GPU issues with a Windows App

Question

GPU issues with a Windows App

Chris M 0

I'm having GPU issues (so I believe) with a windows app. The App is a PC game. After a recent application update, the game has had nothing but issues including but not limited to, glitching, running slow, and mostly freezing up.

Actions taken, uninstalling and reinstalling, ensured graphics is set correctly.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

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4 answers

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Answer 1

VARADHARAJAN K 9,676 Volunteer Moderator

@Chris M

Name of gpu, whether its dedicated or integrated with processor

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Answer 2

David-M 109.6K Independent Advisor

Thanks for the screenshot

Perform a clean installation of your computer's graphics driver as instructed below.

Use the AMD Cleanup Utility to remove all AMD drivers. Then, install the latest AMD graphics driver provided by Lenovo for your PC.

Instructions for downloading and using the AMD Cleanup Utility are at the link below.

https://www.amd.com/en/resources/support-articles/faqs/GPU-601.html

Download the latest graphics driver from the page at the link below.

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-edge-laptops/thinkpad-e16-gen-2-type-21m5-21m6/21m5/downloads/driver-list/component?name=Display%20and%20Video%20Graphics&id=635380F4-448F-4129-AA77-265289D96F6F

Driver name: AMD Video Driver

(Run the downloaded EXE file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.)

After completing a clean driver installation, restart (not shutdown) your PC and see if the problem is resolved.

If the problem persists, please let me know.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-17T17:32:39.9266667+00:00

Thanks, David. I'll give it a go and let you know how it went. Much appreciated!
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-17T17:34:35.8633333+00:00

Glad to help.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-17T22:23:39.41+00:00

Hi David,

I'm finished. The app isn't freezing anymore but it is moving extremely slow now. Any advice for this?
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-18T12:31:55.9933333+00:00

Sorry for the delay in reply. I've been offline.

Which game is showing this slowdown?

Could you also try running one or two other games and let me know if they experience the same slowdown? If they do, please share their names so I can compare the results and better analyze the issue.

Looking forward to your reply.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-18T15:34:31.5+00:00

Good morning, the game I play on PC is called Last Z - Survivor Shooter and it's the only game I play on PC. It originally was a phone app game that I was playing through Bluestacks emulator and then the Devs released a Windows PC version about 1-2 months ago and I have been playing it on windows up until two weeks-ish ago when the issues began. Not sure what else that I can provide that can be useful.
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-18T16:01:48.8133333+00:00

Thanks for the clarifications.

The game was originally designed for Android/iOS and ran well through emulators like Bluestacks. The native Windows port is still relatively new. Your AMD integrated graphics can handle light games, but if the port isn't optimized, even simple scenes may run slowly.

Do you remember if the problems started occurring after a game update?

If you try running the game on Bluestacks as a test, does it run smoothly?

Looking forward to your reply.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-18T16:12:18.4166667+00:00

The game was running very smooth up until a recent update (1-2 weeks ago) but others that I play with say that they don't have any issues like I do. Since the update issues, I have reverted back to playing through Bluestacks and do not have any issues with the game. I would rather play through Windows just for security reasons if possible and some of the Windows functionalities are better when playing than Bluestacks. I also notice that when I start the game up for windows, the GPU is between 15-25% and then within a minute or two, it drops to under 1%.
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-18T16:55:21.6033333+00:00
Thanks for the clarification.

If other players are not experiencing this problem, it could be that the version installed on your PC is corrupted or that a recent update introduced a bug that only affects certain settings. Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game?

In some cases, Windows forces the integrated GPU to reduce load if the power mode is not set to "High performance".

Try this:

Press "Windows + I" to open the Settings.

Go to "System > Display > Graphics".

Under Custom settings for applications, click "Add desktop app" and add the game's executable file.

Once added, click on the game entry, then change "GPU preference" to "High performance".

Restart (not shutdown) the PC and check GPU usage again while running the game.

Please let me know how it goes.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-18T16:57:36.7033333+00:00

I have uninstalled and reinstalled several times and the I have graphics on High performance.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-18T17:05:54.2933333+00:00

I have also added the game as a desktop app and set those GPU settings already. No improvements.
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-18T17:49:36.1066667+00:00

I suspect the issue lies with the Windows version of the game itself. If it were a GPU or system problem, you would also experience the same slowdown when running it through Bluestacks, since Bluestacks relies on the GPU as well.

Is it possible for you to revert to a previous version of the game to confirm whether the problem stops occurring? That would help determine if the recent update introduced the issue.

Looking forward to your reply.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-18T19:30:33.5+00:00

I'm not having much luck with the App's Tech Support on update stuff. Do you mind looking at these property settings and let me know if anything looks out of place?
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-18T19:48:26.05+00:00
I don't see any reason for these options to be enabled unless the developer specifically recommends them. Did you enable these settings yourself?

Try this: uncheck each of these settings one by one in the order below and see how the game behaves after each change:

Override high DPI scaling behavior...

Run this program as an administrator.

Run this program in compatibility mode for.

Please let me know how it goes.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Answer 3

David-M 109.6K Independent Advisor

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

Please clarify the following:

Have you tried performing a clean installation of your graphics card driver?

If not, I can guide you on how to do it. I just need to know some information about your system to be able to give you the correct procedure for your case.

Please collect your system information using the DxDiag tool and share it for analysis.

Open Start, type DxDiag and select it from the list of results;
Click on the "Save All Information" button and save the file in a location you can easily find;
Upload the file to the cloud (OneDrive) and choose to share it to get the link;
Post the link to the file here so it can be analyzed.

Or if you prefer, share the information via screenshots, I need the information in the "System" and "Display" tabs.

Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

Looking forward to your reply.

Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-17T16:46:06.4633333+00:00

Hi David! Thanks for your help. When I follow your directions, after step 1, I receive a Direct Diagnostic Tool message... I'll add it below. I can't get past this. Recommendations?
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-17T16:50:52+00:00

Try clicking "No" first. This forces DxDiag to attempt to collect the information normally.

If it crashes, open DxDiag again and choose "Yes" to skip the collection. This way, at least you can access the interface and see some basic information.

Please let me know the result.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-17T16:51:51.79+00:00

Sorry. Duplicate post.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-17T16:54:56.79+00:00

Thank you. Done. Is this what you're asking for?

DxDiag.txt
David-M 109.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-17T17:08:31.4166667+00:00
Thanks.

Unfortunately, the tool was unable to collect useful information about your system. Let's try another native Windows tool.

Please share a screenshot of your system information as instructed below.

Press "Windows + R", type msinfo32 and press Enter.

Maximize the window and use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

Looking forward to your reply.
Chris M 0 Reputation points

2026-03-17T17:15:34.0233333+00:00

Here you go

Answer 4

Based on the symptoms (glitching, running slow, freezing) after a recent game update, the most likely causes are:

Hybrid graphics + VSync in windowed mode If the PC has both integrated and dedicated graphics (hybrid graphics), and the game is running in windowed or borderless-windowed mode with VSync enabled, Windows 10/11 can show tearing or corruption in parts of the window due to a limitation in the hybrid graphics presentation stack. Try the following in the game:
1. Switch the game to exclusive full-screen mode instead of windowed/borderless.
2. Turn off VSync in the game’s graphics options and test again.
This combination (hybrid GPU + windowed mode + VSync) is known to cause visual corruption and instability in some games and 3D apps.
Incompatible or broken app version Since the issues started right after a game update and persist after reinstalling, the updated version itself may be unstable on the current Windows or driver setup. Steps to try:
1. Check for another update from the game developer that might fix performance or GPU issues.
2. If the game is from Microsoft Store, update it via Microsoft Store → Library → Get updates.
3. If it is not from Microsoft Store, check the game publisher’s site or launcher for patches or hotfixes.
4. If the problems began exactly after a specific update and the game/launcher allows it, roll back to the previous version.
Update or reinstall GPU drivers If the GPU driver is damaged or mismatched after the game update, reinstalling it can help:
1. Right-click Start → Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click the GPU → Uninstall device → OK.
4. Right-click the PC name at the top → Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver.
5. Optionally, then install the latest GPU driver from the GPU manufacturer’s site.
Check for other problematic apps Some background apps (overlays, recording tools, tuning utilities) can conflict with games and cause flickering or freezing.
1. Temporarily close overlays (Discord, GeForce Experience overlay, etc.) and any GPU-tuning tools.
2. If a specific app is suspected, uninstall it via Settings → Apps and test the game again.

If the game still freezes after trying full-screen mode, disabling VSync, updating/reinstalling GPU drivers, and closing conflicting apps, the issue is likely with the game update itself and should be reported to the game’s support with system specs and logs.

References:

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GPU issues with a Windows App

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