Symptoms
- Frame rates lower than expected for your graphics card
- New games run poorly or crash on launch
- Graphics settings menus in games look outdated or missing options
- Driver hasn't been updated in many months or over a year
Likely causes
- CommonGraphics driver several versions behind the current releasePerformance and compatibility improvements accumulate with each release.
- CommonDriver not optimized for a newly released gameGame-specific optimizations are often added in driver updates around a game's launch.
- PossibleA corrupted or incomplete previous driver installationThis can cause instability or reduced performance even after 'updating.'
- PossibleWindows Update installing a generic driver over the manufacturer's optimized oneWindows sometimes replaces a better driver with a basic one.
- Less commonUsing an integrated GPU driver instead of the dedicated graphics card driverOn laptops with two GPUs, the wrong one might be prioritized.
What to do
- Identify your graphics card model via Task Manager's Performance tab or Device Manager.
- Download the latest driver directly from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel's official website for that exact model.
- Use the manufacturer's clean-install option if available, which removes old driver remnants before installing the new one.
- Restart the PC after installation.
- For laptops with both integrated and dedicated graphics, check the manufacturer's control panel to ensure games are using the dedicated GPU.
- Check the game's own graphics settings to confirm they match your hardware's capability.
- Verify improvement by comparing frame rates before and after, using the game's built-in FPS counter or a free overlay tool.
- Set a reminder to check for driver updates every month or two, especially around major game releases.
Tools and parts
- None required
When to call a pro
If performance stays poor after a clean driver update, a technician can check for a failing GPU or an unsupported system bottleneck.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.