macOS Monterey performance hick-ups

[Parsec]

Does anybody else experience regular performance 'hick-ups' on Monterey when there is more than one system user logged-in?

Never had this issue until I upgraded to Monterey, even after a clean install this still keeps happening. It is most prevalent when watching videos on YouTube where every 20-30 seconds, the video will freeze for about half a second or so. It also happens during typing where the letters stop appearing for a few keystrokes and then a second later they will appear. It is very irritating! Even when Activity Monitor shows nearly no CPU usage (< 10%).

Before Monterey, it never happened even during high CPU-usage.

And if so, any idea how to fix it?

2016 MacBook Pro 15" with Radeon Pro 460

 

[BrianBaughn]

Just tested here and don't see any of those issues.

If you create two new test user accounts and log into those (and not your original accounts) does the problem still exist?

 

[Parsec]

I just did what you suggested. Brand new account. Still happens

 

[HDFan]

when there is more than one system user logged-in?

How do you have more than one system user logged in at the same time?

 

[Slartibart]

what does the activity monitor tell you? does this happen only in Safari? Did you try a different browser? Or e.g. VLC?

 

[Parsec]

How do you have more than one system user logged in at the same time?

You can have multiple users logged in at the same time. Although only one can actively use the computer at any one time unless you do a remote login through another computer or have two screens + control devices.

what does the activity monitor tell you? does this happen only in Safari? Did you try a different browser? Or e.g. VLC?

It happens with Safari, Firefox, VLC. The sound continues without a glitch, but video and keyboard input are affected. Could you please be more specific at what it is you would you like me to check in Activity Monitor? I already stated that it still happens when the computer is almost idling

 

[BrianBaughn]

What hardware (if any), including external input devices, is connected?

Anyone running any background apps?

 

[Parsec]

What hardware (if any), including external input devices, is connected?

Anyone running any background apps?

I sometimes have a Magic Mouse and a Logitech MX keys connected. But it also happens with nothing connected (no Bluetooth, not wired).

- If I boot up, there are no issues, regardless of anything is connected or not
- If I log in with the second (newly created user with no background processes, no software running... just being logged in idling) the hiccups occur
- As soon as I log out the second user, the problems disappear

All of this while the processor is nearly idling (for YouTube it sometimes goes to 10-20% or so)

 

[BrianBaughn]

Since you've tested with two new accounts and with no external devices connected it would seem the issue lies in the system partition.

You're probably going to have to try the non-destructive macOS reinstall (back up first!)…but give an NVRAM/PRAM reset a shot first:

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.

support.apple.com

 

[Parsec]

Since you've tested with two new accounts and with no external devices connected it would seem the issue lies in the system partition.

You're probably going to have to try the non-destructive macOS reinstall (back up first!)…but give an NVRAM/PRAM reset a shot first:

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.

support.apple.com

Thanks for the hint. I'll try the NVRAM and PRAM reset. However I don't think a reinstall will do anything since I first noticed it straight after a clean install.

If all of it fails, I just hope they fix it in the next macOS

 

[Parsec]

I turned off automatic graphics switching. That seems to have solved it temporarily. Funny enough, the problem did not disappear when an application was running that required the discrete graphics.

I've just reset the SMC to see if that solves it. I'd like to keep auto switching enabled if I can.

Edit: No, that did not solve the problem, but turning off graphics switching so far holds up