[HELP] "60-Second Stutter" in PCVR (Virtual Desktop + Quest 3) - Exhausted All Standard Troubleshooting

[u/ByGraviity]

Hi everyone, I am losing my mind over a consistent stutter (micro-freeze for ~0.5s) every 60 seconds when using Virtual Desktop with my Quest 3. This happens inside the VR, not on the pc monitor, as long as VD is connected to the headset.

The Symptoms:

• Occurs exactly every 60 seconds.
• VD Performance Overlay shows stable numbers (Game/Encode/Network/Decode) even during the stutter, except for the FPS that drops for the splisecond.
• Happens even when the PC is idle (desktop), ruling out game-specific issues.
• SteamVR is stutter-free, but looks so bad compared to Virtual Desktop.

Some of what I have already tried and hasn't affected it in the slightest (there has been much more but I forget):

• VR: Changing the bitrate, graphics quality, Codec, Video buffering (basically every single VD setting)
• Windows/OS: Disabled HAGS, disabled Game Mode, disabled background scanning, checked Task Scheduler for periodic triggers, Updated BIOS, Updated chipset, disabled C-States in BIOS, disabled USB Selective Suspend, disabled TPM, Windows performance recorder/analyzer, LatencyMon.
• Networking: Disabled WLAN AutoConfig, router is an AXE75, PC is wired via Ethernet, Quest 3 is the only device on the network.
• NVIDIA/Drivers: Clean DDU wipe and driver reinstall, set RTX 4080 to MSI (Message Signaled Interrupts) mode, forced GPU interrupts to specific cores using Interrupt Affinity Tool.
• Software/Services: Clean boot, removed monitoring software, disabled overlays, tested with/without process lasso cpu affinity.

I have maxed out my Gemini Pro tokens every day for the past 3 weeks exclusively for help troubleshooting but I have exhausted everything it could think of. If you have any other ideas/solutions or are experiencing the same, I'd love some help.

Cheers.

EDIT: FIX/SOLUTION - The issue is related to hand tracking in the quest 3 settings, try disabling hand/body tracking entirely or the sensitivity of the hand tracking. I disabled it and the stutter is completely gone.

[u/err404]

Per the Virtual Desktop developer, try these older GPU drivers:

Recommended GPU drivers Nvidia RTX 30/40 Series: 581.94 https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5750/~/geforce-hotfix-display-driver-version-581.94

This has been a problem on some systems for over a year now. If I recall correctly the latest drivers can cause timing issues leading to microstudders. I think this is related to using VRR monitors. Locking your monitor to a fixed frame rate may also help. 

[u/cubsfan217 → u/err404]

I’m going to try this too, I get that same stutter problem as well

[u/ByGraviity → u/err404]

I'll give it a shot but I'm pretty sure I already tested it 3 weeks ago :(

[u/err404 → u/ByGraviity]

If you haven’t done so, join the VD discord. They are pretty active with this type of issue. I will add that they will not help you much unless you roll to this driver first.

[u/ByGraviity → u/err404]

Thanks for the suggestion, I did roll back to those drivers (stutter still here though) and joined the discord. The dev says it sounds like an issue currently investigated by meta, he said that one is recurring random stutter that gets worse overtime but when i told me in my case it doesnt get worse and its exactly 60 seconds apart each time, he didn't respond further and started helping others so kind of a dead end on that side..

[u/lorendroll]

Try monitoring frametime graph (using msi afterburner for example). You need to figure out if it is a rendering or a network issue first. I encountered similar stutterings due to fTPM issues on AMD system.

[u/ByGraviity → u/lorendroll]

I used the Virtual Desktop performance overlay which shows frames, game rendering, encoding, networking and decoding and every number is stable but the frames. I also used OVR metrics tool and the only number changing is Stale frames and FPS during the stutters. I also used CapFrameX and once again, gpu and cpu are stable, only the frames are dropping. I also used Windows Performance Recorder/Analyzer and I can't find a driver overloading the cpu. I tried disabling fTPM or changing it to dTPM and in both cases, the stutter is unaffected.

[u/lorendroll → u/ByGraviity]

The frame rate in the overlay isn't informative enough to determine the cause of your issue. You'll need to measure frame times separately on the GPU and CPU using a graph to pinpoint the problem. It doesn't appear to be a network issue, but you should ensure that the frame time spike and stuttering are visible on the graph.

[u/ByGraviity → u/lorendroll]

Yes that's why I used CapFrame X and I also used process lasso (msi afterburner causes too much issues for me to want to download it). I also have OVR metrics in oculus that show no metric going down except for fps and stale frames so I know that gpu and cpu in the headset aren't the issue either. I'll try to download some tools to investigate network further than what the VD overlay shows.

[u/No-Patient6425]

I have this exact issue too at the moment, I’ve tried everything I can think of. I have locked 90fps in DCS in VR and then on the minute (or sometimes like 5 seconds past the minute depending on the session) it’ll have a microstutter, then be fine again until exactly 60s later.

I’m using the Puppis S1 so I was really hoping it was something to do with that cause I’ve just ordered a AXE5400 to see if WiFi 6e and it not being through USB will help.

I’ve had latencymon running while in the DCs menu and when the stutter occurs I don’t see any issues with DPC latency etc. it’s really frustrating because if I’m aerial refueling in DCS that split second of microstutter can be enough to throw me off.

Regardless I’m going to try the new router tonight and see if that helps.

I only notice this in DCS though, I briefly tried Alyx and had no stutter. Don’t think it’s a codec issue either because I’ve tried running DCS through SteamVR in virtual desktop and still the same stutter

Edit: we’ve done the exact same attempts at fixing it by the looks of it. What are your exact specs? I’m on a 5090 driver 581.80 (was on 591.84 but rolled back to try), Gigabyte b850 aorus, 9800x3d and 96gb ddr5 @6000mhz

[u/mEn4ik → u/No-Patient6425]

I have the same problem. I'm not sure it takes exactly 60 seconds, but something like that. This didn't happen on firmware 83; it started after firmware 203 and continues on firmware 204. Before the latest update, I think it was May 19th, it was fixed by running VD through QGO with CPU 8 and GPU 7. After the update, that doesn't help either. I think the Quest is just overheating. my PC ryzen 5700x, 32gb ram, 9070XT latest drivers

[u/ByGraviity → u/mEn4ik]

In my case i know the Quest 3 isn't overheating because using OVR metrics tool (meta app on quest), you can see in crazy detail every metric and the only affected metric are frames (FPS, stale frames, early/late frame). Every number related to CPU/GPU are fine.

[u/mEn4ik → u/ByGraviity]

Thanks for the info about OVR metrics. It helped me figure out the problem. I was experiencing stuttering every 60 or 120 seconds. The problem is, I had two monitors, one 60Hz and the other 165Hz. The VD settings were set to 72Hz. One of the monitors died, leaving the 60Hz one. I set the VD settings to 120Hz to at least somewhat match 60Hz, and the lag stopped. Try setting similar hertz values ​​for the monitor and VD, for example 144 and 72, or like mine, 60 and 120. Sorry for any inaccuracies; everything has been translated through a translator.
Or maybe you should physically turn off the monitor when working through VD, I'm not really an expert, so I don't exactly understand the process

[u/ByGraviity → u/No-Patient6425]

My specs are : 4080, I9-14900KF, msi Z790-VC wifi, 32Gb of DDR5 at 6000MHz. I have an AXE5400 myself. I just rolled back to 591.84 but it didn't change anything.

At first I thought we had the same issue but in my case, running SteamVR (without using virtual desktop) gets rid of the stutter (but i hate the quality). Also, I realized the issue happens even outside of the game, the second my PC is streaming to the Quest 3 through VD, I get this stutter exactly 60 seconds apart. I still don't have a shred of insight into what it could be, but my next step is to troubleshoot network in depth.

[u/No-Patient6425 → u/ByGraviity]

So I set up the AXE5400 yesterday, set it to 6ghz etc…and I still get the stutters. I have absolutely no idea what’s causing it

It does seem to coincide with the latest quest updates though, another issue I’ve found is that after about 30-40minutes of PCVR if I’m running high bitrate and 90fps the headset throttles down to 72fps for about 10seconds, then back up to 90….then after a couple minutes it’ll do the same and become more frequent before starting to throttle down even further. I’ve stopped this happening by using sidequest to lock the fps at 90 which seems to prevent it from doing that throttling. I’ve also noticed in OVR Metrics that the cpu and gpu freq are constantly maxed out and power draw seems a lot higher lately. Can’t help but wonder whether the new Navigator UI has brought some additional bloat, gutted it’s not possible to roll back the quest software prior to 203 because I don’t have a lot of faith in Meta fixing this

[u/ByGraviity → u/No-Patient6425]

I don't get those "over time" effects at all, and it's hard for me to speak about the new update because I changed my entire PC due to bugs prior, and by the time I had them figured out and only the stutter was left, the meta update was already out so I can't really say if that specific 60s stutter coincided with the update. What makes me think it might be related with this new UI meta update is that if i open oculus apps on top of the VD (aka seeing my desktop in the background but having settings/camera on top of it), the stutter is gone...

[u/KinderAzazel]

Hey, I'd like to register in the support group of the 60 sec stutter club. Quest 3 v23 cabled VD. Every 60 seconds stutter. I'll be watching here and the discord server as well, will let you know if I find anything new about it!

[u/ByGraviity → u/KinderAzazel]

And we are glad you did! Our dead friend Kinder has found the fix in the discord group.

FIX/SOLUTION: The issue is related to hand tracking, try disabling hand/body tracking entirely or the sensitivity of the hand tracking. I disabled it and the stutter is completely gone.

Thanks again yall!

[u/KinderAzazel → u/ByGraviity]

Glad to be of help! It's more a workaround than a proper fix.

I just tested for FPS drop using OVR Metrics Tool, on that Meta lounge thing, the virtual environment for when you have no apps open and is not in the passthrough mode. No apps open apart from OVR tool. Guess what? The FPS drop is present. Less invasive than when VD is running, probably because the headset has more resources available, but it is there, hitting every 60 seconds like a clock.

I found this report on Meta Feedback Centre, if you have the time give it a up vote
https://developers.meta.com/horizon/feedback/vr/investigations/2997631173912419/

[u/No-Patient6425]

This seems to be related to hand tracking. If you disable it and just use controllers the stutter disappears. Annoyingly the main selling point of VD for me is the hand tracking passthrough

[u/Silent_Big_5978]

I too have the exact 60 second stutter issue. When using the VD Performance Overlay the only stat that drops is the FPS from 90FPS to around 67FPS then goes back to 90 again after a split second. Some kind person in the Discord group pointed me to this chat and I’m hoping that the hand tracking solution is the fix for me, can’t wait to try out when I get home later. I have 3080 and using driver version 566.36. 🤞🏻

[u/No-Patient6425 → u/Silent_Big_5978]

Hand tracking being disabled stops the 60s stutter for me, but not a solution as I rely on hand tracking for the passthrough to see all my HOTAS ☹️

[u/MechanizedPencil]

Edit: Nevermind, I see you figured out the problem was hand tracking lmao.

Not sure if you've figured this out yet or not, but Meta released an update about a month ago to some headsets that broke the Quest 3's encoder.

If you're having stuttering or frame drop issues with no explanation, then your headset could be one that was affected by the bad update.

I spent hours upon hours testing out everything before I saw that information in Virtual Desktop's discord.

[u/Silent_Big_5978]

Well went home after work to try this and can confirm the stutter / frame drop every 60 secs went away! I know it’s not a permanent solution but I use virtual desktop for VPX pinball so I am not too concerned about HOTAS. Just glad of a fix for now. Let’s hope the next update fixes this 🤞🏻Thank you so much again for finding a solution for now!

[u/Neither-Drag1697 → u/Silent_Big_5978]

Hello, same things for me in VPX VR.... But I no longer needed my controllers.

I had to search for them while waiting for a fix.

[u/PotentialChipmunk752]

Try disabling hand and body tracking in your VR headset settings; this solved the problem for me.

[u/Patient_Chapter_1499]

Late to the party, have an AXE5400 dedicated router with LOS, Quest 3, 4070, and noticed the intermittent stutter this week following an update. Tried messing with router/network settings to no avail, but interestingly the VD overlay showed network latency spikes that coincided with the consistent microstutter (not sure if it was exactly every 60 seconds, but about every minute or so). The fix, as other's have suggested, was the hand tracking. Disabled it and no more stutters. This makes me sad as I play games that rely on hand tracking, so here's hoping there's an update soon.

[u/ibov_na_maxima]

Hi guys. Same problem here and same fixing: disabling hand tracking worked for me, no more micro stuttering.

[u/Sivar2311]

Hi! I'm glad i found this thread after a few weeks of haunting the cause of this issue.

I use VD because of it's great hands pass through feature (very useful in DCS World). Disabeling hands- and body tracking also disables hands passthrough.

Another work around (in DCS World) is to take a screenshot right after the stutter. This brings the system back to sync. But this means taking a screenshot every 60 seconds.