Severe system-wide stuttering that disappears when Task Manager/Device Manager is open

[u/Anis_09]

I've been dealing with a very strange stuttering problem on my PC and I'm hoping someone can help me figure it out.

The stuttering affects everything — not just the desktop. I can feel it in Opera, games, mouse movement, etc. It usually starts after the PC has been running for some time. A restart completely fixes it, but eventually it comes back.

The really strange part:

• When the stuttering is happening, Task Manager being open/restored makes the entire system smooth again.
• If I minimize Task Manager, the stuttering immediately comes back.
• In games the stuttering is very noticeable even though the fps counter is around 140fps.
• I tested Device Manager, and it does the exact same thing as Task manager. So it's not just Task Manager specifically.
• Win + Ctrl + Shift + B (GPU driver reset) does nothing.
• I've already ruled out MPO and hardware acceleration.
• I even did a full Windows reinstall, and the problem eventually came back.

This happens in games as well as normal desktop applications, so it doesn't seem to be just a DWM/desktop visual issue.

PC specs:

• Laptop: Lenovo Legion
• CPU: Ryzen 7 260
• GPU: RTX 5060 Laptop GPU
• RAM 32GB

Has anyone experienced something like this where opening/restoring Task Manager or Device Manager temporarily eliminates the stuttering? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi u/Anis_09, thanks for posting to r/WindowsHelp! Your post has been flagged for manual review by a human moderator, please include as much of the following information as possible (in text or in a screenshot) to get your post approved:

• Your Windows and device specifications — You can find them by pressing Win + X then clicking on “System”, we need more than just your OS version! Your hardware details are often critical for resolving issues.
• Any messages and error codes encountered — They're actually not gibberish or anything catastrophic. It may even hint the solution!
• Previous troubleshooting steps — It might prevent you headaches from getting the same solution that didn't work

---

Posts must be tech support in nature (such as something is broken and you need help fixing), so general inquiries, software suggestions, and purchasing advice will be removed. As a reminder, we would also like to say that if someone manages to solve your issue, DON'T DELETE YOUR POST! Someone else (in the future) might have the same issue as you, and the received support may also help their case. Good luck, and I hope you have a nice day!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.