Graphics problems - I experience lag, freezing, crash while playing

Please try the following steps:

• Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date by visiting the official website for your graphics card (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and downloading the latest drivers.
• Run a System File Check: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following command: sfc /scannow This scans and repairs corrupted system files that might be causing the error.
• Close Background Programs: Close any unnecessary applications running in the background, especially those consuming significant GPU or CPU resources. Tools like Task Manager can help identify these.
• Lower Graphics Settings: Lower the graphical settings, such as texture quality, shadows, and effects, in the game settings. This reduces the load on your GPU and can help prevent crashes.
• Verify Game Files: If you’re playing via Steam or another platform, use the verify integrity of game files option to ensure no files are corrupted.
• Reinstall DirectX: Download and reinstall DirectX from Microsoft’s official website. This ensures you have the latest version and correct installation of this critical software component.

Additional Step: Ensure Your Dedicated GPU is Set as Default

If you're still experiencing crashes, it may be due to your system not utilizing the dedicated graphics card. To ensure your game uses the high-performance GPU, follow these steps:

For Windows 10:

1. Open Graphics Settings:
   • Press the Windows key and type Graphics Settings, then press Enter.
2. Add the Game to the List:
   • Under "Choose an app to set preference," select Desktop app and click Browse.
   • Navigate to your game's installation folder, select the game's executable file (.exe), and click Add.
3. Set the Graphics Preference:
   • Once the game appears in the list, click Options.
   • Choose High performance to ensure the game uses the dedicated GPU.
   • Click Save.

For Windows 11:

1. Open Graphics Settings:
   • Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
   • Scroll down and click on Graphics.
2. Add the Game to the List:
   • Under "Custom options for apps," click Browse and locate your game's executable file.
   • Select the file and click Add.
3. Set the Graphics Preference:
   1. After adding the game, click Options.
   2. Select High performance to utilize the dedicated GPU.
   3. Click Save.

BIOS Settings: Some systems allow you to set the primary graphics card in the BIOS. Consult your motherboard's manual for instructions on how to set the dedicated GPU as the primary graphics device.

If you are experiencing frequent game crashes, particularly "Fatal Error" crashes or errors that mention "GPU," "DXGI," or "D3D," your log files may not contain enough information for our team to diagnose the problem by default.

To help us better assess the root cause, you can enable a special launch command that tells the game to collect much more detailed data from your graphics card at the moment of the crash.

How to Enable GPU Debugging in Steam

1. Open your Steam Library.
2. Right-click on Pax Dei and select Properties....
3. In the General tab, find the Launch Options section.
4. In the text box, type the following command exactly as it appears: -gpudebugging
5. Close the Properties window.

What to Do Next

1. Reproduce the Crash: With the launch option set, please launch Pax Dei and play until the crash occurs again.
2. Collect Your Logs: Once the game has crashed, navigate to your log folder. You can do this by pressing the Windows Key + R, typing %LOCALAPPDATA%\PaxDei\Saved\Logs, and pressing Enter.
3. Submit Your Ticket: Find the most recent .log file from this folder and attach it to your support ticket. This new log will contain the advanced GPU debugging information, which is crucial for our investigation.

What if none of these solutions work?
If the issue persists, please contact our support team and make sure to provide as many details as you can and attach the DxDiag logs.