Lag spikes making MSFS unplayable for me - I can't fix it

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
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Hello! For over an year now I have been dealing with this issue. I have a GTX 1060 with max Q design and an 8th Gen Intel I7.

Here is what happens: Whenever I load up either MSFS or X-Plane 11/12 this starts happening. The game runs like butter for one or two seconds, then the GPU peaks for some reason, causing a massive lag spike that can last up to 15 seconds, then once it’s done peaking it speeds up for a second to pick up the lost time and goes back to normal for a second or two before lagging all over again.

This happens in any settings, low-end, Ultra, but the worst part is, I could run it just like butter before. Around august 2020 I started getting this issue with X-Plane 11, then when msfs launched I ignored it for a while, but around december 2020 it started happening again.

So far I have tried everything, turning off anti-alising, adjusting Nvidia 3d settings to high performace and PhysX to high performace too. Tried leaving the 1060 alone for msfs, tried updating my drivers and much much more. I have tried so much stuff in the past year I can’t even remember everything.

At first I thought it was a temperature issue, but the GPU is running at constant 77-78 degrees when msfs is open, and this also wouldn’t explain why the game is so laggy after working just fine for a good minute, and also wouldn’t explain why the GPU peaks out of nowhere, as seen on the screenshots.

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Whenever you see the spikes, that’s when it lags.

Here are some video examples of how it happens, and if you’re wondering, yes, it does happen in the game menu.

A friend suggested me it could be the GPU going into a power saving mode, so I have set every power management setting to avoid going into power saving with no success. Notice that in the videos there is nothing else running except for MSFS and the game bar recording. I have read online that it could be a malware, but I have scanned every scan that could be done in the PC and also have found nothing.

I am honestly out of ideas and out of people to ask to as everyone I have asked is also out of ideas, so this is my last resort, I don’t know what to do anymore.
Please, if you have any suggestions, literally, any suggestions, leave them down here. Anything is helpful at this point, I’m so tired of not simulating for so long and it’s getting me so mad at this point.

Forgot to mention this also happens with community empty!

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Clear your rolling cache and then create a new one maybe? I’d a similar issue after SU11.

The other thing I’ve done a couple of times is install it on a completely rebuilt PC, and on both occasions it worked flawlessly out of the box.

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I have a laptop, so it’s impossible to rebuild it.

I think I’ve tried clearing the rolling cache a few times before, but it’s worth a shot again. At this point there is nothing to lose. Thanks mate.

Also, note for the next ones. The issue doesn’t happen only with MSFS and XP11/12, it happens with other games too. Everything except for minecraft for some reason.

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Update, clearing it didn’t fix the issue!

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This Vid might help with ensuring a Stutter / Lag free enjoyment of our beloved Sim.

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That reading is showing the gpu core temp…not the vram memory temp…that could be overheating (being a laptop, probably even better odds) blow out the vents, and if you’re able, consider opening the laptop and replace the thermal paste on cpu and gpu.
Make sure in Nvidia control panel to NOT have Prefer Maximum performance selected…will only keep your gpu hot.
Also you’ll get less heat and better performance if you turn hyperthreading off imo.

I think you’re probably dealing with heat and my guess a 192bit memory bus in the gpu (nothing can be done for that)

1 Like
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Try running GPU-Z (GPU-Z Graphics Card GPU Information Utility). It provides a lot more info than Task Manager and might provide some clue as to what’s going on.

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Thanks mate, I’ll run it and give it a try!

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Are you on Wi-Fi? Try a cable network connection…just to see

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I tried it, didn’t fix it. I don’t think it’s internet related as it happens on multiple games, even offline ones and I’m not using xcloud.

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I’ve seen people say that turning off multiplayer and ai traffic is helping immensely

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Try searching for an called Throttlestop. I al;so game on a dell laptop (Mt travel system) with a 1660ti Max-Q. I use throttlestop to lock the CPU to 4ghz. This will help with your CPU from Throttling. Hope this helps.

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I am having the exact same issue @Vanfipe. Re-applied thermal paste to my laptop, but every time my GPU usage hits 100% the game lags and my GPU latency jumps to 60-100 and then goes back to normal after a few seconds, only to repeat.

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Set your Monitor to 100 Hz in Windows , then 33% FPS in MSFS , TTA , L.O.D. max 80, Medium settings at 1080p, this should prevent overheating and you get stutter free ride , hopefully ~

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Many laptops have bios level OEM software to mitigate heat issues and few options to adjust settings. There may be hidden advanced bios settings somewhere so I suggest you search the web … However be especially careful with any changes you make as a cmos reset could mean dismantling the laptop (and believe me this is no easy task).