If you are having trouble with freezing or crashing! *updated 10.31.2023

[Castle]

Ok, here's my road to a fresh, great working BG3 install, after many many freezing and crashing problems for about a week. This is generally a guide on solving hardware issues.

>>>>>>>Being sure you have the install files set to your native Steam install drive is likely the most important troubleshooting step if you are having crashing issues<<<<<<<<<<<<<




For more advanced fixes for BG3 crashing, try these steps first at this link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BaldursGate3/comments/15jqobm/dx11_and_vulkan_crash_fix/?rdt=59975


*First, this will help if you haven't come across it already, once we get there
Basics of a BG3 clean install [www.nexusmods.com]* {in my case there was no step three}

Quick Summary

Step - 1 Any hardware issues? Over-heating? Conquer those first, they may not be totally related to the game. Read on for more.

Step - 1.5 Be sure Windows Updates are all installed, especially the most recent .NET and 2H22 updates; perform clean driver installs for your GPU, sound-card, or any other possibly out-dated or stale driver base that is performance sensitive.

Step - 2 Clean Uninstall/Reinstall BG3

...read on for finer details...


Most of my issues started after loading the game under Vulcan settings...

DX11 frame rates were generally crud a few weeks back and I wasn't having it, so I switched it up to loading BG3 with Vulcan drivers/shaders and bang was it amazing in the difference. frame rates and general image quality were through the roof.

However, much like other graphically high-performance-demanding games in the last couple of years, my GPU <<update: my Northbridge was probably the biggest heat causing factor>> was pumping out too much heat running BG3; games that are way more demanding, but better optimized graphically, run at 3-4k on my rig, at 40 fps to 100+ fps Ultra settings, few or no problems. But in the case of early-release titles, or otherwise non-optimized releases like BG3 here as of the last few weeks, I get a lot of heat generated in the PC case when running games like this. And the rig is already over-clocked...

As has been the case, my sound card was several slots away from my GPU, and for awhile now I've wondered if it wasn't blasting the Sound card (circuit) board with too much heat...

My first major crashes were hard locks, never any BSOD, but I got bad sound feedback and began to think my sound card, or hardware, was the issue. Tried tuning the settings, turning down vram load, forced GPU fan to run fast during the game always... tried running the game in DX11 again... every day it seemed like my time running the game was basically cut in half before a crash would occur. Down to maybe 15 minutes before a crash for the last few days... and almost always in combat. Until finally, after doing troubleshooting recommended by Larian support, the game wouldn't load, even after 're-verifying files said they were good.

So I broke it down like this:

1 - I knew I had hardware trouble going on, so why not put the work in, and move the GPU to the other PCI x16 slot I had open ( I used to run Cross-fire cards, but not any more so there's been an open slot, same PCIe speed). This would put my sound card "upstream" from the GPU fans finally. This of course meant uninstalling drivers, physically moving the GPU and the Sound Card and hoping for the best. It was a long process, which is why I hadn't done it yet, but very very much worth it.

2 - With lock-ups and freezes and crashes occurring so often, I began to figure the game files were corrupted... either because the most recent updates weren't good files when applied, or the crashes that had happened with my hardware had trashed the game files (the most likely cause). So a fresh install for BG3 was due.

*Before removing the game, I did a DXdiag and Event Viewer (Windows) report, and followed all the troubleshooting steps in Larian's Bug Reporting [larian.com] page. No luck. Sent reports to Larian, began BG 3 reinstall.*

**Check Windows Event viewer for Application faults, or other critical errors showing shutdowns. In my case, the game app exe was showing errors, but also Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) windows service shutdown the PC at one point, due to corrupted files... that was during an attempt to re-install BG3. I hadn't followed steps for a clean install yet.**

Once the hardware was setup, with fresh drivers installed for GPU and sound card, I began removing BG3. *do not go after any registry entries*. Just follow the steps here https://www.nexusmods.com/baldursgate3/images/301 for a clean install. Be sure any Steam or EA auto downloads are off, even disconnect your internet connection, until those steps above are completed.

The game runs perfectly in DX11 now, though the frame-rates could be better. Pretty sure there's been some adjustments on Larians end.. feel like some files being downloaded there for a few days were not any good for installs... just say'n.

Lesson in all of this from my experiences lately: the Vulcan setting is not stable for BG3 at this time at all, to the point that you may get corrupt game files should the game crash while using Vulcan. Especially if you are over-clocking.

Hope this helps, the game is worth the work.

>>9.22.2023 Update notes and discoveries:

-By some luck, bumped power cord with a recently installed Bluetooth adapter on USB, saw it was flashing on/off when bumping the power cord. So faulty power cord was just the beginning to my actual PC fixes.

-After everything above, originally posted, I was digging around Windows Event viewer, and saw various concerning Event ID codes. Tried scanning (SFC and DISM) for Windows corruption.. those scans were fine, came back clean. Hard disks came back fine too, after a proper CheckDisk run. But it sure seemed I had a now corrupt version of Windows 10 going. Sure enough, after more issues and freezes, once Windows was restored from a restore point, I got a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) code, WHEA specifically. I was tempted to give up on my older hardware, but I knew I had been over-clocking and that things had been fine, until I began running BG3.

-Did some research, found my thermal paste would have been expired last time I re-installed and cleaned cooling tower (Noctua). Ok, figure that may do it; cleaning and re-installing the CPU cooling tower has made a difference in the past… turned the BIOS settings to default to see how I’d do, full wipe and re-install of Windows on the way. BSOD WHEA codes again.. now on default BIOS settings. hmm.

-Under-clocked BIOS settings significantly, and actually did fine as my default RAM timings were incredibly fast as a result (new information, intriguing). Processing was vastly slower though, by about .5ghz. Re-installed Windows successfully (old partition with a new Hard Drive install was messy. Had to be sure, so nuked (formatted) the old install ‘from orbit’ as the saying goes).

-WHEA BSOD codes had me thinking though: if default BIOS was basically overheating, and cooling tower was seated well enough—HWMonitor showed temps normal and same in BIOS.. what could it be. Reached into case and tapped the Northbridge cooling unit. It was loose… very loose, like probably not doing anything to cool the Northbridge chip much at all. Never did any new thermal paste for the Northbridge over the years (it’s a kinda tricky but doable). Over-clocking on and off with this board, getting old, so I figured if I screw it up and lose the Motherboard it’s time for a new build anyways. Got the Northbridge cooling unit off… old thermal paste was baked on there like cement practically. Cleaned and applied new paste, cool smooth now.

-Also, adjusted from a 120mm and a 240mm fan both being on cooling tower (no longer suggested by Noctua for this tower, just one fan). Left the 240mm on the cpu cooling tower and replaced a crappy 120mm case fan with the exceptional Noctua 120mm fan.

After all that, PC literally runs like new again, if not better than when I built it. And there’s about 5-10 degrees less heat pumping out of the case; CPU runs about 10 degrees cooler over-all. Not gonna need to OC the build as much, better RAM timings and general performance make up the difference. See how my power bill does too.. thinking about $10 less at least,

BG3 now runs with hardly a dropped frame, let alone any freezing up. Also, having clocked back my BIOS settings, Windows updates have actually installed all their most recent features; before I was not seeing any of it, besides maybe .NET fixes.

Other players have reported slowly degrading game experiences, common re-install issues, generally defaulting to dx11. Vulcan for me now is the better choice, performing way better at Ultra settings and is otherwise stable.

The install files are still troublesome for sure. The most recent update, that dropped today, pegged one friends CPU to the max while downloading and caused a shutoff of their laptop. Eventually they got it downloaded and installed, but there’s some vary funny business with BG3’s current (lack of) optimization and install files.
end update<<

Ok, hope this helps anyone else out there looking to save money and/or otherwise avoid doing any PC hardware upgrades eg ‘Ball’n on teh Budget’, or just interested in learning and being a PC hardware enthusiast.

Signing off

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Castle:

If you are having trouble with freezing or crashing!
Ok, here's my road to a fresh, great working BG3 install, after many many freezing and crashing problems for about a week now.

*First, this will help if you haven't come across it already, once we get there
Basics of a BG3 clean install [www.nexusmods.com]*

Quick Summary

Step - 1 Any hardware issues? Over-heating? conquer those first, they may not be totally related to the game. Read on for more.

Step - 1.5 Be sure Windows Updates are all installed, especially the most recent .NET and 2H22 updates. Perform clean driver installs for GPU or any other possibly out dated or stale driver base.

Step - 2 Clean Uninstall/Reinstall BG3

...read on for finer details...


Most of my issues started after loading the game under Vulcan settings...

DX11 frame rates were generally crud a few weeks back and I wasn't having it, so I switched it up to loading BG3 with Vulcan drivers/shaders and bang was it amazing in the difference. frame rates and general image quality were through the roof.

However, much like other graphically high-performance-demanding games in the last couple of years, my GPU was pumping out too much heat running BG3; games that are way more demanding, but better optimized graphically, run at 3-4k on my rig, at 40 fps to 100+ fps Ultra settings, few or no problems. But in the case of early-release titles, or otherwise non-optimized releases like BG3 here as of the last few weeks, I get a lot of heat off my GPU when running games like this. And the rig is already over-clocked...

As has been the case, my sound card was several slots away from my GPU, and for awhile now I've wondered if it wasn't blasting the Sound card (circuit) board with too much heat...

My first major crashes were hard locks, never any BSOD, but I got bad sound feedback and began to think my sound card, or hardware, was the issue. Tried tuning the settings, turning down vram load, forced GPU fan to run fast during the game always... tried running the game in DX11 again... every day it seemed like my time running the game was basically cut in half before a crash would occur. Down to maybe 15 minutes before a crash for the last few days... and almost always in combat. Until finally, after doing troubleshooting recommended by Larian support, the game wouldn't load, even after 're-verifying files said they were good.

So I broke it down like this:

1 - I knew I had hardware trouble going on, so why not put the work in, and move the GPU to the other PCI x16 slot I had open ( I used to run Cross-fire cards, but not any more so there's been an open slot, same PCIe speed). This would put my sound card "upstream" from the GPU fans finally. This of course meant uninstalling drivers, physically moving the GPU and the Sound Card and hoping for the best. It was a long process, which is why I hadn't done it yet, but very very much worth it.

2 - With lock-ups and freezes and crashes occurring so often, I began to figure the game files were corrupted... either because the most recent updates weren't good files when applied, or the crashes that had happened with my hardware had trashed the game files (the most likely cause). So a fresh install for BG3 was due.

*Before removing the game, I did a DXdiag and Event Viewer (Windows) report, and followed all the troubleshooting steps in Larian's Bug Reporting page. No luck. Sent reports to Larian, began BG 3 reinstall.*

**Check Windows Event viewer for Application faults, or other critical errors showing shutdowns. In my case, the game app exe was showing errors, but also Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) windows service shutdown the PC at one point, due to corrupted files... that was during an attempt to re-install BG3. I hadn't followed steps for a clean install yet.**

Once the hardware was setup, with fresh drivers installed for GPU and sound card, I began removing BG3. *do not go after any registry entries*. Just follow the steps here for a clean install. Be sure any Steam or EA auto downloads are off, even disconnect your internet connection, until those steps above are completed.

The game runs perfectly in DX11 now, though the frame-rates could be better. Pretty sure there's been some adjustments on Larians end.. feel like some files being downloaded there for a few days were not any good for installs... just say'n.

Lesson in all of this from my experiences lately: the Vulcan setting is not stable for BG3 at this time at all, to the point that you may get corrupt game files should the game crash while using Vulcan. Especially if you are over-clocking.

Hope this helps, the game is worth the work. :brotherblood::bhaal::brothersword:

Thanks for sharing. In your formatting one bracket turned into a ﹜, hence the weird look.

Also, the information in the first image is outdated. If you look over it again you should be able to spot the error.

[Castle]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Thanks for sharing. In your formatting one bracket turned into a ﹜, hence the weird look.

Also, the information in the first image is outdated. If you look over it again you should be able to spot the error.

Should be fixed now! thank you

[Castle]

Also, this looks quite useful and is working great for me..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3031161135

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Castle:

Also, this looks quite useful and is working great for me..

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3031161135

If you want to look for more inspiration, I put almost everything into this
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3027526886
But it gets almost no upvotes nor awards, despite it is the guide I put most work into of all my guides on Steam. The only thing I have not yet put into that is this
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3034860637
There were so many people complaining about the game not having a colour blind mode. And yet two days later only six visitors checked it out, probably the majority crawler bots who copy & paste my stuff on guides sites.

[Digital Theory]

Thanks for the help, too bad Larian can't be as helpful

[Daggett]

That windows update i think was my problem.
I've installed today. And done all steps before finding your post.
Thanks for sharing.
Will try these steps.

Btw already have sent Larian a ticket to support with all files requested.