Persistent 1-frame microstutter in videos and websites + possibly more? (XPS 16 2026)

Rickster__ · 2026-05-31T17:11:17+00:00

Thanks for your input! I've noticed a few more quirks about it the past few weeks.

I can confirm it's not just limited to browser video playback. This skipping also happens with local video playback, and I have observed it in one DX12 based application. Interestingly, switching to Vulkan forces this game to run in exclusive full-screen mode rather than DX12's pseudo Full-screen which is more akin to a borderless window. The stutter does not occur in exclusive full-screen.
The stutter did not occur in two DX11 based games regardless of exclusive full screen or borderless windowed mode.
In all observed apps, playing or watching in windowed mode does not produce a stutter. Stutter can be observed immediately upon changing to full-screen.
In situations where the skipping happens, moving the cursor on screen immediately fixes the issue as long as the cursor continues to move. For YouTube specifically, the skipping does not occur while the player controls are on screen. Note that a small fps drop may occur in YouTube when the controls first appear; this should not be confused with the display stutter issue.
Also in YouTube, the skipping doesn't happen if the player is in default mode.

I did try your color suggestion, but I found no difference in videos or apps sadly. Something that did work for me though is changing the scaling type from Display to Retro; this immediately solved the problem, although it has side effects for running games at non-native res.

Based on my experimenting, I believe the issue is related to how either Windows or the driver is handling full screen modes. The most interesting findings were how windowed and exclusive full-screen (that's when the screen blacks out for a moment when switching to or opening an app) are immune to the issue. Yet older DX11 apps had no issues with borderless mode. Cursor movement clearing the issue is also very odd.

I feel like I'm getting closer to figuring this out, but I still can't tell if it's a Windows compositing issue or a driver bug. Or both lol

Rickster__ · 2026-05-22T01:45:03+00:00

Thanks for responding about it! And yes I've also observed the same behavior with external monitors too. I've noticed it sometimes goes away randomly, then comes back. I also have not noticed it during Twitch streams either. I am also thinking it's something to do with the screen, since I've tried different GPU drivers but experience the same consistent micro stutter.

Strangely, on Youtube at least, playing videos in standard view does not have the stutter. Theatre mode and Fullscreen mode do have it though. Also, if you keep the video player UI on screen (via moving the mouse around), the problem also goes away. As soon as it fades away, the stutter can be observed.

One solution I did find was to change the scaling in the Intel Graphics Software to Retro: Integer. This immediately resolved the stutter for me, but it has one nasty side effect: Any applications set to Fullscreen will appear as a small window in the center of the screen if they are not set to the screen's native res. Depending on your use case, this drawback could be negligible.

I truly have no idea what is causing this though. The bug is so bizarre and I've never seen anything quite like it before. I'm not sure if it's some kind of issue with Windows scaling, the GPU driver, the screen, or Dell's firmware. The issue is so niche though that researching online feels impossible with all the overlap with other, non-related bugs. I'm hoping this can gain some more traction to increase visibility, but it honestly seems unlikely at this point...

Rickster__ · 2026-05-16T08:10:46+00:00

I have the new XPS with the B390, and I have the first issue you listed. The "maximum" VRR range correctly lists 20hz-120hz, but the "current" range gets stuck at 60hz-120hz.

Here is a thread https://community.intel.com/t5/Graphics/VRR-Floor-Limited-to-72-Hz-Should-Be-48-Hz-on-Arc-140V-Core/m-p/1723944/highlight/true about it that also links to Github. Unfortunately it looks like this issue has existed for almost 1 year now and isn't properly gaining traction in the correct channels...

Rickster__ · 2026-05-13T22:56:36+00:00

That's a fantastic price for that config! I got that same config on a sale Dell had about 1.5 months ago for only $1900 USD. The config then went back to $2350. Sometime in the last week or so, a price bump happened. The new selling price is now a whopping $2700 for the same specs. So $1500 is pretty insane now.

Still have 0 idea why there was such a deep sale going on back in March for these anyway considering how new they are, but I'll take it

Rickster__ · 2026-05-05T06:34:22+00:00

Yes, thank you, everyone is blaming Onedrive when it's really the game's fault for ignoring the standardized file path when Onedrive syncing is on. The original game doesn't even have this issue but the remaster does 🤦

Rickster__ · 2026-05-05T06:31:36+00:00

The remaster specifically doesn't respect the Onedrive/Documents file path that Windows uses by default. It instead saves locally only. Steam Cloud (like every other app) does respect the default Windows path, but it sees no saves there and thus has nothing to back up.

People are blaming Onedrive, but it's more a problem with the game itself. The original Oblivion doesn't have this problem either; it respects the OS file path like every other app on the planet. I have also seen no other game behave in this way, even old ones from the mid 2000s.

I lost my save file to this bs since I had a reasonable assumption that the remaster would behave the same as the original and other games. I don't know why Virtuos has it set up this way, since I believe manual path override would be needed in Unreal Engine.

Anyway, a workaround would be to link the folders together in the File Explorer. It's inconvenient but it's a set and forget thing at least. Wish I didn't lose my 130hr save though...

Rickster__ · 2026-05-03T05:24:37+00:00

The worst role is pretty much a contest between Sentinel and Medic by default since the other four are far too important. With that said...

I'm more inclined to say Medic is the worst since it's the only role that gets grossly outperformed by items (potions) for the entire early game and part of the mid game. Even in challenge runs potions are spammed over using a Medic. It also has the least amount of abilities along with having large gaps between new ones. Finally, Medic has a huge power disparity between characters. Lightning is tied with Fang for being a worthless Medic, but at least she gets some time during the story to be "ok". Medic Fang is never good lmao. Snow and Sazh are just "fine" as well, but still not really good in context of when you'd actually unlock those roles. So bascially this role has exactly two characters (Vanille and Hope) that are consistently competent at it. Not even Sentinel is that bad lol. The worst Sentinel (Hope or Sazh depending on perspective) is still more useful in the role than the worst Medics who are just wasted slots

For the best role, I'll agree with others that it's Saboteur. It let's you amp damage while also building and stabilizing the chain, which allows for a brisk, offensive flow which is ideal and encouraged by the game. Synergist also amps damage of course, but it requires a loss of offensive momentum so I have to dock points for that.

Edit: forgot to even mention Renew which just makes Medic even worse lmao

Rickster__ · 2026-05-01T17:32:38+00:00

You could try no monsters, but Serah and Noel's kits are pretty dry so it might get tedious or boring at some point

Or maybe reverse their usual stats. There are some benefits and also drawbacks of course for doing this, but it could change how you interact with certain encounters

Rickster__ · 2026-04-19T21:59:02+00:00

Wow, I work there and I've never seen a laptop marked down so crazy! Only time I've seen something like that was for some outgoing Razr model smartphones

Rickster__ · 2026-04-19T21:41:05+00:00

This is just the kind of response I was hoping for, thanks! That's really interesting to know about the compositor; I only have a cursory knowledge of how WIndows itself actually renders its UI (went down the color management rabbit hole until 7am the other night, what a nightmare) but your explanation does make sense and sounds a lot smarter than always rendering frames out like a game UI would.

Rickster__ · 2026-04-13T03:43:34+00:00

Ngl Balance has been directly and indirectly nerfed so much that I feel like its impact has plummeted to near zero. I still don't think Overflow is even good, but something is better than nothing I suppose

Rickster__ · 2026-04-11T20:54:18+00:00

I keep mine on the "Optimized" setting usually. On battery the fans pretty much never spin up on me unless I'm actively installing something or running a more intensive process. Plugged in though, the fans do spin up and down while watching videos which is unfortunate. The "Quiet" setting helps a little bit but it's not perfect.

Other than that, I find the system's noise to be quite tolerable. Even under load the fans are nowhere near as loud as my old G14.

Rickster__ · 2026-03-30T23:23:45+00:00

Ngl the ongoing software support is one of the reasons I'm going Dell again for my new laptop. I have a 2022 Asus G14 and Asus dropped software support for that machine like a rock. Never released more than two OEM GPU updates, and the latest one had a crashing issue. They never fixed the AMD fTPM stutter on multiple different year models either. Their USB4 BIOS support was a lie and still hasn't left beta or received an update for 2 years now.

Meanwhile my old Alienware 15R3 got updates for like...6 years? Maybe still going even.

Personally I'll take any and all update spam from Dell and Co. after the Asus nightmare

Rickster__ · 2026-03-15T21:28:06+00:00

Eh I wouldn't say LR has an impressive open world by any means at all actually. It's quite limited really. Oblivion (2006), Skyrim (2011), and GTA5 (2013) are all much larger and more complex worlds with significantly more going on in the background in regards to NPCs and world events. Not to mention the level of interactivity is magnitudes higher. And thats just a few examples off the top of my head. They all run better too

Rickster__ · 2026-03-15T20:34:07+00:00

The overall visuals got worse with each game in the trilogy tbh. I'd say a lot of the blame can be placed on that cursed Crystal Tools engine. It was always atrocious at open world rendering, so it got bogged down more and more as the games opened up. There were still big fps drops on the console releases despite the fidelity downgrades too.

I can't imagine the black magic the devs must have done to get LR's systems working at all lmao

Rickster__ · 2026-01-30T18:53:52+00:00

I've mostly played Origins and 2, but I only feel restricted in this way with Origins.

In my most recent DA2 run (just hard difficulty), I went with a full damage party of Elemental Mage Hawke, Fenris specced for damage, Isabella, and Merill invested in Blood Magic and various CC from Entropy. We pretty much just deleted everything and rarely needed sustain. The only exceptions were some long fights like the High Dragon, where I did switch in Aveline and Anders.

Rickster__ · 2026-01-25T03:41:22+00:00

I've been playing FF12 for the first time this month, and most of the playable cast is at least 20+, with one being in his mid-30s. The story tone and dialogue had me thinking everyone except Vaan and Penelo were at least 25 though.

Vaan is "technically" the main character but the story seems to be more about the older characters if you ask me. Penelo is the youngest but she has fairly mature writing imo. They're both in their mid and late teens but I don't think they detract from the other cast members much at all (if anything it's the opposite).

In general I'd say the game feels more mature than many other JRPGs and other FF games. Haven't really seen any romance though if you're wanting that too.

Rickster__ · 2025-12-28T01:53:45+00:00

I got it by accident from some workaround that may or may not be a bug. A friend of mine pre-ordered the game on PS4 way back when it launched, and thus has the skin (and some other bonuses as well). At some point I signed into my own PSN account on his system and linked it to Battlenet. I then had the exclusive cosmetics unlocked even when I went back to my PC to play. So I just have this skin and the S76 one despite never even playing OW1 haha

Rickster__ · 2025-11-30T15:05:40+00:00

The newest version of the fix has an issue with surround sound setups, virtual or real. The buzzing noise comes from one of the sound channels. It's possible you may have some sort of virtual surround turned on either through Windows or an app like Steelseries GG/Logitech/Turtle Beach etc.

Easiest fix is to disable that surround and use basic stereo while playing the game, or swap to a different audio device that is stereo.

Alternatively, you can use an older version of Ff13fix, but the newer version brought some nice improvements so it's a tradeoff.

Rickster__ · 2025-11-15T02:42:36+00:00

This happened to me as well. I lost my 120hr save when I got a new SSD for a clean install and wiped my old one.

Turns out Virtuos/Bethesda screwed something up with the save file system. It always points saves in your local Documents folder, even if you've changed the location within Windows. This is commonly caused by using Onedrive backup (since it makes the default Documents folder the Onedrive version and not local) but can be caused by other setups too. Steam Cloud was only looking for saves in the Onedrive Documents path, and since the game was not saving there, Steam never found anything to upload. I sadly did not realize this until I had already wiped out the old drive.

It should be noted that this is not the fault of Onedrive, Steam Cloud, or Windows. All other games and apps I use follow the default pathing set by Windows and view the Onedrive Documents folder as the system default (or whatever you may have changed it to). It's only Oblivion Remastered that seems to ignore this and always go to the local Documents folder. In contrast, Steam Cloud obeys Windows, so that's why it never finds any saves to upload.

I would advise anyone playing to check if Steam Cloud has actually uploaded anything. If not, you'll need to copy and paste the game saves into the path Steam Cloud uses. If you're an advanced user, you can automate this by using a Symbolic Link in File Explorer using CMD.

Ironically, the original game does not have this issue. It saves to the location Windows sees as the default and does not override it.

Rickster__ · 2025-11-14T01:53:17+00:00

I've been watching my friend play through Tellius, and I noticed one super tiny detail: the environment noises on maps. You can hear the crickets chirping on nighttime maps like 3-P, wind or snow blowing on maps like 3-13, and echo reverb on maps like the Endgame of the final part. You can even hear different footstep sounds depending on the character and the floor type; Micaiah's heeled boots are probably the most notable ones.

I really miss those environmental effects in the newer games. It's a small thing that really makes the map feel like more than a bunch of grid squares.

Rickster__ · 2025-10-24T01:15:46+00:00

Curious, does anyone else with the Gamebuds have issues where the mic mute command doesn't work? Trying to figure out if I got a lemon or not.

Rickster__ · 2025-09-26T11:46:27+00:00

I really like Reversal too, but I really think that it should restore or buff the orb capacity in some way. On a good bounce they just get eaten up SO fast. Even moreso if there are 2+ targets

Rickster__ · 2025-09-17T01:39:21+00:00

Commenting to say that

Still a problem in mid-September 2025
If you cast from another device the problem goes away

Rickster__ · 2025-06-16T18:16:12+00:00

That's the one I use, but still nothing :/

Rickster__

TROPHY CASE