a clean Windows installation or drive replacement makes sense
Consider a clean OS test late in the process
A clean installation can be a reasonable diagnostic step if the stutter began after a major OS migration, controlled testing and a clean boot do not identify a service, and driver cleanup, Windows repair, and game-file verification have not helped. If the same hardware behaves normally on a clean test installation, that points toward software state, but does not by itself identify which component was responsible. Back up important data and install a supported Windows version.
Replace or warranty-test the SSD only with drive-specific evidence
Replacement is more justified when health checks report failure or worsening health, uncorrectable errors appear, controller resets recur, latency is abnormal across multiple workloads, the manufacturer confirms a relevant firmware issue, or the fault reproduces on another system or clean OS installation. A single game stuttering, normal benchmarks, and normal health indicators are not enough by themselves to blame the drive. The Samsung 960 Pro is a discontinued previous-generation product; its 2017 behavior should not be treated as a verdict on current NVMe hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an NVMe SSD cause FPS drops?
A storage or platform fault can contribute to stalls, but NVMe itself is not shown to cause FPS drops generally. Check frame times and identify which process is doing I/O before blaming the drive.
Is SATA better than NVMe for gaming?
This case does not establish that SATA is better. A game-specific improvement after changing drives can be confounded by differences in Windows, drivers, game files, or background activity.
Best Value
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,300 MB/s* sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5—twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits—just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS*, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops to desktop PCs, experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD*, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
Should I disable Windows indexing on an SSD?
Not by default. If Search Indexer is active during a reproducible hitch, test by excluding the relevant game-library folder and compare results; global disabling can reduce Search usefulness.
Does Samsung Magician fix game stutter?
It can show supported Samsung drive health, firmware, and drive information, but it cannot automatically fix an OS, driver, or game-engine problem.
Is a blinking SSD activity light bad?
No. It indicates storage activity, not drive failure. Check the process issuing I/O and whether latency rises during the hitch.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCan a clean Windows install fix stutter?
It can help when the cause lies in the Windows installation or accumulated software state. In the 2017 case, one user reported success after a clean install, but the exact cause was not identified.
Why does only one game stutter?
A game-specific issue can involve shader compilation, asset streaming, a patch, graphics settings, or a particular map area; it does not by itself implicate the SSD.
Does a nearly full NVMe drive cause hitching?
Low free space is worth checking, especially alongside heavy writes or other symptoms, but the supplied case does not show that it caused the reported stutter.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
