Stuttering (4080 Super)

[TechManMax]

This game has horrible stuttering (for me). Using a 4080 Super with i7 13700KF and 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30. Game is also installed on a Samsung 980 Pro. Playing with maxed out settings at 1440p (DLSS quality as using path tracing etc). With frame generation enabled the FPS is good but it's just stuttering. Idk why.

[Jamie]

If you disable path tracing, what happens?

[TechManMax]

Originally posted by Jamie:

If you disable path tracing, what happens?

Will test. Another thing I just changed was the CPU mode from auto to "prioritise p cores" and HDD mode from auto to "off" since mines installed on a M.2 SSD. Am waiting to see if that changes anything (currently in some combat training mission).

[Jamie]

Originally posted by TechManMax:

Originally posted by Jamie:

If you disable path tracing, what happens?

Will test. Another thing I just changed was the CPU mode from auto to "prioritise p cores" and HDD mode from auto to "off" since mines installed on a M.2 SSD. Am waiting to see if that changes anything (currently in some combat training mission).

Are your CPU temps alright when running the game as it stutters?
I am just wondering on the CPU meshed with the path tracing.

[TechManMax]

Originally posted by Jamie:

Originally posted by TechManMax:

Will test. Another thing I just changed was the CPU mode from auto to "prioritise p cores" and HDD mode from auto to "off" since mines installed on a M.2 SSD. Am waiting to see if that changes anything (currently in some combat training mission).

Are your CPU temps alright when running the game as it stutters?
I am just wondering on the CPU meshed with the path tracing.

Currently sitting at 64 degrees. Btw I haven't seen any more stutters (yet) since changing the CPU setting in game from auto to "Prioritize P Cores" will keep playing and see how it goes. The stutters I had were at the very beginning of the game as a nomad driving into the city while shooting the people chasing in vehicles. I've since made the above changes.

[TechManMax]

Update: just restarted a new save (was only about 30-45 minutes into the game anyway) and with the new settings (Prioritise P Cores instead of Auto, and HDD mode off instead of auto) no stuttering at all (even on the bit where it stuttered like crazy before). Flat frametime graph, beautiful FPS, and everything maxed out with path tracing. Mad this e core stuff it's so useful for background windows tasks but annoying in games. I'll report back though if I have any further issues (hopefully not).

[SunShadow]

4080 here , similar build , stable 144 fps in 4k dlss qual frame gen on , no ray tracing and reflections to high everything else max 4k no problems

[TechManMax]

Originally posted by Gmx:

4080 here , similar build , stable 144 fps in 4k dlss qual frame gen on , no ray tracing and reflections to high everything else max 4k no problems

I'm running ultra settings with both ray tracing and path tracing (at 1440p). Using quality DLSS and frame generation because path tracing is taxing af but with this setup I get over 100fps in areas and 80-100fps in others. If I was running at 4K I would definitely turn off path tracing.

I think I fixed the stutter though by changing the CPU setting from auto to prioritise p cores. I still notice a few small and rare microstutters (like once every now and again) but compared to before? It's way better now and 98% of the time the frametime graph is flat and performance is smooth even in the middle of Night City which looks stunning with ray/path tracing. Turning off HDD mode (from auto) also helped visual quality. Idk why "auto" doesn't seem to work as intended on those 2 settings.

[Scop]

Originally posted by TechManMax:

Update: just restarted a new save (was only about 30-45 minutes into the game anyway) and with the new settings (Prioritise P Cores instead of Auto, and HDD mode off instead of auto) no stuttering at all (even on the bit where it stuttered like crazy before). Flat frametime graph, beautiful FPS, and everything maxed out with path tracing. Mad this e core stuff it's so useful for background windows tasks but annoying in games. I'll report back though if I have any further issues (hopefully not).

Turning off HDD and prioritising p cores fixed all my stuttering when playing 4K ray tracing with a 4080. Thanks a bunch man, super helpful

[TechManMax]

Originally posted by Scop:

Originally posted by TechManMax:

Update: just restarted a new save (was only about 30-45 minutes into the game anyway) and with the new settings (Prioritise P Cores instead of Auto, and HDD mode off instead of auto) no stuttering at all (even on the bit where it stuttered like crazy before). Flat frametime graph, beautiful FPS, and everything maxed out with path tracing. Mad this e core stuff it's so useful for background windows tasks but annoying in games. I'll report back though if I have any further issues (hopefully not).

Turning off HDD and prioritising p cores fixed all my stuttering when playing 4K ray tracing with a 4080. Thanks a bunch man, super helpful

Np. Have played a bunch more since writing this post and it's been amazing. Yes there are still occasional microstutters from time to time but most of the time it's very smooth. I can easily think of less taxing, worse performing games like *cough* Hogwarts Legacy...that thing is a stutterfest (even on 4090 apparently).

I do wish, though, that PC games didn't stutter at all. Consoles don't (even with their limited 30-60fps). Unreal Engine is notorious for stuttering though I must say First Descendant is probably the first Unreal engine game I've played that's relatively smooth (for UE).

[Jamie]

Originally posted by TechManMax:

Originally posted by Scop:

Turning off HDD and prioritising p cores fixed all my stuttering when playing 4K ray tracing with a 4080. Thanks a bunch man, super helpful

Np. Have played a bunch more since writing this post and it's been amazing. Yes there are still occasional microstutters from time to time but most of the time it's very smooth. I can easily think of less taxing, worse performing games like *cough* Hogwarts Legacy...that thing is a stutterfest (even on 4090 apparently).

I do wish, though, that PC games didn't stutter at all. Consoles don't (even with their limited 30-60fps). Unreal Engine is notorious for stuttering though I must say First Descendant is probably the first Unreal engine game I've played that's relatively smooth (for UE).

If you remove path tracing, any problems should just disappear.

The game runs amazing with a 4080 + any more than a decent CPU without path tracing. ( as you'd expect)

[Scylla666]

Had this problem with RTX 4080 Super with framegen too,
setting the HDD mode either ON or OFF fixed everything.
Runs like a dream in 1440p (not a slightest hickup) with everything maxed out (except for path tracing).