Your system has issues—check your hardware compatibility and performance.
Your system has issues—check your hardware compatibility and performance.
Hey there! My name is Marco and this is my 70th update about this online space, which hasn’t really brought much back. So here I’m taking the chance to jump in. I own a Lenovo Legion 5 – a solid gaming machine that handles titles like Devil May Cry 5, Death Stranding, Control, and more smoothly. But for some mysterious reason, it doesn’t seem to be up to the task of playing Dark Souls 3, which was the game that really lifted my spirits after the first two.
The main issues are performance problems: the frame rate drops constantly, making the experience frustrating. The detail rendering is also slow, with the world appearing too detailed at a glance. This game should be doing much better than it currently is! I’ve attached a screenshot from the “CanYouRunIt” page (taken from the game’s recommended requirements section). If that doesn’t help, let me know…
I remember other games I’ve mentioned before – they run perfectly. That makes this situation even more upsetting, especially since we’re talking about a 2016 title! What have I tried so far? Here’s what I’ve done:
- Changed the executable preference to match my GPU (Windows & Nvidia Control Panel) – no luck.
- Tried downloading new drivers – nothing worked.
- Set compatibility to Windows 8/7 – also failed.
- Attempted a patch to cap FPS – didn’t work.
- Removed Xbox controller drivers – no success.
- Installed software like Razer Cortex – not helpful.
- Used all cores – still nothing.
- Overclocked the GPU – not possible.
- Played in windowed mode or with low graphics – also unsuccessful.
- Downloaded a pirated version – not recommended.
- Set the laptop for high performance – didn’t help.
WHAT THE HELL?! I’m pretty sure this isn’t a hardware issue. The game’s requirements are tough, and I’ve told you before they’re designed to be demanding. It feels like my setup just can’t keep up. Could it be a chip quirk? Is the optimization just too extreme? Am I doomed to spend 50 euros on a PC version and end up wasting it?
I’m not a tech expert, so I relied on tutorials and others’ advice. If you can help me out, even a little, I’d really appreciate it. Just keep it simple – like explaining to a toddler! Thanks in advance for any guidance. Don’t forget to stay strong, and let’s hope this game works better soon!
Have you double-checked the game files on Steam? Have you attempted a fresh installation of the game? It looks like you've already tried several specialized solutions that aren't connected to the problem. Consider reverting your overclock settings, resetting everything to defaults, then reinstalling video drivers with a clean install. After that, perform a complete uninstallation and reinstall the game.
Also attempt to completely disable the igpu. You mentioned it’s set as a preference, but turn off igpu so only the default can be used.
I accessed the device manager, but only the Nvidia GPU appears. Other devices aren't listed.
NVidia invests heavily in improving their drivers to resolve many visual problems that developers often ignore. This is why updates frequently coincide with major game releases. Have you experimented with using alternative APIs such as DX11, DX9, or OpenGL? Does Dark Souls 3 actually allow this setup?
Checked it thoroughly. Seems to work only with DX11. I’m stuck.