Are you frustrated with your Windows machine that is stuttering with issues related to audio and video issues? This is not only your problem but this problem has been reported by a lot of users who have been experiencing lags in the computers running Windows 10 now and then while doing office work or playing games. This stuttering issue occurs all of a sudden leaving the users bewildered. The mouse and the keyboard suddenly become unresponsive. In case you are in the middle of a game and your machine starts to stutter, you can see delayed images and you can experience heavy lag that is going to make your gaming experience a worse one and you will even want to throw your PC away. But a little troubleshooting can help you identify the real reasons behind this. Let us know more detail about ‘Computer Stuttering Windows 10’.
Computer Stuttering Windows 10
There are several reasons for a computer stuttering windows 10 which are low RAM, issues related to the hard drive, outdated graphics drivers, viruses and malware, Superfetch utility issues, misconfigured power settings, outdated version of the windows, fragmented drives, DVD drive related issues, wallpaper slideshow feature, outdated BIOS, etc. In this article, we have discussed in detail the most common reasons responsible for a computer stuttering Windows 10 and how to fix them.
Reasons that are responsible for a computer stuttering Windows 10:
The Superfetch Utility
This might shock you but you need to know the utility known as Supertech can lead to serious gaming issues in your Windows 10 machine. Supertech is a service provided by Windows whose prime task is to boost the speed of your computer. This utility analyzes those programs or applications and algorithms that a user frequently uses and employs certain algorithms based on this data. Then it preloads those applications so that the launching of apps becomes faster. This is quite advantageous for gamers as they don’t want to experience any lags in the middle of a game. But this utility also has some disadvantages and one is slowing down your PC. Since it preloads a certain application, the machine slows down because of the maximum utilization of the RAM. So, if you try to launch any heavy game or application, your computer stutters.
Too many background programs
There can be programs running in the background which might eat up a lot of memory and processing power without letting you know. This is one of the major reasons for a slow-performing computer. You can use Task Manager to see what programs are running in the background and close the ones that are not being used currently. This can free a lot of RAM space making your machine run faster.
Overheating CPU
The performance of your computer can be affected if your CPU (Central Processing Unit) tends to heat up a lot. The defense mechanism of the CPU causes it to throttle to prevent burnout of the chip. Sometimes the CPU fan does not function properly and the airflow is blocked, which increases the temperature inside causing lags in the machine. So, if this is the case, try to clean the CPU fans from time to time and ensure that there is no blockage in the air vents of the cabinet fans. This can improve the speed of your computer to some extent.
Outdated software
If you are using a PC that is nearly a decade old then with that outdated hardware as software you cannot expect a good output from it. The old OS and hardware might not be able to run modern software as a result you will observe lags while working. This can also result in frequent system crashes. So, if your case is similar to this, you need to update the OS to the latest version and the drivers and software installed on that machine need to be updated as well. There is a lot of software that sends monthly updates for better optimization of the program and to provide a better experience while using the same. So, always install those updates so that you don’t encounter any issues while using those programs.
Low Physical memory or RAM
If you usually work with bigger files or use programs that are resource hungry then this can cause lag in your machine especially if you have low RAM (Random Access Memory). This temporary storage unit loads your programs when you start using the computer. The lower the RAM capacity, the slower it will load the applications, and vice versa. For example, RAM is frequently used when you launch a program, edit a document, watch a video or play video games on your computer. If you have a separate RAM slot in your desktop or laptop, increase the capacity and this will significantly boost the speed of your computer.
Unnecessary Software Updates
You need to update the software installed on your machine to get a smooth experience while working on them. But some software automatically updates in the background from time to time without letting you know. The installed updates can take up unnecessary space on your hard disk and this can result in slow performance of your computer. So you need to find out which software tends to update automatically in the background and turn on the auto-update option from the settings or get rid of those whose auto-update cannot be turned off by finding an alternative program.
Viruses and malware
Since the majority of computer users work online, computers have become prone to virus infections. Different kinds of malicious software get downloaded automatically with some software and start running in the background which slows down the machine. This malware then interferes with your browser and tracks important user data. This can be an important reason why your PC is taking a long time to boot up. Always install a good antivirus on your machine to stay safe from this malware. Some popular malware scanning tools are Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Webroot, etc. Scan your PC with any of these tools and they will detect and remove any malware from your machine. It will improve the speed of your PC.
Anti Virus failure
If you notice that you are getting a high boot-up time on your computer then one reason can be the ineffective antivirus which does not work properly. As a result, it cannot prevent your machine from malware and thus your PC can work slower than usual. So check for antiviruses whose date has expired and renew them or purchase the full version of those antiviruses.
Unnecessary Software Updates
You need to update the software installed on your machine to get a smooth experience while working on them. But some software automatically updates in the background from time to time without letting you know. The installed updates can take up unnecessary space on your hard disk and this can result in the sluggish performance of your computer. So you need to find out which software tends to update automatically in the background and turn on the auto-update option from the settings or get rid of those whose auto-update cannot be turned off by finding an alternative program.
Too Many Browser Add-ons
There are a lot of users who tend to use a lot of ad-on in their browsers. But you need to know that these ad-one might make your work faster but they slow down their pc rather than improve your browsing experience. Try to find out the unnecessary ad-ones that are not needed and either disable them temporarily or delete them forever. This can improve the speed of your PC.
Internal PC Dust
Because of poor ventilation in your computer, dust can get accumulated in the CPU fans as well as n the motherboard. This can cause the machine to behave sluggishly. The dust stops the CPU from cooling correctly and excessive heat thus gets trapped inside the CPU. As a result, the booting time of your computer can get affected. So you need to clean dust from your computer’s internal fans as well as from the motherboard from time to time.
Outdated graphics drivers
There is some software whose prime task is to communicate with the hardware and your Operating system. Drivers should be updated from time to time for better functioning of your computer. If you have outdated graphics drivers then this can be a reason why your windows 10 machine stutters while playing videos. You need to make sure that your computer has the latest version of the graphics driver. If the graphics driver is corrupted, not compatible, outdated, or missing, then you might experience a stutter in your Windows 10 machine.
Conclusion
PCs are manufactured by many companies and it is a combination of complicated hardware and software. If you are facing stuttering issues in your windows 10 machine, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is an issue with a single component but in fact, the components of the hardware and software are in perfect coordination with each other. So, it is quite a difficult task to locate the issue. But, you can try stepwise troubleshooting your PC components to help you solve this stuttering problem.
FAQs
- Why do games stutter on Windows 10?
There are various reasons why your Windows 10 machine is facing stuttering issues. It can be because of the engine loading assets, a mismatch of the refresh rate and your FPSS, or a dip in your FPS.
- How do I fix stuttering on Windows 10?
You can fix the stuttering issue of your Windows 10 PC by updating the graphics card drivers and tweaking the Windows Game Bar.
- Why does my computer stutter when I play games?
If you face stuttering issues while playing games it means that your computer does not have sufficient resources to run the game.
