AMD Radeon Graphics Card Freezes

This guide will tell you all about the freezes, why they happen, how to prevent.

Issue (ULPS)

If you are running an RDNA based Radeon Graphics Card and AOE2DE is stuttering/freezing when the game map becomes busy, this guide is for you.


If you look at the screenshot above, taken during a freeze, you'll notice the GPU clock is 0 mhz. You might try it yourselves if you have an RDNA based Radeon and not stumble on this 0 mhz because of the MSI Afterburner poll rate, but during very severe freezes it might show up.

I believe the issue is caused by ULPS (Ultra Low Power State). Or at the least, it happens because of ULPS. While at desktop, at idle, this is an amazing state to have since the GPU virtually consumes no power or generates no noise or heat. Both my previous and current, Radeon RX5500XT and RX7600, have been causing these freezes, or specifically their driver, I think.

Now that we know the underlying cause, we can fix it. Anything that prevents the GPU from going into ULPS should theoretically work, and indeed it practically does too!

Easiest Fix (Play A Video)

The easiest method to fix this issue is to have a video playing on the side. This prevents the GPU from going into Ultra Low Power State.

My Radeon RX7600 consumes between 8W or 28W depending on the resolution and bit-rate of the video played and the GPU clock stays around 900mhz.

Radeon Instant Replay Fix

Enable Instant Replay, which prevents the GPU's clock from going too low.

It is a great fix for those with RDNA3, and to an extent RDNA2, but one which I do not recommend for the first generation RDNA, namely RX5000's.

My Radeon 7600 hangs around 300mhz with buttery smooth AOE2DE gameplay.

Disable ULPS itself ??? (Not Recommended)

I don't think this is a great idea. Especially if your computer is blowing hot air from under the desk in warm scorching hot summer days.

Personally, I did not try this, that's why the title has question mark at the end. I do not recommend this for any reason, if you decide to try it, I wash my hands off you.

But if you want to know how? MSI Afterburner gives you the option, another alternative is to mess with the windows registry yourself.