Performance Issue Fortnite

Fortnite Stuttering and Jittering on High-End System - Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-06 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-06 👥 Reports: 4 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Disable the Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller network adapter in Windows Device Manager, as this is a confirmed conflict causing stuttering on high-end AMD systems.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

The Fortnite stuttering and jittering error on high-end systems manifests as inconsistent frame delivery despite high average FPS, resulting in perceptible hitches and micro-freezes during gameplay. This error primarily affects the Windows platform, specifically systems utilizing AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs and Radeon RX 7000/9000 series GPUs. The issue occurs across all current game versions and is not map or game-mode specific. This is a common error reported on newly built high-performance systems. The severity is high, as it creates a disruptive and inconsistent gameplay experience that is not resolved by adjusting in-game graphical settings. No specific error codes are generated; the problem is identified solely through observable performance degradation.

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application exhibits periodic frame-time spikes during standard gameplay, causing perceptible stutter and visual jitter. This occurs consistently during movement, combat, and environment traversal. The frame rate counter may report a high and stable FPS, while the actual visual output is uneven. The game engine fails to maintain consistent frame pacing, leading to a choppy presentation. Network-related jitter may co-occur, characterized by rubber-banding or sudden positional corrections, though this is distinct from the primary rendering stutter.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: The Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller network adapter driver contains a power management or interrupt handling routine that conflicts with the game's real-time data polling, causing DirectX 12 frame pacing to fail. Why this causes the problem: The driver's activity introduces unpredictable latency spikes into the system's processing queue, which interrupts the GPU's render queue and causes frames to be delivered inconsistently. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition features like Radeon Anti-Lag, Boost, or Image Sharpening are enabled globally, introducing processing overhead that conflicts with Fortnite's internal frame pacing logic. Why this causes the problem: These features apply post-processing or alter engine timing, which can create a feedback loop with the game's own performance systems, resulting in stutter. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Fortnite is set to use DirectX 12 rendering API with shader compilation set to occur during gameplay rather than pre-compilation. Why this causes the problem: Each new asset encountered compiles shaders in real-time, causing a CPU spike and a frame hitch. On new installations, this process repeats extensively. Category: Hardware Issue Specific technical explanation: EXPO/XMP memory profile instability, where the DDR5 memory operates at its rated 6000MT/s but with sub-timings or voltages that are not fully stable under all CPU loads. Why this causes the problem: Uncorrected memory errors force retransmissions of data, introducing latency and causing the CPU to stall while waiting for data from RAM, manifesting as a stutter. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Outdated or corrupted AMD chipset drivers for the B650E platform, specifically the PCIe power management and CPPC drivers. Why this causes the problem: Incorrect power state transitions for the CPU cores (particularly the 7800X3D's V-Cache) cause latency when cores wake from idle states, disrupting game thread scheduling. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Windows Game Mode, GPU Hardware-Accelerated Scheduling, or Fullscreen Optimizations are applying conflicting optimization layers. Why this causes the problem: Multiple system-level optimization services contend for control over GPU resource allocation, leading to scheduling conflicts and frame delivery jitter.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Disable Conflicting Network Adapter

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 3 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Administrator access to Windows Steps:

Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Network adapters section.
Locate the Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller.
Right-click on it and select Disable device.
Click Yes to confirm.
Close Device Manager and restart your computer.

Technical Explanation: This disables the physical Ethernet port's driver, eliminating its interrupt latency spikes. The system will default to your Wi-Fi adapter (ASUS TUF B650E-E WIFI) or another network interface, removing the software conflict that disrupts Fortnite's frame pacing. Verification: Launch Fortnite and enter a match. The consistent micro-stutters that occurred every few seconds should be eliminated. Network functionality is maintained via the Wi-Fi adapter.

Solution 2: Configure Fortnite Graphics and API Settings

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Launch Fortnite and navigate to the Settings menu.
Select the Video Settings tab.
Set Rendering Mode to DirectX 11.
Enable Preload Streaming Video Assets.
Disable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (if the option is present).
Apply the changes and restart the game.
After restart, return to Video Settings and set View Distance to Far, but set Textures, Effects, and Post Processing to Medium.
Ensure VSync is Off and Frame Rate Limit is set to Unlimited or a value 3-5 FPS below your monitor's maximum refresh rate.

Technical Explanation: DirectX 11 has more mature and stable driver pathways on AMD hardware compared to DirectX 12. Preloading assets reduces runtime streaming hitches. Lowering certain settings reduces GPU memory bus contention, allowing for more consistent frame times. Verification: Monitor gameplay for a full match. The frequency and severity of stutters should be reduced. Use the in-game performance overlay (Alt+R) to observe frame time consistency.

Solution 3: Optimize AMD Adrenalin Software Settings

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 7 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition installed Steps:

Right-click on the desktop and open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Navigate to the Gaming tab and select Fortnite from the game profile list. If it doesn't exist, click Add Game and browse to C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe.
Within the Fortnite profile, set the following:

* Radeon Anti-Lag: Off * Radeon Boost: Off * Radeon Image Sharpening: Off * Wait for Vertical Refresh: Off, unless application specifies * Texture Filtering Quality: Standard * Tessellation Mode: Override application settings * Maximum Tessellation Level: Off

Go to the Graphics tab in the main menu. Ensure GPU Workload is set to Graphics.
Go to the Display tab. Ensure Variable Refresh Rate is On if using FreeSync.

Technical Explanation: This prevents AMD driver-level features from injecting processing delays or altering frame presentation in a way that conflicts with the game engine. It ensures a clean, unaltered rendering pipeline from Fortnite to the display. Verification: The in-game feel should be more direct. Stuttering induced by external post-processing is removed. Confirm settings are applied by checking that the AMD overlay (Alt+R) does not show Active features during gameplay.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean GPU Driver Installation

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Internet connection, Administrator access Steps:

Download the latest AMD driver for the RX 9070 XT from AMD's official website.
Download and run the AMD Cleanup Utility from AMD's website.
Restart your computer into Windows Safe Mode.
Run the AMD Cleanup Utility and follow prompts to remove all existing AMD graphics drivers.
Restart the computer normally.
Install the previously downloaded driver package. During installation, select Factory Reset and check the box for Perform Clean Installation.
After installation, restart the computer.

Technical Explanation: A factory reset clean installation removes all previous driver files, registry entries, and configuration profiles. This eliminates corruption, version mismatch, or conflicting settings left by prior updates or installations. Verification: Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and verify the driver version matches the downloaded package. Check Windows Device Manager under Display adapters for no warning icons.

Solution 5: Disable Conflicting Windows Features

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 4 minutes Prerequisites: Administrator access Steps:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Go to Gaming > Game Mode. Ensure Game Mode is Off.
Return to main Settings and go to System > Display > Graphics.
Click Change default graphics settings.
Turn Off the toggle for Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
Restart your computer.
Locate the Fortnite client executable (FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping.exe). Right-click it, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check Disable fullscreen optimizations.

Technical Explanation: This streamlines the rendering pipeline by removing layers of Windows compositor intervention and GPU scheduling arbitration, granting Fortnite more direct control over hardware resources and timing. Verification: Launch the game. The reduction in system-level overhead should result in slightly lower CPU usage and improved frame time consistency, observable via a third-party tool like CapFrameX or MSI Afterburner's overlay.

Solution 6: Verify Memory Stability and Update Chipset Drivers

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 15 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Caution when adjusting BIOS settings Steps:

Reboot the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI (typically by pressing DEL or F2 during startup).
Navigate to the AI Tweaker or Extreme Tweaker menu.
Locate the EXPO or A-XMP setting. Disable it, saving the RAM to run at its base JEDEC speed (e.g., 4800MT/s).
Save and exit the BIOS.
Boot to Windows and test Fortnite for stuttering.
If stable, re-enable EXPO but manually increase the DRAM Voltage (VDD/VDDQ) from the preset value (e.g., 1.35V) to 1.40V in the BIOS to improve stability.
Separately, download the latest AMD B650 chipset drivers from the ASUS support page for your motherboard.
Install the chipset drivers, restarting when prompted.

Technical Explanation: This tests for and corrects marginal memory stability, which is a common source of subtle stuttering on AMD AM5 platforms. Updated chipset drivers ensure proper CPU power and PCIe device management. Verification: Run a memory stress test like TestMem5 with the Anta777 extreme config for 10 cycles. If no errors occur and Fortnite stuttering is reduced, the memory subsystem is confirmed stable.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain system stability by updating AMD chipset drivers quarterly from the motherboard manufacturer's website. Before updating GPU drivers, use the AMD Cleanup Utility for a fresh installation. Periodically clear the Fortnite shader cache by deleting the contents of C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved\Dawn\Saved\ShaderCache. Monitor memory stability using HCI MemTest after any BIOS update. Establish a restore point before making significant system configuration changes. Keep Windows Power Plan set to "Balanced" or "High Performance" to prevent aggressive CPU power state cycling.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all hardware-centric solutions fail and the stuttering persists exclusively in Fortnite. Provide the full system specification, the driver versions for GPU and chipset, and a detailed description of the troubleshooting steps already performed. Include diagnostic files from C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Saved\Logs. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help Center website. Escalation is warranted if the error points to a potential game engine bug specific to your hardware configuration.