No, I wasn't "talking" about CPU cache settings, or the disc cache, for that matter, as you offered... I was "talking" about 'Prefetch' as you mentioned :) (kill it in services.msc)
If you're not running a Z77, then good for you :)
yes... if the chipset is unstable, there would be quite a range of 'problems', not all being apparent.
If you could define your "stuttering" that would go quite a way to giving you help, seeing some of the obvious has been eliminated - and perhaps offer up, as to what brand/ model your motherboard is, what your harddrives are, etc, etc?