Stutter while gaming every 3-4 seconds in Windows using MacBook Pro 2012 (MacBook 9.1) using Windows 7

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Stutter while gaming every 3-4 seconds in Windows using MacBook Pro 2012 (MacBook 9.1) using Windows 7

I'm using Windows with Bootcamp on my Mid-2012 MacBook Pro (Here is the config). Recently when I play a game, I get frequent (and somewhat constant) stutter every 2-3 seconds, no matter if it's a 2D or 3D game, no matter if I lower the graphic and resolution.

I've searched extensively in the past few days and finally went to ask it here. Things I've tried so far:

GPU-Z shows GPU temprature of around 90 C when I have the stutter.
In Process Explorer, I can see that GPU usage is 100%, even in lowest graphic settings of low resolution of a not-AAA game. (Lara Croft and Temple of Osiris for example and Ori and The Blind Forest)
I've updated my nVidia drivers to the latest.
I've uninstalled everything nVidia related and installed them again.
I've disabled Audio and Network drivers (as I've read they can cause stutter in cases).
I've tried DPC Latency Checker and mostly I see a spike when I observe a delay.

I'm very afraid to have hardware fault since where I live, we don't have Apple stores.

Also I've installed DS3 Driver to attach a PS3 controller to my PC, even though the controller was not attached during the tests, this might've affected the performance since I've read that stutter is caused by a driver having problem doing it's task on proper time frame.

Any help is appreciated.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 23, 2015 12:28 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 23, 2015 8:06 AM in response to Aidinz

Can you download DPC checker and test you Mac - http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml ?

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Answer 2

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

May 23, 2015 8:20 AM in response to Loner T

Hi,

In bullet point #6 I've mentioned this.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 23, 2015 8:29 AM in response to Aidinz

Can you check Event Viewer for any events around the time you see the stutter? nVidia has Game Drivers, are you using these versions or something different?

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Answer 4

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

May 23, 2015 8:36 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated.

I just got the normal drivers, not sure what are these game drivers, I suspect they are modified/customized to work better on specific game(s), if that, then no.

I'll try Event Viewer in a few hours but since it's happening regularly every 2-3 seconds, I thought of something abnormal. What am I looking for in Event Viewer?

I forgot to mention that I also did an extensive defrag on the drive as well, as someone was suggested in a similar thread.

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 23, 2015 8:44 AM in response to Aidinz

On a dual boot machine, a defragment operation is only on the Windows partition, which does very little for the entire disk.

9,1 is a non-Retina model with

Graphics and Video Support

Intel HD Graphics 4000
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory (15-inch 2.3GHz configuration) or NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory (15-inch 2.6GHz configuration) and automatic graphics switching
Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors

What is the GPU configuration you have - the 512MB or the 1GB?

Is this your driver http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/85053/en-us ?

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Answer 6

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

May 23, 2015 3:22 PM in response to Loner T

I defragged the Windows partition from which I load my games, how could the OS X partition matter? I didn't get you there.

Yes, my machine is non-Retina and GPU has 1GiB of RAM.

And yes, that is my current driver.

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 23, 2015 3:30 PM in response to Aidinz

If you have a mechanical HDD, typically it is recommended that you backup your OS X installation, erase your internal HDD, restore OS X and then install Windows via BCA. First, it makes OS X contiguous. Second, the partition for Windows is on contiguous blocks. If the disk is badly fragmented by OS X, Windows can still be installed, but the underlying disk is still not contiguous.

On an SSD, you do not have such issues, but it is possible to have fragmentation on an SSD as well (the TRIM command does cleanup).

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Answer 8

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

May 23, 2015 11:19 PM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the info.

How can I solve the problem?

Also some questions that I appreciate answers:

Is it normal to have %100 GPU usage in almost every game?
Is 90 degrees Celsius normal?
Does MBP's have silicon paste like desktop PC's? I'm afraid that might be faulty. Is there anyway to test this for example in OS X to see if hardware is faulty or software for example?
How can I update Bootcamp drivers and/or roll back to Apple's?

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Answer 9

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

May 24, 2015 5:58 AM in response to Aidinz

1. No.

2. The GPUs can run hot. The Macs use the mobile GPUs, not the desktop versions. The 'M' is for mobile. The only Mac that uses true Desktop GPU is the MacPro.

3. Yes, they have thermal paste. Please see https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2012+Heat+Sink+Repl acement/10785 as an example.

4. Yes download drivers using System requirements to install Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp - Apple Support and Boot Camp: Solve Windows support software installation problems or Boot Camp: Install or repair Boot Camp drivers .

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Answer 10

GhonaZ

Level 3

572 points

May 24, 2015 1:39 PM in response to Aidinz

90 degrees under load for a GPU is even for a macbook pretty toasty.

Perhaps your GPU is thermal throttling. When does the stuttering start directly after launching the game or a couple of minutes later? And doe your fans spin up to maximum (around 6000 RPM)?

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Answer 11

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Jun 4, 2015 12:46 PM in response to GhonaZ

Can I do a heavy test in OS X?

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Answer 12

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 20, 2015 5:22 AM in response to Aidinz

Polite Bump

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Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jul 20, 2015 6:50 AM in response to Aidinz

Did you see GhonaZ 's questions? The Fan speed and start of the stutter would be good to know.

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Answer 14

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 3, 2015 5:54 AM in response to Loner T

Fan goes up to 6000rpm and stutter starts like 5-7 seconds after game starts.

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Answer 15

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 13, 2015 5:33 AM in response to Aidinz

I've installed a brand new Windows installation with latest Apple's drivers! What do you think about hardware problems like thermal paste on the CPU? Can it cause the DPC/Latency?

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