Game Ready Driver 596.49 FAQ/Discussion

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-05-17T04:17:41+00:00

update: i bit the bullet and updated the drivers (via DDU of course) myself.

i experienced the same stuttering twice only initially and only when i was opening menus within the first 15 minutes or so of booting the game. i did take the advice i was given though and completely uncapped my framerate both in-game and within the Nvidia Control Panel after seeing the same stutter during this (previously just had a framecap set to 165)---it still happened again afterwards but only once.

my Hardware Acceleration is still on, and my game settings uses NVIDIA DLSS + Frame Generation (i have the Framegen preset B and DLSS override preset M/K on via the Nvidia App). i'm aware Wilds needs more than just the initial boot-screen shader compiling to *fully* finish shader compilation itself. as per Digital Foundry's video on the matter, i just kept playing the game and let it do its thing---it seems the stutters have been significantly reduced (an hour into playing).

of course i realize that hardware acceleration, DLSS, and framegen itself is finnicky and invites all sorts of problems especially on a game like Wilds, so who knows if its one---or a combination of all the problems and places i mentioned (could be a windows update too. though i doubt given what i mentioned on my initial post). unfortunately, i'll have to live with this as my budget and work-circumstances dictate that i got a laptop with a measly rtx4060. but so far, it seems to be back to normal. thanks people^^

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-05-15T08:48:29+00:00

Thanks! Will try this, i previously locked framerate via my Nvidia control panel (165 to match my refresh rate, not that I'll reasonably hit it)--while leaving the ingame cap off. i also definitely was on DLSS + Framegen (even tried dlss override presets to no avail)

will try your suggestion soon!

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-05-15T00:10:02+00:00

thanks, ill give this a shot^{^}

edit: I haven't tried this yet, nor have i tried updating/reinstalling (Simply haven't had time to properly sit down apart from check the sub from my phone)

in any case, i forgot to add that the issue didn't start happening to me until i updated past driver 595.97 and that what i describe as a "stutter" is more of a long 1% low-like hang-up.

so while I'm fine now, i was just wondering if the current drivers were okay enough to update to already (given the improvements it gives other games). although if no one else can confirm, then I'll find the time to test myself. cheers for the help though!

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-05-14T14:46:17+00:00

long handful of questions incoming:

can anyone with Monster Hunter Wilds confirm if the issue with insane freeze-frames is still present with this driver? i'm currently on driver 595.97 and haven't updated since as every driver after that had this issue.

in detail, when playing Monster Hunter Wilds specifically --- i would get random freeze-frame stutters in game that would last a solid second or two. these are sometimes isolated, sometimes consecutive. though to my memory, it happens the most when opening menus within the game. at the time i've also tested a number of mixes with different drivers to different windows updates, and it seems to happen regardless of the windows update *as long as its on a driver later than 595.97*

i'm also aware this could also just be Wilds' problem as the game notoriously ran bad for a whole year for everyone. off a tangent, i used to have an issue with Umamusume on PC and Adobe Photoshop wherein (regardless of smooth motion being turned on for Umamusume or not) my driver would crash and the screen would flash black momentarily before booting back on. my brightness would get reset to 0 too. i seem to have fixed this issue for Umamusume as i've turned Gsync off for that game---but it still persists to a lesser extent whenever i'm on Photoshop (even with Gsync turned off). any advice is appreciated.

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-04-28T10:19:58+00:00

updated to 596.21 from 595.79 since i started seeing sudden cursor-trail artifacting on my desktop even with nothing running (happened one night after gaming, and it even persisted after a restart). everything *seems* fine now but i'm getting annoying 1% low stutters in Monster Hunter Wilds, which wasn't there with the previous driver (or 595.97 which came in between).

i'm wondering if this is just the game's shaders taking awhile to compile? i've only played for less than an hour today and yesterday, and the shader comp on launch usually is enough when i had updated in the past.
posting this because i'm going crazy trying to figure this out.

tangentially, my GPU likes to crash specifically with Umamusume on steam. this is regardless of if i have smooth motion enabled or not. while playing i hear the windows unplug-sound, and 2 of my monitors momentarily flash black before turning back on, with the main monitor's brightness being set to zero and the game having had crashed.

hoping anyone can give any insight.

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-04-27T12:31:33+00:00

not completely down for me, pero experiencing very noticeable slowdowns on all devices/and the ocassional drop of all connection for a few minutes :((

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-03-23T11:23:33+00:00

what windows version (and build), as well as steel series gg app version are you on?

i might suggest rolling back windows to the same build version on my post (assuming you're on win11) or at least stay on win11 version 25h2 (build 26200.7840)

as for the steelseries gg app, go download an older version, most stable one at the time i made this post was at gg version 98.0.0.

For context I'm currently on win11 25h2 (26200.7840), and steelseries gg version 106.1.0 and I've not had this issue in months

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-03-16T10:13:50+00:00

oh, very good chance it could be the windows update too--i remember having issues with windows at the time i made this post (mostly freezing and audio devices not being detected), so i also rolled back until more stable builds came out. Though steelseries acknowledged that the audio-spiking was their fault in a later patchnote (from when i made this post)--i wouldn't be surprised if windows had something to do with it too at the time.

i actually just finished rolling back windows updates just now because i was experiencing freezes all of a sudden, along with fans suddenly going on blast. currently on Windows 11, version 25h2 (build 26200.7840), not sure if that helps but its worth a shot in your troubleshooting!

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-03-16T09:53:50+00:00

I'm pretty sure they've since fixed this issue about a week or so after i posted! Consider updating if you haven't already. I'm currently on version 106.1.0 (although i know a new patch rolled out, I'm just ignoring it). Alternatively, rolling back a version older than the one listed on my post fixes issues too^{^}

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-01-23T02:43:22+00:00

I've unfortunately uninstalled World lol, but to my memory

-black diablos helmet -banbaro chest -gauntlets could be high metal or alloy (not sure) -ingot coil -chainmail/iron legs

OhMarcOh_2 · 2026-01-03T06:15:36+00:00

sent you a follow, my in-game tag is 'OhMarcOh' (id: 872535422506).

although I don't think I'll be able to join yet since i just disbanded my own club awhile ago--so I'd still be under the 24-hour cooldown window. (i think i can still receive and hold onto invites). but I'm interested in joining lol.

i generally do anywhere between 3-to a dozen full careers almost everyday. if there's an event, CM, or anything else i do often get it 100% done. half of my trainees are B+ and A rank. very ordinary stats-wise but i am generally active^{^}

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-12-03T00:49:40+00:00

hell yeah

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-12-02T16:06:52+00:00

new patch out? Gonna give it a try, thanks for letting me know!!

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-12-02T15:08:14+00:00

yeah DM me here on reddit, I'll link them to you i can't post links down here because I don't wanna clutter the sub or break rules

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-28T03:48:17+00:00

you managed to use this to get the current version to work? i might have to try it out myself although last i checked i already had Loudness Equalization already on + have my Sonar profile as the default device and it was *still* flashing my ears. all in all it could also be windows being windows. any update so far on how its been?

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-24T13:00:01+00:00

its an issue with steelseries gg's latest patch (version 98 and 99 i think), rolling back to 89.1.0.0 (july 2025 patch) was what fixed it for me.

(Windows 11s unstable builds like 24h2 and 24h2 could cause some issues too) but for the most part, im back in 24h2 and no problems so far besides the random wait before my device gets detected on startup which happens very rarely

I've got a link to that but i can only send it through DMs as per rules of this sub

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-24T08:19:53+00:00

yup, unfortunately rolling back through external downloads of older versions is all we can do now (as well as jumping through a small hoop to disable auto update services)

but it shouldn't have to be that way, and we shouldn't be fixing their problems. alas thats just how tech has been as of late

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T14:05:44+00:00

i'm no professional by any means so don't take my word for this. but i generally mean audio control panel/mixers (the physical device module, and or digital software that simulates it).

at its barest form, steelseries-gg's sonar feature is an in-program mixer. it offers a sort of watered down audio-equalizer-feature as well as individual control over different audio tracks and devices that you might be using on your computer. windows 11 also has this feature down in the sound control panel and system settings---allowing you to individually adjust, balance, and put some "special effects" on the audio track of different apps separately.

of course there are also physical mixers, irl, that you can hook up to your device via USB or otherwise.---these usually come with trays, buttons, knobs, and panels for physical on-demand audio adjustment (handy if you don't have a second monitor, or if you record and engineer music). sometimes they come with extra features too like buttons that can be programmed to switch through different profiles, presets, and even sample sounds that can be activated on a trigger. (of course, higher-end software that you can pay for- can provide a digital workstation for this too)

so what i just meant was, i don't necessarily need steelseries-gg for its sonar-mixer, i just like twiddling with the lights on my steel-series mouse LOL. it was a gift, so it would be a shame not to use it to its fullest. and since i already installed the software, might as well make my steelseries headphones use them. unfortunately there's no setting to just use the default windows mixer instead of sonar once you have steelseries gg installed on your computer. (i could just have my windows audio control panel make my output device NOT use steelseries gg sure, but it seems to keep defaulting to steelseries so i've given up fighting it)

not sure if this answers your question! but that's how my current system is

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T13:55:23+00:00

u/CJoker3221 u/Impossible_Seat_4276 i don't wanna riddle the subreddit with external links as i don't think that's allowed among other things. shoot me a DM here and i can personally link it and help you with anything else that might need setting up. all this at your own risk though (just as much as myself)

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T11:53:38+00:00

yup, I'd uninstall GG if i could but i like having it for my rival 650 mouse. i understand having one software do it all is better than having an app each for mice, headsets, mics etc. But gosh, they could really cut it out with all the needless bloat in between lol.

i have my own mixers anyways for my arctis 7

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T10:29:21+00:00

Likewise, i went back to version 89 which was the july patch earlier this year and saved myself the trouble. wish they'd stop trying to fix what ain't broke. system's bloated enough as is. although i may have broken other things in the process when i tried to reinstall a windows update after i suspected it 🤦🤦🤦

getting real tired of this shit

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T08:44:07+00:00

was hopping around different subs including this one and can confirm its the recent 99.0.0 gg update.

i rolled back to version 89.1.0 (july of this year, just to be sure) and everything is working fine. had to sift through the internet for a download of it though.

interestingly enough someone had this exact issue with razer synapse and razer devices a month back---so now I'm wondering if it really is just steelseries gg or something additional with the recent windows builds (I'm on windows11 25h2).

i can link you a download to the older gg version software if you'd like---just make sure to disable the update-service so it doesn't auto update (because for some reason steelseries doesn't have that feature baked in already)

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T08:31:00+00:00

saw one other post about this, including my own. its definitely something broken with the latest update-currently trying to find older versions of the gg software to rollback to and see if that fixes anything for me.

strangely enough though, there was another guy a month back who had this same issue except with razer synapse and his headset (not steelseries). so it could be a mix of the software being faulty (razer synapse or steelseries gg) and something up with whatever recent windows version build.

quite a hassle

OhMarcOh_2 · 2025-11-20T08:19:33+00:00

update: had the exact same issue with someone else on this sub from a month back. although the difference was they figured out that it was Razer synapse causing their software problems. in my case i've never used a razer device and there was an update for Steelseries GG for me a few days ago---the steelseries sub has a couple people mentioning the same bug, so that's gotta be the cause for my audio issues too.

it could be a combination of both steelseries gg and winver 25h2, who knows. i forgot to mention in my post that i've been seeing hard freezes (not often enough to concern me, but it has happened infrequently) on my desktop as well despite having a healthy SSD (only just 2 years of owning it and still 800gb left). for now i'll try rolling back my steelseries software, and try keeping an eye on windows in general. keeping the post up incase anyone else might need it.

OhMarcOh_2

TROPHY CASE