Micro stuttering is a quality defect that manifests as irregular delays between frames rendered by a graphics processing unit (GPU). It causes the instantaneous frame rate of the longest delay to be significantly lower than the frame rate reported by benchmarking applications such as 3DMark, which usually calculate the average frame rate over a longer time interval.
A depiction of 5 display refresh cycles with what may be shown during a micro stuttering case. Each colored section represents one of the GPU's frame buffer and each color change represents a frame buffer swap. Assuming a 60 Hz refresh rate, a benchmark tool may report this as 144 frames per second. However, the user will perceive less due to some frames existing for a tiny fraction of a display's refresh cycle.
In lower frame rates[note 1] when this effect may be apparent the moving video appears to stutter, resulting in a degraded gameplay experience in the case of a video game, even though the frame rate seems high enough[note 2] to provide a smooth experience. Single-GPU configurations do not suffer from this defect in most cases and can in some cases output a subjectively smoother video compared to a multi-GPU setup using the same video card model. Micro stuttering is inherent to multi-GPU configurations using alternate frame rendering (AFR), such as Nvidia SLi and AMD CrossFireX but can also exist in certain cases in single-GPU systems.[1][2][3][4]
The effects of micro stuttering vary depending on the application and driveroptimizations. Beyond dual-GPU setups, CrossFireX/SLI setups do not seem to be as affected by micro-stuttering; the frame rate variability in a three-way CrossFireX/SLI setup approaches the smoothness achieved by a single GPU.[5]
As of May 2012, with the latest release of hardware and drivers from Nvidia and AMD, AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series is severely more affected by micro stuttering than Nvidia's GeForce 600 series. In tests performed in Battlefield 3, a configuration with two GeForce GTX 680 in SLi-mode showed a 7% variation in frame delays, compared to 5% for a single GTX 680. A configuration with two Radeon HD 7970 in CrossFireX-mode, on the other hand, showed an 85% variation in frame delays, compared to 7% for a single card, indicating large amounts of micro stuttering. These results are reflected in the perceptual experience when looking at the video in output.[6]
The software program RadeonPro can be used to significantly reduce or eliminate the effects of micro-stuttering when using AMD graphics cards in CrossFire.[7][8]
^Under which frame rate the effects of micro stuttering become apparent varies depending on numerous variables and how sensitive the human test-subject is. The worst-case scenario would be that the frames from all GPUs finish rendering at the same time, in such a case the frame rate perceived by the viewer would be half of the reported average frame rate in the case of a dual-card configuration, and just a fourth in a quad-GPU configuration.
^The generally accepted average frame rate for a smooth experience varies from game to game and user to user but is generally 30-60 frame/second and higher
Referencesedit
^Raffael Vötter (2008-02-08). "Video proof: Micro stuttering may destroy the performance gains from current multi GPU technologies". PC Games Hardware Online. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
^Raffael Vötter (2008-07-28). "PCGH proves micro stuttering on the Radeon HD 4870 X2". PC Games Hardware Online. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
^Kyle Lunau (2009-05-06). "Micro Stutter: The dark secret of SLI and Crossfire". Overclockers.com. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
^"How To Fix CrossFire Micro-Stuttering". ShareNoesis. 2012-12-25. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
External linksedit
Micro-Stuttering And GPU Scaling In CrossFire And SLI – Tom's Hardware
Inside the second: A new look at game benchmarking – Tech Report
How To Fix CrossFire Micro-Stuttering – ShareNoesis
April 12, 2024
micro, stuttering, quality, defect, that, manifests, irregular, delays, between, frames, rendered, graphics, processing, unit, causes, instantaneous, frame, rate, longest, delay, significantly, lower, than, frame, rate, reported, benchmarking, applications, su. Micro stuttering is a quality defect that manifests as irregular delays between frames rendered by a graphics processing unit GPU It causes the instantaneous frame rate of the longest delay to be significantly lower than the frame rate reported by benchmarking applications such as 3DMark which usually calculate the average frame rate over a longer time interval A depiction of 5 display refresh cycles with what may be shown during a micro stuttering case Each colored section represents one of the GPU s frame buffer and each color change represents a frame buffer swap Assuming a 60 Hz refresh rate a benchmark tool may report this as 144 frames per second However the user will perceive less due to some frames existing for a tiny fraction of a display s refresh cycle In lower frame rates note 1 when this effect may be apparent the moving video appears to stutter resulting in a degraded gameplay experience in the case of a video game even though the frame rate seems high enough note 2 to provide a smooth experience Single GPU configurations do not suffer from this defect in most cases and can in some cases output a subjectively smoother video compared to a multi GPU setup using the same video card model Micro stuttering is inherent to multi GPU configurations using alternate frame rendering AFR such as Nvidia SLi and AMD CrossFireX but can also exist in certain cases in single GPU systems 1 2 3 4 The effects of micro stuttering vary depending on the application and driver optimizations Beyond dual GPU setups CrossFireX SLI setups do not seem to be as affected by micro stuttering the frame rate variability in a three way CrossFireX SLI setup approaches the smoothness achieved by a single GPU 5 As of May 2012 with the latest release of hardware and drivers from Nvidia and AMD AMD s Radeon HD 7000 series is severely more affected by micro stuttering than Nvidia s GeForce 600 series In tests performed in Battlefield 3 a configuration with two GeForce GTX 680 in SLi mode showed a 7 variation in frame delays compared to 5 for a single GTX 680 A configuration with two Radeon HD 7970 in CrossFireX mode on the other hand showed an 85 variation in frame delays compared to 7 for a single card indicating large amounts of micro stuttering These results are reflected in the perceptual experience when looking at the video in output 6 The software program RadeonPro can be used to significantly reduce or eliminate the effects of micro stuttering when using AMD graphics cards in CrossFire 7 8 See also editAMD CrossFireX Graphics processing unit GPU Jitter Nvidia SLi Rendering Screen tearing Graphics cardNotes edit Under which frame rate the effects of micro stuttering become apparent varies depending on numerous variables and how sensitive the human test subject is The worst case scenario would be that the frames from all GPUs finish rendering at the same time in such a case the frame rate perceived by the viewer would be half of the reported average frame rate in the case of a dual card configuration and just a fourth in a quad GPU configuration The generally accepted average frame rate for a smooth experience varies from game to game and user to user but is generally 30 60 frame second and higherReferences edit Raffael Votter 2008 02 08 Video proof Micro stuttering may destroy the performance gains from current multi GPU technologies PC Games Hardware Online Retrieved 2009 11 03 Raffael Votter 2008 07 28 PCGH proves micro stuttering on the Radeon HD 4870 X2 PC Games Hardware Online Retrieved 2009 11 03 Kyle Lunau 2009 05 06 Micro Stutter The dark secret of SLI and Crossfire Overclockers com Retrieved 2009 11 03 MrWizard6600 2008 06 20 GPU Microstuttering FAQ Hardforum com Retrieved 2010 05 08 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Igor Wallossek 2011 08 22 Micro Stuttering And GPU Scaling In CrossFire and SLI Tom s Hardware Retrieved 2011 09 24 Geforce GTX 690 Varldens snabbaste grafikkort Renderingstider microstuttering in Swedish SweClockers com 2012 05 03 Retrieved 2012 05 25 Igor Wallossek 2012 11 08 Micro Stuttering Dynamic V Sync AMD Tom s Hardware Retrieved 2012 11 08 How To Fix CrossFire Micro Stuttering ShareNoesis 2012 12 25 Retrieved 2012 12 25 External links editMicro Stuttering And GPU Scaling In CrossFire And SLI Tom s Hardware Inside the second A new look at game benchmarking Tech Report How To Fix CrossFire Micro Stuttering ShareNoesis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Micro stuttering amp oldid 1211438567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
