FPS Drop Stutter- 1 second freezes - not Internet/packet loss related

A few weeks ago I had an SSD die and I replaced it with an Samsun 900 Pro NVME 2TB. System information below.

Since reinstalling FFXIV, I've encountered an issue where the game will stutter and drop FPS. This happens regulary (every 15-20 seconds), lasts about 1 second, then FPS returns to normal. The drops cause the game to completely freeze frame until the FPS restores. I've noticed that my GPU performance in Task Manager will drop about 10-20% during these events.

I have tried everything under the sun to correct this. First; it only occurs with FFXIV. I have tested in BG3, Civ VI, and WoW and have had no issues.

I have gamepad options disabled. I have reinstalled the game, my GPU drivers, my CPU drivers, Flashed my BIOS, reformatted the M.2 drive, uninstalled countless games, applications, and etc. I have crawled through event viewer looking for any sign of an issue. I have ran malwarebytes / spybot search and destroy tools to rule out possible threats. I have changed countless graphics settings, line by line, testing after each change (both in NVIDIA Control Panel and Windows 10 Graphics settings). I renamed my game config folder to .old, reloaded the game so it's at base settings (funnily had the original ARR menu screen) and it still occured.

I am at a complete loss. Below is my system information for FFXIV. Any help would be great.



-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

ProxyEnable 0
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-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
SYSTEM_CPU AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-Core Processor (16 CPUs), ~4.2GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 16 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 8
SYSTEM_BIOS BIOS Date: 06/19/25 15:39:48 Ver: 05.0002
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 31849.969MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 37993.969MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 222.950GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 63.436GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE D:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 1853.374GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 1226.234GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE E:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 1862.891GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 1644.580GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
GRAPHICS \\.\DISPLAY1 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GRAPHICS_VRAM 8018.000 MB
GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 15924.984 MB
GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll
GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 32.00.0015.8088 7/26/2025 20:00:00
GRAPHICS_SHADER V:3.0 P:3.0
GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
GRAPHICS \\.\DISPLAY2 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GRAPHICS_VRAM 8018.000 MB
GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 15924.984 MB
GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_fe5f369669db2f36\nvldumdx.dll
GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 32.00.0015.8088 7/26/2025 20:00:00
GRAPHICS_SHADER V:3.0 P:3.0
GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SOUND DELL U2410 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio) {4156CA0A-4DE2-418E-B4C6-3E5F6CE894AC}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.4.5.0 5/31/2025 20:00:00
SOUND GN246HL (NVIDIA High Definition Audio) {A48EDC6B-7408-4782-B1A4-661C5E43A72F}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.4.5.0 5/31/2025 20:00:00
SOUND Headset Earphone (CORSAIR HS70 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset) {4A882F83-179D-4A79-B7E0-EAAF6F3C1C5F}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME USBAUDIO.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 10.0.19041.5794 4/6/2025 20:00:00
SOUND Speakers (Steam Streaming Microphone) {51CA69FA-715A-4102-816F-787494960A09}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME SteamStreamingMicrophone.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 8.33.15.17 7/27/2017 20:00:00
SOUND Speakers (Steam Streaming Speakers) {0A3A35AC-0165-49D9-8475-26DEA2356EA5}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME SteamStreamingSpeakers.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 17.56.13.764 7/19/2017 20:00:00
SOUND VoiceMeeter Aux Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter AUX VAIO) {CB51FE22-B8E4-4B4E-98A1-AB7FE89BA139}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vbaudio_vmauxvaio64_win10.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2.1.5.2 1/10/2019 20:00:00
SOUND VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio Virtual Cable) {89DBF14B-98B0-4E27-B737-D523C84C2785}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vbaudio_cable64_win7.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.0.3.5 9/1/2014 20:00:00
SOUND VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter VAIO) {B5A496EB-D428-4B1F-A53C-C5CEA4858999}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME vbaudio_vmvaio64_win10.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2.1.5.2 1/10/2019 20:00:00
INPUT Mouse {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT Keyboard {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT AK620-DIGITAL {62BF5520-ED35-11EE-8002444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT G502 HERO Gaming Mouse {52C7DA60-28E0-11F0-8001444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT CORSAIR HS70 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset {09A16980-C127-11EA-8004444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT G502 HERO Gaming Mouse {52C84F90-28E0-11F0-8002444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT Hid Interface {3F48D9A0-C11E-11EA-8001444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT CORSAIR K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard {E070C830-5FE2-11EF-8001444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT G502 HERO Gaming Mouse {52C84F90-28E0-11F0-8003444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT CORSAIR K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard {E075F850-5FE2-11EF-8002444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 1024 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT CORSAIR K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard {E0761F60-5FE2-11EF-8003444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
INPUT G502 HERO Gaming Mouse {52C876A0-28E0-11F0-8004444553540000}
INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 652 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

Hello,

have you tried a clean boot? Without any applications running in the background? No MSI Afterburner, no Overlays, no Discord and remove (not just close) all Software AI/RGB Suite like ASUS Armory Crate, GIGABYTE Tools etc. ?

So, I did test that with no change.

One thing I did just a few minutes ago was test it under an entirely new user profile to rule out any user profile shenanigans.

Issue persists, even with a fresh local account.

You say you uprade the SSD? Did you check for firmware updates via Samsung Magician? Do you have another SSD drive to install FFXIV to?

If nothing help I would try to install from a fresh Windows ISO (Just download, mount and open setup.exe is the easiest). You can use it to upgrade to Win11 too or is there a reason you stuck on Win10 with this hardware?
You will keep your data / files.

Good afternoon! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

Please try the following:
- Please confirm recent updates and reinstall the drivers for your graphics card and sound drivers.
- It looks like you have OneDrive open, please try disabling it. If OneDrive is actively syncing your Documents folder, it may cause periodic pauses as the game's config files are updated and synced.
- Please be sure to disable or remove any overlays (Discord, Steam, NVIDIA etc.) as they may interfere with startup.
- Make sure that the Windows OS is fully updated.
- Install game on different drive. (Make sure game and Steam are installed on same
drive)
- In the Steam launcher, verify installation files.
- Reinstall game (Try uninstalling and reinstalling both the game and steam)


We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!

I am having the same issues since 7.3 was released. Getting random, split second freezing/stuttering.
My fps drops around 20-30 fps for that split second, then immediately goes back to normal.
It disrupts crafting, any rotations on jobs, etc because it causes split second freeze of the game and buttons to not be pressed.
I haven't had this issue at all until 7.3 came out.

However, I do seem to have found a resolution that works for me. I play on PC. Not using Steam - just the normal PC client on Windows.
In Device Manager, I have disabled Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator. It's a legacy interface for serial ports, MIDI, etc.
No idea why this is the root cause, but disabling that completely resolved the random game stuttering every few minutes.

It won't help anyone on console, but this worked for me for PC.

Can confirm the same issues. Split second freezes/stuttering, no matter where in the game, either populated main cities or just apartment alone.
All other games are still working fine! This seems to be a new problem!

Disabling "Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator" instantly fixed the stuttering for FFXIV.

No VPN, disabled unneccessary apps/services, any overlays disabled, clean removal and reinstall of latest GPU driver.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tako-Takemi

Disabling "Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator" instantly fixed the stuttering for FFXIV.

---

Had the same issue starting today, doing this solved it!

Posting here incase it might help someone... I had simillar issue with short (under 1 second) freezes every few minutes or so and I seem to have completely fixed the problem by following a guide how to entirely remove ICUE (corsair software) and its files from the pc. No stutters since then.

Posting for the same reason as Suanni.
I had trouble with this same issue, although the interval was around every 10 seconds for me. I found a correlation with the Windows Device Manager, as that also automatically refreshed at the same time whenever a stutter happened. After some investigation with a tool called "devmanview" using the "connect time" sorting, i found out that my USB Hub that wasn't even on, tried to reconnect itself every few seconds, probably causing the game to recheck all devices (in case a controller got connected or something). Unplugging the USB Hub solved both issues right away.

Hope this helps some people that will stumble upon this whenever they need it!