Stutter and FPS drops with always of top applications in games fix?

[Dutu40]

Hello.

I have this annoying problem with Windows 7 while playing a game called Aion in borderless fullscreen.

Whenever I open an always on top application (example: manually setting Task Manager to always on top, or skype informing me of a message I received) the FPS simply plummets down to 20~ish with a lot of stutter to go around with it as well.

Naturally as soon as the application is closed the FPS returns back to normal and everything is fine, however, I do need the game to run in borderless fullscreen mode and I also need always on top applications to run with it (such as Twitch Streamer Tools for example).

Is there any way to stop windows from doing this to my game when such applications are open?

Of course I could also provide a video of exactly what happens if needed.

 

[cyanna]

you have not posted you system specs. Can you post with your GPU and monitor specs?

 

[Dutu40]

Edit: The problem persists, I'll post further info asap.

Edit 2: PC specs are the following...

CPU: i5 4670k
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming
Motherboard: AsRock Z87 Extreme3

Monitor: SyncMaster P2470HD

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64

Video demonstrating the issue I'm facing: 2016 12 12 1352 57 - YouTube

It seems the recording itself did not see the always on top program, regardless I can guarantee that the 60fps it shows there is ANYTHING but smooth.

 

[cyanna]

As I suspected: nvidia drivers. Can you post the driver version? What monitor are you using? Not all of them play nice with G-sync. In the meantime:
1. check that you are actually using the nvidia driver and not the built in CPU graphics driver: disable the CPU graphics driver in BIOS
2. Check if hardware acceleration is enabled on the driver.
3. go to Nvidia control panel-> Manage 3D Settings and change "Power Management mode" from Adaptive to Prefer Maximum Performance