When a transporting vehicle wobbles, you will feel jerky & the travel will be hectic.

But when this stuttering comes down to games, it frustrates the gamers with the frequent FPS hiccups.

You dont want the experience, right?

can-overclocking-cpu-cause-stuttering

In this article, I will explain whether the overclocked CPU is the main culprit for stutter.

Is CPU OC Responsible for Micro Stuttering?

As CPUs are made from silicon, no one knows which CPU is capable of higher frequency.

what-else-can-cause-stuttering-besides-overclocked-cpu

Manufacturers test the chips & market those depending on their capability.

However, this is not the end.

While Intel i5-9600Ks on paper max boost frequency is4.6 GHz, it can be overclocked up to5.2 GHz.

But its not possible for each 9600K chip.

Here comes thesilicon lottery.

So if the lottery hits, the chip can run way over its designed frequency.

This results in instability & can cause stuttering in games.

In addition to this,CPU bottleneck can also be responsible for stutters.

Besides that, overclocking often requires extra voltage to juice out the chip.

This can form overheating, then throttling & the results are the same.

So it is crucial to confirm the overclock is stable.

With a few steps, you cantell if the CPU OC is stable.

Why Can CPU OCs be Unstable?

There are various reasons overclocked CPUs can become unstable.

The instability will result in audio or graphics desync during playing a game.

As already mentioned, the silicon lottery is vital in how much a CPU can withstand OC.

Another reason is not having an adequate cooling system for the excess frequency & voltage.

This triggers thermal throttling & the chip downs its frequency, which leads to stuttering.

Moreover, the lack of enough voltage is also a vital issue for OC instability.

The processor requires a certain voltage to maintain a frequency.

What Else Can Cause Stuttering Besides Overclocked CPU?

Now you know an unstable overclocked CPU can cause stutters & why the OC can become unstable.

Minor inconstancy can cause throttling & stuttering, while critical instability can hit a massive performance.

But how to rule out its not the overclocked CPU while stuttering?

Apart from this, some Windows parameters are also culprits for games lagging & stuttering.

On Windows, with proper tweaks & modifications,fixing micro stuttering in gamesis relatively easy.

Does Overclocking the CPU Boost FPS?

FPS-Frames Per Second mostly depend on the graphics card.

But the CPU is also responsible for frame rates.

If you are bottlenecked by the CPU, overclocking the chip can help you a bit.

Furthermore, depending on the games, it will have noticeable performance uplift by OC.

Though, you may require OC your GPU too to get the full benefit of the OCed CPU.

Dont forget to keep tabs on CPU temperature while gaming.

You will require todisable power-savingoptions for overclocking in BIOS.

That being said, it is required to disableC-states,EIST,Speedstep,etc.

to stop frequency fluctuation due to energy saving.

With the performance benefit, this will cost you a few more bucks on your electricity bill.

But you could get a noticeable performance increase with stable overclocking.

Can Overclocking Break a CPU?

If there is insufficient airflow & cooling system, it has a chance to break the CPU.

Without OC, under normal conditions, your PC partsGPU, RAM, Hard drives, etc.

already generate massive heat.

Lacking enough fresh intake airflow, the hot air already circulates inside the casing.

The temps already stay on the edge of the critical point.

Now, if you start to OC & add more heat, the temperature can cross the safe limitation.

Tuning the frequency with proper voltage along with an adequate cooling system is the key to a successful overclock.

With proper configuration, you’re able to get a stable overclock & boosted performance.

FAQs

Can overclocking RAM cause stuttering?

If the memory does not have enoughDRAM&VCCIOvoltage for a higher frequency, it will be unstable.

Besides this, tighter RAM timing needs higherVCCSAorSystem Agentvoltage.

An unstable RAM is a major indicator of stuttering.

Should You Overclock Your CPU?

Overclocking has the potential to damage the chip.

So, if you arecomfortablewith OC having properconfiguration&knowledge, you should do it.

Is it necessary to increase CPU Vcore?

At a certain frequency, the CPU requires a properVcorevoltage.

During overclocking, if the frequency is set too high, it wants more Vcore to stabilize the clock.

At that time, it is necessary to increase the Vcore.

But the higher voltage also increases heat.

So without an adequate cooling system, it is not recommended to play with voltage.

Final Thought

An unstable CPU overclocking can cause stuttering in games.

Overheating or throttling leads to an unsettled OC.

Besides that, old drivers, and misconfiguration in windows can also stutter in games.

Though overclocking the CPU can boost FPS in somebottleneckingsituations, ensuring stability is crucial.