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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To troubleshoot low FPS and stuttering, reproduce the problem in the same game scene, measure both frame rate and frame-time consistency, then change one setting at a time. Check that the game is using the intended GPU and that Windows and the game agree on display behavior before considering driver or hardware changes. A hitch can have different causes on different PCs, so a single FPS reading is not a diagnosis.
Start with a repeatable baseline
Choose a scene where the problem reliably occurs and record the conditions before changing anything. Keep the same scene for later comparisons; otherwise, a change in action or location can make results misleading.
- Game and scene, including what is happening when a hitch occurs
- Resolution, graphics preset, and display mode
- Approximate average FPS and whether performance is consistently low or dips irregularly
- Whether the issue affects one game or several, and whether it began after a game, Windows, or graphics-driver update
Use an available vendor performance overlay to gather clues. AMD documents overlay readings such as FPS, CPU and GPU utilization, clocks, temperature, power, VRAM, and system RAM. NVIDIA documents FPS, clock speeds, and GPU temperature in its overlay. These readings can help describe what is happening, but no single metric establishes the cause for every system.
Average FPS alone can miss uneven delivery. AMD Game Advisor can report average FPS, 95th-percentile FPS, and frame-time graphs, which can help reveal whether a run is inconsistent as well as whether its average is below target. AMD describes the feature as a real-time performance analysis tool with recommendations based on available in-game graphics settings. Its support page lists most DirectX 9, 11, and 12 and Vulkan titles on Radeon RX 400 series and newer, subject to the page’s configuration support details: AMD Game Advisor support.
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Check which GPU the game is using
On a Windows 11 PC with more than one GPU, verify the per-app graphics preference. A game using a power-saving GPU when you expect it to use a high-performance GPU can affect performance.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Select the game in the app list. If it is not listed, add its executable using the available browse option.
- Open the game’s options, choose High performance if appropriate, then save.
- Restart the game for the per-app change to take effect.
Windows also offers Let Windows decide and Power saving. Exact wording can vary by Windows version. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 graphics preference instructions.
Separate display refresh rate from game FPS
FPS counts how many frames the game renders; refresh rate describes how often the display updates. They are related to how motion appears, but they are not the same measurement. Check that Windows and the game are configured for a refresh rate supported by your display.
If you use Windows 11 Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) and a game appears to run at a lower refresh rate, Microsoft recommends turning DRR off as a test. Microsoft notes that DRR can limit the maximum refresh rate for some games. This is a display-configuration check, not proof that the game’s rendered FPS has changed. See Microsoft’s DRR guidance.
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Test Windows windowed-game optimizations only when applicable
Windows 11’s Optimizations for windowed games setting is intended for compatible DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 games running windowed or borderless. Microsoft says it can improve performance in those modes by moving compatible games to a newer presentation model; it is not a universal performance switch for every API or full-screen game.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Select the game, open its options, and check Optimizations for windowed games if the option is available.
- Save the setting and restart the game before comparing results.
The option can be disabled per app. Availability and menu wording can vary by Windows version. See Microsoft’s windowed-game optimization instructions.
Lower graphics load one change at a time
If the repeatable scene and measurements suggest the current rendering settings are too demanding, test one setting or preset at a time. After each change, repeat the same scene and note whether average FPS, frame-time behavior, or both improved. Changing several options together makes it harder to tell which one mattered.
- Try a lower overall quality preset, such as moving from Ultra to High.
- Reduce or disable demanding advanced rendering options such as antialiasing or ambient occlusion.
- Lower render scale or resolution.
AMD’s Game Advisor lists these as possible settings adjustments, not guaranteed fixes. Each trades some image quality for a possible performance change, and the result depends on the game and PC.
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Check updates and shader-cache timing
If the problem began after an update, check the game developer’s release notes and the graphics vendor’s supported driver channel for relevant information. A driver update may be worth checking in context, but it is not a general cure for stuttering.
One possible explanation in some cases is shader compilation. NVIDIA’s Control Panel documentation says shader compilation is a common cause of gameplay stuttering and notes that installing a new driver deletes the shader cache. As a result, stutters can occur during initial gameplay after a driver update while shaders are rebuilt. This does not explain every hitch, and it should not be assumed to be the cause without a matching pattern. See NVIDIA’s shader-cache documentation.
For a game’s stated DirectX requirement or a compatibility check, use DxDiag rather than downloading an unofficial standalone “DirectX updater.” Microsoft says DirectX is included with Windows 10 and Windows 11, with the latest version for those Windows versions delivered through Windows Update; an individual game may still have its own compatibility requirements. See Microsoft’s DirectX guidance.
Escalate with useful evidence
If the same-scene comparisons do not identify a useful change, preserve details that game support or a qualified technician can interpret:
- Game and the scene or activity where the issue occurs
- Windows version, CPU and GPU models, and installed RAM
- Resolution, graphics settings, and display mode
- Graphics-driver version and when the problem began
- Observed FPS and any available frame-time or utilization readings
- Whether the symptom occurs in one game or multiple games
The sources do not establish universal FPS, utilization, temperature, or memory thresholds that diagnose every PC. If low FPS accompanies crashes, visual artifacts, device errors, or persistent unexplained symptoms, seek game-specific support or qualified repair advice. Microsoft’s driver rollback and update guidance cited here addresses flickering or scrambled display behavior; it does not establish a general fix for low FPS or stuttering: Microsoft’s display-driver troubleshooting steps.
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