Starfield Crashing AMD Fix Cross Post from Reddit

[Orctupus]

[Issue] Starfield via Steam-client on Windows 10 + AMD 6700XT GPU randomly crashing as attempting to play the game.

[Attempted Resolutions] Modifying Graphics display options / .ini configuration files / reinstalling AMD drivers and good ol rebooting.

[Notes] Changing Shadow Quality in graphics settings DOES NOT FIX NULL POINTER ISSUES ON THE STACK in active CPU memory. Shadows in modern games are calculated by the GPU with DX12/Vulkan compatibility layers, not the CPU in DirectX enabled applications.

[Fix]

1. Stop Starfield (if open) and Stop the Steam Client then Navigate to: C:\Users\YourUserNameHere\AppData\LocalLow\AMD\DxCache

2. Delete All Files in this Folder (should be .parc#) Windows explorer will throw errors that items cannot be deleted for a running application. Skip any for other applications that are not STEAM or STARFIELD.

3. Start Steam -> Run Starfield -> Run and Test -> Report Back to this Thread

[Why]

1. Starfield Caches its shaders and stores them as a cache file where they are then referenced later.

2. According to Microsoft: " The DXCache folder is created by your graphics card and contains cached shaders that are create for games and helps the games to load faster "

3. If you Delete these .parc# files they will automatically get repopulated by the application that leverages them.

4. This in turn should then force any references to cached shaders for DirectX12 / Vulkan to refresh and be "current" again.

NOTE: I need more players with this issue to try this and report back otherwise I cannot confirm widespread resolution. THIS MAY NOT FIX YOUR SPECIFIC ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD ADDRESS A BULK OF RANDOM GPU-SHADER BASED CRASHING IN THE GAME.

[Foxtrot Props]

[Issue] Starfield via Steam-client on Windows 10 randomly crashing as attempting to play the game. Sometimes it takes a couple of minutes (up to a couple of hours if lucky), but can often crash right at game launching (before the Bethesda logo). High risk of crashing during the load screen when travellling from a planetary system to another.
CPU: Intel i9-13900KS - 3.2/6.0GHz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX4090
RAM: 128GB DDR5 - 6400MHz CL32
PSU: Corsair AX1600i Digital ATX - 1600W
Disk: Samsung SSD 990 Pro M.2 - 2Tb

[Attempted Resolutions] Modifying graphics display options, installing DLSS mod from Nexus Mod, cleaning cache, reinstalling Nvidia drivers, rebooting, upgrading to Windows 11 (better CPU performance for last gen?), closing all possible background programs, shutting down antivirus while playing, closed all overlays, disconnecting second screen.

[Fix] None of the attemps before managed to solve the issue.

[Note] Scanning the performances of my PC during the game to see the issue, never went higher than 75% GPU usage and 50%CPU usage. Temperatures stayed under 60°C in both parts.

[UPDATE 13.09.23 14:25UTC] Seems that problem may come from RAM management. After setting Ai Tweeker to XMP1 on BIOS I've been able to do a flawless 4 hs straight game. Will update if this is confrmed in next gameplay sesions.

[Foxtrot Props]

>>> Updated a probable fix

[AoD_lexandro]

Um what? Have you even looked at your drivers lately? You clear the shader cache direct from the control panel.