Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

1 points

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

23 replies

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 15, 2015 5:44 AM in response to Aidinz

Polite bump

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 15, 2015 11:41 AM in response to Aidinz

Please try Power Options -> Advanced Settings (for your chosen Power Plan) -> Processor Power Management settings and see if the minimum and maximum can be changed to provide acceptable performance.

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 24, 2015 4:03 AM in response to Loner T

I've played a graphic heavy game, Batman Arkham City, on OS X of the same computer but did not encounter any stutter, so problem is probably not hardware side.

Also it's strange that I've installed a brand new OS with latest Apple Bootcamp drivers and still have this bug. All I can think of is the image file that I've installed Windows from is somehow buggy, it's Win 7 Ultimate SP1.

Any idea?

Aidinz Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 2, 2015 3:17 PM in response to Aidinz

What should I do now? I've opened the bottom face plat and the fans were clean. Do you think termal paste is problematic? Maybe the Windows image was somewhat faulty that didn't work with Boot camp? I'm totally lost here.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Sep 2, 2015 3:39 PM in response to Aidinz

You have clean installed Windows, and OSX does not show the same behavior. The most likely cause is GPU drivers. It is unlikely the Windows image itself.

One test, but a crude one, is to remove the back cover, and raise the Mac to improve circulation. You also need to ensure there are no possible electrical shorts that happen during such a test, since the bottom cover isolates the Mac from other surfaces.

JasunX

Level 1

4 points

Dec 24, 2015 2:33 PM in response to Aidinz

Hi Aidinz,

use the power options to prevent your pc from going to sleep at all.

You can use the "Turn off monitor" option after whatever time of inactivity you want.

But do not let it go in sleep. Once Windows goes to sleep and comes back - problems with audio seem consistent.

I have Mac Mini late 2014 and Bootcamped Windows 10, and the audio stutter was a major issue. Whether it was winamp, VLC or whatever. And it was like clockwork.

A fresh reboot solved the issue. But if I leave the mac for a while, and come bacl. The stutter was clockwok. At exactly (and I mean exactly) every 10 seconds, a stutter took place. I did various tests to see if it was only the audio that would stutter, and found that there is some process, that takes place (or spikes) every 10 seconds that causes the audio stutter (and I'm sure a host of other undesirable other things that would put strain on the processor).

If this does not solve the issue, there is a whole host of other changes I made to my power options, after which the issue was undoubtedly resolved, I'm over the moon about it - but yes if it does not resolve the issue, I will give you a full scope of the changes I made in my power options. Perhaps it may be something other than the sleep issue.

Jan 30, 2016 3:49 PM in response to Aidinz

Hi,

I was experiencing same issues with videogames both on OS X and Windows 10, stuttering at any resolution and settings.

I read A LOT of topics around that kind of problems with MacBook pro and retina with GeForce gt 650M. I found problems was getting bigger and bigger, so I decided to open my MacBook pro retina ... AND IT WAS REALLY DIRTY INSIDE.

First, I have cleaned all fans and radiators. Then I bought thermal paste silver 5 and changed it on both CPU and GPU. It tooks me 30 minutes to do that, very carefully. Then, on Windows 10 installed with bootcamp, I plugged my external cinema display to stand by integrated one and keep Macbook cooler.

I can now play my games again without anormal lags or stuttering, and that gt 650M have really nice performances.

For exemple, I play Rocket League in 1280x720 in medium, and it's beautifull already, with a liltle more than 60 fps all the time

I hope that can help you, and sorry for my bad English.

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Jan 31, 2016 9:24 AM in response to The Brainwasher

Thermal throttling is prevalent on the Macs. If they can be kept clean, and the heat dissipation is managed, as you mention, they should work very well.

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