HBAO+ Quality graphics setting causing microstutters on high-end PC

Date & Time: 06/22/2020 PST/PDT.
Frequency: Always
World name: Cactuar
Character name: Zayne Elron
Retainer name: N/A
NPC name: N/A
Monster name: N/A
Class/Level: Ninja/80
Party or solo: Both.
In-game time: N/A persistent issue
Area and coordinates: N/A happens everywhere
Housing: None
Steps:
1. Set graphics to maximum
2. Walk around and microstutters occur. More visible against static objects like lampposts and lanterns, but occurs everywhere regardless.
3. Reduce the setting HBAO+ to standard, issue disappears.
*Add more steps if necessary

Connection Specs
- Type of internet connection/provider: Wifi/Cox
- Modem maker/model number: Linksy/Velop Tri-Band AC2200


This issue has been plaguing my gameplay experience for months and I would like to share my findings. I play on a G-Sync monitor with high refresh rate, and a high end PC, I typically didnt have problems running FFXIV at the Maximum settings. The setting HBAO+ Quality was causing microstuttering for me and I outline how I resolved it above. Strangely enough the microstutters aren't due to fps drops so I don't know why this issue occurs.

■ PC Specs

-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-
SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (18362.19h1_release.190318-1202)
SYSTEM_CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz (12 CPUs), ~3.7GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 12 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 6
SYSTEM_BIOS 2.B0
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 32713.422MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 37577.422MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 930.882GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 560.364GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE D:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 465.745GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 455.331GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE E:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 232.885GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 232.786GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY3
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 11128.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 16356.711 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 2560 x 1440 (32 bit) (165Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 26.21.0014.4614
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 5/14/2020 17:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY4
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 11128.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 16356.711 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (144Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll,C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_d5216eae94436d77\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 26.21.0014.4614
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 5/14/2020 17:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {81B1F9BB-A327-4AD6-A9BE-7021F8403A59}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.00.8931.0001
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 4/9/2020 00:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND XB271HU (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {5B55437E-86EE-4875-82E7-0B0002D252F8}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.03.0038.0026
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/18/2020 00:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND BenQ XL2430T (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {7135824C-3B0F-42E9-AF91-8AC7F78F91BD}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.03.0038.0026
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/18/2020 00:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C7760E50-9EBA-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C7768380-9EBA-11EA-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant consumer control device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 573 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C7771FC0-9EBA-11EA-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Lighting Node PRO
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C7806E90-9EBA-11EA-8004444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Blue Snowball
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78095A0-9EBA-11EA-8005444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78095A0-9EBA-11EA-8006444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78095A0-9EBA-11EA-8007444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME H115i Platinum
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78A3290-9EBA-11EA-8008444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78A59A0-9EBA-11EA-8009444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant consumer control device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 4096 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78A59A0-9EBA-11EA-800A444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {C78A80B0-9EBA-11EA-800B444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME HID-compliant vendor-defined device
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

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Good afternoon and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

How long have you been experiencing this issue? Additionally, were any changes made to graphic settings of the PC?

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