How to Fix DOOM: The Dark Ages Performance and Crashing sIssue
The DOOM franchise has long been known for having really well optimised games that run great on any worthy machine. The gameplay is smooth, fast-paced, and the graphics are clean and exactly what you'd expect from the series. That said, there are always some issues with new game releases, so follow along as we show you how to fix some of the annoying performance issues in DOOM The Dark Ages on PC.
How to Fix DOOM: The Dark Ages Performance and Crashing Issues
Modern GPU drivers are often hit or miss with new releases. If you're experiencing instability or low performance in DOOM: The Dark Ages, try using a known stable driver version rather than the latest one.
To downgrade or clean install a GPU driver:
Visit NVIDIA’s official driver page and choose your specs. If you have an AMD card do the same.
- Product Type: GeForce
- Product Series: (e.g., RTX 40 Series)
- Product: (Your specific GPU model)
- OS: Windows 11
- Type: Game Ready Driver (GRD)
Install it normally, or use the DDU method below for a clean start. If I were you, though, I would go for the clean install option!
Check That it's Not Your Controller (Xbox & PS5)
A lot of people overlook their controllers when dealing with lag, latency and stuttering issues, which is a rather silly thing to do since there are a lot of instances where Bluetooth controllers are he sole cause of lag, latency and stuttering in games.
How to Fix Controller Causing Lag in DOOM The Dark Ages
Optimise In-Game Graphics Settings (Obviously)
If you're pushing ultra settings without the hardware to back it up, you're likely causing frame drops or crashes. Not to mention other problems, so here are my suggested tweaks for DOOM: The Dark Ages:
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Lower Texture Quality, Shadow Detail, and Reflections.
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Disable V-Sync to reduce input delay and increase smoothness.
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Consider lowering resolution or render scaling if performance is subpar.
Disable Overlays
Overlays often conflict with new games or eat up system resources.
For Discord
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Go to User Settings > Overlay
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Toggle OFF "Enable in-game overlay"
For NVIDIA GeForce Experience
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Open the app, click the Settings gear
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Toggle OFF "In-Game Overlay"
Do a Clean GPU Driver Install (Highly Recommended)
This removes lingering issues from previous driver versions.
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Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
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Download the correct driver version for your GPU.
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Disconnect from the internet.
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Run DDU in Safe Mode to uninstall old drivers.
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Reboot and install the new driver you downloaded.
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Reboot again before reconnecting to the internet. This stops Windows from auto-installing default drivers.
Close Background Applications (Obviously!)
Heavy apps like Chrome, Discord, OBS, or Razer Synapse can cause memory issues or slowdowns.
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Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
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End any unnecessary programs or startup items.
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Avoid running any streaming or monitoring tools during gameplay.
Run the Game as Administrator (Might Help)
This can fix permission-related crash issues, especially on locked-down systems.
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Find DOOM: The Dark Ages in your Steam Library.
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Right-click > Manage > Browse local files.
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Right-click the game’s .exe file > Properties > Compatibility tab.
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Check “Run this program as an administrator”.
Check for Windows and System Updates
While rare, missing updates can cause unexpected behaviour with games.
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Go to Settings > Windows Update.
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Click Check for updates.
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Install anything pending and restart your PC.
Why Does DOOM: The Dark Ages Crash?
Crashes and performance drops are often caused by:
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Buggy NVIDIA or AMD drivers (especially newer ones).
- It's a new game that hasn't been patched yet.
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Maxed-out graphics settings on underpowered hardware.
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Background applications are interfering with GPU/CPU performance.
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Overlay conflicts or system permission issues.
After following this guide, your gameplay should feel significantly smoother and more stable. Now, rip and tear through DOOM: The Dark Ages without the interruptions.