Hi phillpower2,
I ended up going back to a fresh install of windows, updated my chipset, storage and BIOS are all up to present.
Micro-stuttering was caused by my monitor, as I purchased a new LG UltraGear with adaptive free sync / g-sync and the issues have vanished.
Fresh install means all the crap you mentioned have now gone, Kaspersky, Armoury Crate, NordVPN.
Thanks for your help with this.