Question:

What could be causing random and severe lag spikes on my new PC build?

I have built a new PC with the following components:

href=”https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XMQk7R” rel=”noopener nofollow ugc” target=”_blank” >https://pcpartpicker.com/list/XMQk7R, but I have replaced the motherboard with a b650e taichi lite and the GPU with a 7900 xt merc. I have reinstalled Windows, drivers, and BIOS after each change. However, I experience random and severe lag spikes on my system, where the FPS drops to 8-10, the ping increases, the audio glitches, and the system becomes unresponsive. This usually lasts for about a minute, but it happens at least once a day, and more frequently when I play demanding games like elden ring. I have also tried to undervolt the GPU, but it causes games to crash or the driver to restart. I have noticed that the lag spikes also occur when I run some monitoring or benchmarking apps like hwmonitor, occt, or cinebench. I have not been able to find a solution for this problem online. What could be the possible causes and fixes for this issue?

Answer:

Lag spikes are sudden and drastic increases in the latency or ping of your network connection, which can cause your PC to stutter, freeze, or crash during gaming or other tasks. Lag spikes can ruin your gaming experience, especially if they happen frequently or at crucial moments. There are many possible causes and fixes for lag spikes on your PC, depending on your hardware, software, and network settings. In this article, we will explore some of the most common causes and fixes for lag spikes on your new PC build.

Cause 1: Incompatible or outdated drivers

One of the most common causes of lag spikes on your PC is having incompatible or outdated drivers for your hardware components, such as your motherboard, GPU, CPU, sound card, network adapter, etc. Drivers are software that allow your hardware to communicate with your operating system and applications. If your drivers are not compatible with your hardware or software, or if they are outdated, corrupted, or missing, they can cause performance issues, errors, crashes, and lag spikes on your PC.

Fix 1: Update your drivers

The easiest and most effective way to fix driver-related lag spikes on your PC is to update your drivers to the latest versions. You can do this manually by visiting the official websites of your hardware manufacturers and downloading the appropriate drivers for your devices. Alternatively, you can use a driver updater tool that can automatically scan your PC for outdated or missing drivers and install them for you. Some examples of driver updater tools are Driver Easy, Driver Booster, and Driver Talent. You can download and install any of these tools from their official websites and follow the instructions to update your drivers.

Cause 2: High CPU or GPU usage

Another common cause of lag spikes on your PC is having high CPU or GPU usage, which can overload your system and cause it to slow down or freeze. High CPU or GPU usage can be caused by running too many programs or processes in the background, having malware or viruses on your PC, having incorrect or unstable overclocking or undervolting settings, having insufficient cooling or ventilation for your hardware, etc. High CPU or GPU usage can also cause your hardware to overheat, which can damage your components and cause further performance issues.

Fix 2: Reduce your CPU or GPU usage

The best way to fix high CPU or GPU usage on your PC is to reduce the number of programs or processes that are running on your system, especially those that are not essential for your gaming or other tasks. You can do this by closing any unnecessary programs or tabs on your browser, disabling any startup programs or services that you don’t need, scanning your PC for malware or viruses and removing them, restoring your overclocking or undervolting settings to default or stable values, improving your cooling or ventilation system for your hardware, etc. You can also use a system optimizer tool that can automatically clean and optimize your PC for better performance. Some examples of system optimizer tools are CCleaner, Advanced SystemCare, and IObit Uninstaller. You can download and install any of these tools from their official websites and follow the instructions to optimize your PC.

Cause 3: Poor network connection

The most obvious cause of lag spikes on your PC is having a poor network connection, which can affect your ping, bandwidth, packet loss, and stability of your online gaming or other tasks. A poor network connection can be caused by many factors, such as your ISP, your router, your modem, your network adapter, your network cable, your wireless signal, your firewall, your VPN, your DNS, etc. Any of these factors can interfere with your network connection and cause it to fluctuate, drop, or lag.

Fix 3: Improve your network connection

The best way to fix a poor network connection on your PC is to improve the quality and reliability of your network connection. You can do this by checking your ISP for any outages or issues, resetting or updating your router and modem, replacing or upgrading your network adapter, cable, or wireless card, moving closer to your router or using a wired connection instead of a wireless one, turning off any firewall, VPN, or DNS settings that might be blocking or slowing down your connection, changing your DNS settings to a faster or more secure one, etc. You can also use a network troubleshooter tool that can automatically diagnose and fix any network problems on your PC. Some examples of network troubleshooter tools are PingPlotter, NetSpot, and Wireshark. You can download and install any of these tools from their official websites and follow the instructions to troubleshoot your network.

Conclusion

Lag spikes on your PC can be very frustrating and annoying, especially if they happen frequently or at crucial moments. However, there are many possible causes and fixes for lag spikes on your PC, depending on your hardware, software, and network settings. By following the steps and tips in this article, you should be able to identify and fix the cause of your lag spikes and enjoy a smooth and lag-free gaming or computing experience.