Help I have an FPS issue and i'm sad... :(

[Ctuchik]

So a few days ago my Windows 11 updated twice. I've had an update pending for weeks before that, and apparently a new one had been released during that time. Anyway, long story (not so) short, something in one of those updates absolutely WRECKED the performance of games i have on my SSD. It's like when i played those games on a mechanical HDD that's also working 100%... :/
Games that's been running ultra smooth is now chugging like mad with wild fluctuations in FPS, ranging forom 100+ down to seconds per frame just by panning the camera around. Some games play fine at the start and then within minutes becomes unplayable. And the level of graphics settings changes nothing. I can be on craptastic looking setting and it's chugging just as hard as if I were on max settings.

I've tried googling, but the newest windows update that reportedly had a negative impact on PC performance was late 2025 and early 2026. Updates i've had zero issues with. Can't find anything really recent.
Been having task manager open on second monitor while playing and nothing seems odd when the games crap out.

Does anyone here have an idea? I really don't like rolling back windows updates so if someone have an idea that might help (no i aint touching linux! ) i'd be very greatful.

 

[Deebs]

First thing to do is download the manufacturers diag software, most have a benchmark mode, do that first. Also caching can have an impact even on SSD's so maybe an update disabled write caching.

 

[Ctuchik]

Well, the SSD has been powered on for 35000 hours so that's a thing.....

No failures, no warnings and overall healthy.. Did need a firmware update so done that. 61% wear indicator so maybe that?

 

[Ctuchik]

Guess the firmware update did the trick, back to normal now!

Thanks Deebs you the man!

 

[Deebs]

Guess the firmware update did the trick, back to normal now!

Thanks Deebs you the man!

Thank god for that, nothing should stand in the way of a man and his pr0n.

 

[BloodOmen]

Pleased you fixed it, had a similar issue awhile back that was solved with a firmware update too.

 

[Ctuchik]

Well it turns out the problem didn't go away, i just couldn't be bothered with it until now. But i did find the actual cause of the issue, i just don't know how to fix it.

Essentially it's because for whatever reason one of my mechanical harddrives goes up to 100% utilization every time i start a game and stays there until i close said game. Doesn't matter if it's on my SSD or one of my mechanical HDDs. Really should have checked the performance tab on the task manager sooner and not just the process tab..... >.<

Anyway, like a good little troubleshooter i disconnected what i thought was the offending HDD, only for the other HDD to start doing the exact fucking thing!

I plug the other HDD back in, and now it's back to that one again, and i cannot for the life of me figure out why. This has never ever happened before since i started playing on the SSD. How do i stop that without yanking both mechanical harddrives out or emptying my wallet buying another SSD?! Really not interested in paying £150 - 200+ for a 2 TB off-brand SSD or TWICE that for a reliable brand.

 

[BloodOmen]

I consulted our AI overlords for you

Based on what your friend described, the Windows update may have been a coincidence rather than the root cause.
The biggest clue is this:

Starting any game causes a mechanical HDD to immediately hit 100% active time, even when the game itself is installed on the SSD.

That points toward something repeatedly reading or writing data from the HDD while gaming. A few likely causes come to mind:

1. Windows Page File (Virtual Memory) got moved to the HDD​

This is one of the most common causes.
If Windows is running short on RAM, it uses a pagefile. If that pagefile is located on a mechanical drive, gaming can become exactly what he's describing:

• Massive stuttering
• FPS dropping to single digits
• HDD pinned at 100%
• Graphics settings making little difference

Have him check:

1. Press Win + R
2. Type sysdm.cpl
3. Advanced tab
4. Performance → Settings
5. Advanced tab
6. Virtual Memory → Change

See which drive contains the pagefile.
If Windows moved it to one of the HDDs after an update or drive reconfiguration, that's a strong suspect.
Also ask:

• How much RAM does he have?
• While gaming, what is memory usage (%) in Task Manager?

If RAM usage is hitting 90-100%, this becomes even more likely.

---

2. Steam Library / Game Launcher Activity​

Sometimes launchers constantly scan libraries.
Examples:

• Steam shader cache rebuilding
• Xbox app gaming services
• EA App
• Ubisoft Connect
• Battle.net

If one of the HDDs contains a game library, launcher cache, or workshop mods, the launcher may be hammering it.
Have him:

1. Open Task Manager
2. Go to Processes
3. Sort by Disk
4. Start a game
5. See which process is actually generating the disk activity

This is much more useful than looking only at drive utilization.
Even better:

• Open Resource Monitor (resmon)
• Disk tab
• Sort by Total (B/sec)

That will reveal exactly what executable is hitting the drive.

---

3. Windows Search Indexing​

Updates occasionally trigger a complete re-index.
Normally this doesn't only happen during gaming, though.
Check if:

• SearchIndexer.exe
• Windows Search

are creating lots of disk activity.

---

4. Antivirus Scanning Every Game Asset​

A Windows update can sometimes reset or alter security settings.
When a game loads thousands of files, real-time scanning can hammer another drive.
Check whether:

• MsMpEng.exe (Windows Defender)
• Third-party antivirus

is causing the activity.
Again, Resource Monitor will show this immediately.

---

5. Corrupt HDD Causing Retry Storms​

The fact that:

Disconnecting one HDD causes the other HDD to start doing it instead

is interesting.
That suggests Windows is looking for something that exists on whichever HDD is connected.
Possibilities:

• User folders moved to HDD
• Steam libraries
• Documents folder
• AppData junctions
• Pagefile
• Temp folders

But it's also worth checking drive health.
Have him run:

wmic diskdrive get model,status

Or use a SMART utility such as:

• CrystalDiskInfo

Look for:

• Caution
• Bad
• Reallocated sectors
• Pending sectors

A failing drive can report 100% active time while transferring almost no data.

---

6. User Folders Located on HDD​

Check whether any of these are redirected to an HDD:

• Documents
• Downloads
• AppData
• Saved Games

Many games constantly read/write saves, logs, shaders, mods, and configs.
If those folders live on an HDD, modern games can stutter badly.

---

7. What I'd Ask Next​

The answers to these would narrow it down quickly:

1. How much RAM does the PC have?
2. What SSD model?
3. What HDD models?
4. Which process shows the highest disk usage in Resource Monitor?
5. Is the HDD at 100% active time while transferring only a few MB/s?
6. Where is the pagefile located?
7. Does the issue occur if both HDDs are disconnected and only the SSD is connected?

That last test is particularly revealing. If the stuttering completely disappears with both HDDs unplugged, then something on Windows is actively depending on those drives rather than the game itself.
My current ranking of likely causes would be:

1. Pagefile on HDD (most likely)
2. Steam/launcher/mod library on HDD
3. User folders or game cache redirected to HDD
4. Antivirus scanning
5. Failing HDD causing excessive access latency

The pagefile location and a screenshot of Resource Monitor's Disk tab while a game is stuttering would probably identify the culprit within a few minutes.

 

[Ctuchik]

Omg it's probably the virtual memory, it's on the mechanical HDD. Switched it back to the SSD and will see if that helps.

/edit: Hmmm, still using the wrong HDD, going to restart computer.

 

[Ctuchik]

Yes yeees YEEEEEES!!! My computer is healthy again!
And because of the firmware update, EVEN FASTER!

I owe both of you a case of beer each!

 

[BloodOmen]

Pleased you sorted it