GPU driver Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Another Nvidia GPU driver has issues, causing up to 16% drops in performance

Nvidia's driver version 595.71 has introduced performance issues, limiting core clock speeds, voltage levels, and power outputs, resulting in performance drops of up to 16%. The update, released on March 2, aimed to fix problems from the previous version 595.59 but has negatively impacted overclocked graphics cards. For example, an RTX 5090 that previously achieved clock speeds over 3,100MHz now struggles to maintain speeds above 3,000MHz. Benchmark tests showed the older driver (591.74) achieving 171fps compared to 144fps with the new driver. Users are advised to revert to an earlier driver version from the 591 series to restore performance.

Winsage

January 17, 2026

How to fix Nvidia GPU FPS drop due to the Windows January 2026 update?

Users with Nvidia GPUs are experiencing decreased gaming performance after the January 2026 Windows update (KB5074109), which was intended to enhance security and address vulnerabilities. Reported issues include drops in frames per second (FPS), black screen freezes, display hangs, and driver crashes related to nvlddmkm errors. Nvidia has released a new GPU driver to address these problems. A temporary solution for affected users is to uninstall the KB5074109 update, although it is a security patch that may need to be reinstalled later. Users can also update their Nvidia drivers to the latest hotfix version and use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode for better results. It is recommended to pause Windows updates until a fix is provided by Microsoft.

Winsage

December 20, 2025

Over Half A Million Windows Users Are Switching To Linux – Here’s Why

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, offering free Extended Security Updates until October 13, 2026, and paid options until 2028. The requirement for the TPM 2.0 security chip has prevented many users from upgrading to Windows 11, leading to increased adoption of Linux distributions like Zorin, which has surpassed a million downloads, with 78% from Windows users. Valve's Steam Deck has improved gaming on Linux, with major titles now supporting Linux compatibility, and the development of Proton has enhanced the ability to run Windows games on Linux. Zorin allows users to install Windows applications and progressive web apps, providing alternatives to traditional software.

Winsage

December 11, 2025

User reports claim December Windows 11 security update fixes AMD GPU hanging and driver crashing

Windows 11 has caused concerns among graphics card users, particularly Nvidia GPU owners, leading Nvidia to release a hotfix driver to address gaming performance issues from the October update. The December KB5070311 update reportedly resolved significant problems for AMD GPU owners, including driver crashes in games like Battlefield 6 and general instability. User feedback suggests improvements after installing the December update, which also eliminated the "unsupported graphics card detected" message for compatible GPUs. AMD's patch notes for the latest Adrenalin version mention various crashing issues, but only a few were addressed without attributing them to Windows. Reports of GPU hanging and driver instability have been common since the RX 9070 XT's launch in March 2025, with the RX 9000 series facing the most difficulties. Nvidia previously rolled out a hotfix driver to restore performance lost due to an October Windows update. The December Windows 11 security update is mandatory, and users may find it beneficial to install it, although there is no guarantee that specific issues will be resolved. Neither Microsoft nor AMD has officially confirmed any AMD-specific GPU fixes related to Windows updates.

Winsage

December 4, 2025

Your Windows on ARM laptop could someday play real PC games

The Lisuan 7G106 is the first discrete graphics card to operate on Windows on ARM, successfully executing the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. This marks a significant milestone for the ARM ecosystem, confirming real discrete GPU driver support. The demonstration indicates essential rendering, driver, and API support are operational, suggesting potential for ARM PCs to cater to gaming laptops and high-performance desktops. This development challenges major graphics companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel to consider entering the Windows on ARM market. While the Lisuan GPU is not yet market-ready, it serves as a crucial proof-of-concept for future advancements in ARM computing.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

Qualcomm refines Windows on Arm gaming with broad feature release — platform gets Snapdragon Control Panel, AVX2 emulation, improved anti-cheat support

Qualcomm is enhancing its Snapdragon X and upcoming X2 series chips with new gaming features, including a control panel with four sub-menus for graphics, software, system info, and preferences, allowing customization of driver settings for individual games. The update expands anti-cheat support to include Tencent's Anti-Cheat Expert, Roblox's Hyperion, Denuvo, InProtect GameGuard, BattleEye, and Uncheater, with Epic Games improving its Easy Anti-Cheat software for Snapdragon. Additionally, Qualcomm is integrating AVX2 emulation into its Snapdragon Windows-compatible chips, with the Snapdragon X2 Elite already supporting this feature, enabling better compatibility with AVX2 applications on Windows.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

Qualcomm promises better gaming performance with latest Windows on Snapdragon update

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon Control Panel and a suite of updates for Snapdragon X Elite laptops, enhancing software and performance. Key features of the Control Panel include automatic game detection, per-game settings, and Adreno GPU driver updates. Qualcomm has resolved bugs and improved performance for over 100 games since last year. The x86 emulation layer has been upgraded, with Microsoft's Prism Emulator now supporting AVX x86 emulation, and AVX2 support expected on upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite laptops. Additionally, Fortnite is now available on Qualcomm devices due to Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat support, and the company is working with anti-cheat providers like Tencent and Roblox to improve multiplayer support.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

Nvidia releases emergency driver update for Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 — fixes reduced gaming performance driven by botched Windows updates

Nvidia released the GeForce Hotfix Display Driver 581.94 to address performance issues in certain games caused by Microsoft's mandatory patch KB5066835, which affected Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. The update led to decreased game frame rates for some users. Nvidia recommends that gamers experiencing performance dips download the latest GPU driver. The company issued a second hotfix a week later to resolve remaining issues, including crashes and clock speed irregularities. The initial patch also caused problems with USB keyboards and mice in the Windows Recovery Environment and triggered BitLocker encryption unexpectedly. It is unclear if Intel and AMD will release their own driver updates in response to the issues caused by KB5066835, although performance problems have been reported with their GPUs as well.