Understanding and Troubleshooting GPU-Related Crashes in Modern Gaming Systems: A Case Study
Introduction
In today’s gaming and high-performance computing environment, stability issues such as game crashes can be particularly frustrating. This article discusses a real-world scenario involving frequent crashes of popular titles like Path of Exile and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite comprehensive troubleshooting efforts. We will analyze the problem, the steps taken to resolve it, and offer insights into potential underlying causes and solutions.
System Specifications
The affected system features a high-end configuration designed for gaming and demanding workloads:
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super
- Processor: Intel Core i9-14900K
- Power Supply: Corsair RM1000e (2023)
- Operating System: Windows 10
Overview of the Issue
The primary concern is that Path of Exile (PoE) crashes within 5-10 seconds of launch, preventing gameplay. Similarly, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 crashes during the shader loading process with a DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error, while other titles such as Space Marine 2 exhibit inconsistent crashes. Notably, select applications like Rematch operate normally, indicating the problem is specific to certain titles or scenarios.
Contextual Background
A significant change preceding the issue was the installation of Nvidia’s latest graphics drivers, aimed at supporting a new game called “Rematch.” Post-update, gameplay with PoE deteriorated, culminating in immediate crashes upon launch. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s shader loading process consistently fails to reach the main menu, also pointing to potential driver or hardware conflicts.
Error Analysis and Event Log Insights
Key error messages obtained from Windows Event Viewer provide clues:
- For Path of Exile:
- Faulting Application: PathOfExileSteam.exe
- Faulting Module: nvgpucomp64.dll (Nvidia GPU compute module)
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Exception Code: 0xc0000005 (Access Violation)
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For S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:
- Faulting Application: Stalker2-Win64-Shipping.exe
- Faulting Module: nvgpucomp64.dll
- Exception Code: 0xc0000409 (Stack Buffer Overrun)
Both crashes involve the ‘nvgpucomp64.dll’ module, suggesting a shared link to Nvidia’s driver components or GPU compute processes.
Troubles
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