Why is my game stuttering?
Pick what you see. We rank the usual causes by how well they match, with the fix for each and the right free tool to check further.
Pick the symptoms that match and we'll rank the most likely causes, with the fix for each.
FAQ
Why does my game stutter when my FPS is high?
Average FPS hides the slowest frames. Stutter comes from a few very slow frames: running out of VRAM, shader compilation, a CPU spike, a slow drive or uneven frame pacing. Look at the 1% low frame rate, not the average.
Is stutter a GPU or CPU problem?
Check how busy the GPU is while it stutters. If the GPU is well under full load, the CPU (or the game) is the limit. If the GPU sits at full load, lower settings or resolution.
How do I stop shader compilation stutter?
Let the game finish compiling shaders if it offers a step for it, keep drivers up to date, and expect some stutter the first time you see each effect after an update.
Can too little VRAM cause stuttering?
Yes, it is one of the most common causes in newer games at high texture settings or with ray tracing. Lowering texture quality one notch usually fixes it. Use the VRAM Checker to see how your card fits.
Related: VRAM Checker, Bottleneck Calculator, DLSS / FSR / XeSS calculator.