If DOOM: The Dark Ages is stuttering, freezing, or there are FPS drops, here’s how to fix it
Table of Contents
There's nothing worse than gearing up for an intense fight in DOOM: The Dark Ages, only to be met with stuttering frames or sudden freezing mid-battle. While the game brings fast-paced action and brutal combat that fans love, some players on PC are facing performance problems like FPS drops, freezing during gameplay, and general lag. These issues can seriously ruin the experience, especially for a game like DOOM that depends on quick reflexes and smooth controls.
However, while the issues seem daunting, they can be fixed through a handful of methods. To help you out, we’ll go over each method in detail!
How to fix stuttering, freezing, and FPS drop issues in DOOM: The Dark Ages
Normally, such issues go away after you restart your PC or the game. However, in some cases, they don’t go away that easily. If you’re in the same boat, try following the methods mentioned below.
Update your graphics drivers
When a new game releases, graphics card makers like AMD and Nvidia release driver updates to improve performance and fix early bugs. If your graphics drivers are outdated, your PC may struggle to keep up with modern games, especially demanding ones like DOOM: The Dark Ages. If you have an Nvidia GPU, you can use the Nvidia App to download the latest update, while AMD users can opt for the AMD Radeon Software. Alternatively, you can also visit the website of your GPU’s manufacturer and download the latest version from there.
Check for overheating
If your PC is getting too hot, it can start to throttle performance to avoid damage. This leads to FPS drops, freezing, and even crashes during intense gameplay sessions. Overheating is especially common in laptops or PCs with limited airflow.
To check for overheating:
- Use free tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while gaming.
- Make sure your PC fans are working and vents are clear of dust.
- If the temperatures are constantly above the safe levels, consider cleaning your PC, applying new thermal paste, or improving your cooling setup.
Lower the graphics settings or upgrade your hardware
DOOM: The Dark Ages has high-end visuals and detailed environments, which can be tough on older systems. If your PC doesn't meet or barely meets the minimum requirements, the game may freeze, lag, or have low FPS. Lowering the graphics settings can make a big difference, especially if your system is struggling.
- Launch the game and go to the Graphics or Video Settings menu.
- Reduce settings like Texture Quality, Shadows, Anti-Aliasing, and Reflections.
- Turn off V-Sync if it causes input delay or stutter.
If you’re still facing performance issues even at low settings, your hardware may be the reason. In such a case, you need to invest in better hardware.
Turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
This Windows feature helps improve gaming performance by letting your graphics card handle some of the work your CPU usually does. Turning it on can lead to smoother performance and reduced stuttering in some games. One user on the Steam Community Forum mentioned DOOM: The Dark Ages stopped freezing for them after they turned this feature on, and you can try doing the same.
- Type Settings in Windows Search Bar and click on the first option that appears.
- Now, click on System and visit Graphics.
- Click on Change default graphics settings.
- Turn on hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling from here.
About the Author