Just in case someone comes here looking for a FIX for his metro last light stutter I'll post my findings (have fun reading lol):
Here's the best way to find out IF you are experiencing stutter or not: Find a closed up room in your game environment or anywhere where there isn't much panoramic view... Look at a said object ( usually an object up against a wall like a lamp or a poster) and keep looking at it using your mouse and use your movement arrows (on the keyboard) to "strafe" while still looking at it. If the frames "skip" or if the objects rendering seem to get interrupted you are experiencing stutter or micro-stutter...
Here is a complet list of ways I have found in the past to FIX completly micro-stuttering and Stuttering:
1) Limit your frame-rate to 60 or 59... (using programs like Bandicam or EVGA precision X OSD) sometimes doing this affects the game engine and kills the stuttering. This didnt fix the stuttering for me in metro last light (keep reading, the solution that worked for me will be listed further)
2) Try different types of V-sync (in-game vs Nvidia's or Ati's panel v-sync vs D3Doverridder's vsync)
3) Close as many unnecessary applications that are currently running (anti virus included ESPECIALLY anti virus programs... they often are the conflict that is causing weird issues in-game... obviously it isn't always the case.
4) Try changing the "core affinity" of the game's exe (using task manager), some games get their performance increased by doing this, in other games this would actually worsen the performance...
5) Try playing the game in compatibility mode (such as playing in Windows vista or XP) make sure to run the game as "admin"... some times this little trick will change the game performance... again... not always
6) If possible try switching between DX9-DX10-DX11 to see if one of the 3 performs better... some games will perform better when reverting back to the old dx9 whereas others will work better in dx11 because the game engine takes full advantage of dx11's improved tech
7) Check your CPU and GPU temps to make sure your hardware is not choking under pressure (use tools like GPU-Z and HW monitor to find out what temps u are gettin while in-game)
8) Switch between Fullscreen-windowed and borderless to see if it affects the game... sometimes it does
9) Change the EXE's priority in task manager, I've done it a few times in recent titles and gotten a more "fluid" performance in certain games... again... this won't always help... sometimes it can make things worst
10) Try different driver versions for your video card... this is a long and painful process to go through but it often works miracles... The most recent drivers are recommended of course, but there have been times when new drivers actually made everything worst... again for this to work you'll have to experiment
11) LAST but not LEAST. Try turning OFF HT (hyper-threading) from your bios menu. THIS is the FIX that finally killed the stuttering I was having in metro last light. I just litteraly spent yesterday and a few hours today trying to fix the damned stutter, and this didn't remove ALL of the stutter, but I'd say I can barely notice it when I run my famous "wall test" anymore. I'd say I managed to remove 90% of the stutter which is awesome. My frame rates are a tad bit better as well.
Now here's what you guys need to understand: Each PC is a different combination of hardware, so often times your "working" solution to a problem might not be the same than the one that will solve my problems...
So all of these suggestions I listed are to be "tried"... it is very possible that you will get rid of your stuttering in a "said" game with solution number 7 while your friend will fix his problem with solution number 2...
welcome to the dark side of gaming (PC gaming that is) where patience is the holiest of virtues
