Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 & 2.8 Extrem Laggy on Intel Iris Xe

[Scarlet_Melli]

Hello,

I recently got a Geekom Mini IT11 PC with an Intel Iris Xe integrated GPU (i7-11390H). I want to play the Kingdom Hearts games on Steam.

I have found a huge and strange performance difference between the collections:

Older Games (KH HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX / KH HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue):

Games (like KH1, KH2, and Dream Drop Distance) run with extreme stuttering, feeling like only 3 FPS.

The GPU usage in the Task Manager is constantly at 100%.

Newer Games (KH 0.2 Birth by Sleep / KH III + Re Mind):

These games run perfectly smooth at 30 FPS (even 60 FPS in 0.2 after a recent driver update).

The GPU usage is stable at around 60%, which is completely fine.

This suggests the issue is with the poor optimization of the older KH engine/port, specifically the way it interacts with the Intel Iris Xe iGPU, causing immediate 100% load.

My Goal: I would like to run the older KH titles (1.5 + 2.5) at 1080p and a stable 60 FPS without hitting 100% GPU usage.

My Current Driver Version: I am currently on the OEM driver 32.0.101.7076, which the manufacturer lists as "current". I am hesitant to switch to the latest generic driver as the issue seems related to the older game engine.

Do you have any known fixes, launch options, or can you confirm if a future driver update is planned to address the performance of these older DirectX 9/11-based titles on Iris Xe?

[VonM_Intel]

Hi Scarlet_Melli,

Thank you for posting in our Community. Let’s go through a few checks together to identify what’s happening and see what can be done to improve the performance. Based on your observations, it does sound like the older Kingdom Hearts collections (1.5 + 2.5 and 2.8) may be struggling due to their older DirectX implementation or how the port interacts with integrated Intel graphics. That said, I’d like to confirm a few details so we can verify if the behavior is driver-related, game-specific, or a configuration issue:

• Could you confirm whether the games were installed directly from Steam, and if you’ve tried verifying the game files through the Steam client?
• Are you running the game in Fullscreen, Borderless Windowed, or Windowed Mode? Sometimes, Borderless or Windowed modes can add additional load on the iGPU.
• Could you share the resolution and any Windows display scaling settings you’re using? (e.g., 1080p at 125% scaling.)
• Is your system set to Balanced or High Performance in Windows power settings? Integrated GPUs often throttle slightly under Balanced mode.
• Have you tried disabling VSync, enabling Frame Rate Limiters, or using compatibility settings (such as forcing DirectX 11 through Steam launch options)?
• You mentioned experiencing issues with several games. Please note that we can only address one game per thread to ensure we stay focused and provide accurate troubleshooting for each specific title. For the best support experience, I recommend creating a separate community thread dedicated to the other game(s) you’re encountering issues with. This will help us investigate each case more effectively.
• I've reviewed the steps you've possibly already taken as outlined in this thread. To build on that foundation, what other troubleshooting approaches have you tried?

I'd like to delve deeper and verify specifics like the graphics models, precise driver versions, and any system errors. Utilizing the Intel SSU tool will enable me to collect detailed information about your system setup, which could aid in identifying the underlying cause of this issue. Additionally, could you please provide CapFrameX data for this game? This will allow me to analyze performance metrics in more detail and identify any potential issues. Ideally, please share a CapFrameX file that includes at least 2-5 minutes of gameplay.

Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Von M.
Intel Customer Support Technician

[Scarlet_Melli]

Hello VonM_Intel.

I didn't expect an answer so fast.

Yes, KH 1.5 + 2.5 is installed via Steam and also launched from the Steam library.

I have tried all 3 modes: Fullscreen mode, Borderless Windowed mode, and Windowed mode. The result is that everything is extremely laggy. Only if I pull the window smaller in Windowed mode, for example to about 400p, does it become fluid, but that's no fun.

My resolution in Windows is 1080p and 100% scaling.

My system's Windows Power Setting is set to Balanced, and I unfortunately had to set the Processor Power Management maximum to 90% because the PC crashed randomly for some reason.

VSync is disabled, Frame Rate Limit is set to 60 fps, and I have not adjusted the Windows Compatibility Settings, but I did enter the start option -D3D11 in Steam, but it didn't work.

Okay, then let's focus on Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 on Steam for now.

I have now installed the programs Intel SSU-Tools, CapFrameX, and RivaTuner, and I saw via RivaTuner that the KH 1.5 + 2.5 games all run on D3D12. Even when I entered the start option -D3D11 in Steam. I played from the launcher into Kingdom Hearts 1 Final Mix up to the first save point. I skipped almost all cutscenes, and the CapFrame recording ran for almost 10 minutes.

I have placed the link to my System Info.txt via Intel SSU-Tools (don't worry, I am from Germany, so some things are in German) and the CapFrame file in a Zip file.

Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Ux-3OTG9sxJC-X3JE7xxhY8cTIiiyAi/view?usp=drive_link

I hope you can help me.

Best regards, Scarlet_Melli

[VonM_Intel]

Hello Scarlet_Melli,

Thank you for the detailed update and for providing the logs and test data, that’s extremely helpful. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to test different display modes and share your system setup. I’ll need to conduct some additional research on this behavior, especially since the game appears to be forcing DirectX 12 even when launched with the -D3D11 parameter. Once I have more information or findings to share, I’ll post an update here in this thread. Thank you again for your patience and cooperation while I look deeper into this matter.

Best regards,

Von M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Scarlet_Melli]

I have also posted about the problem in the Steam discussions and received a reply from another player who has the same problem with the same setup.

The game was still running smoothly on his PC about a year ago. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm this as I only received this PC a month ago. However, it should somehow be related to an update for Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5. I suspect the same for Kingdom Hearts 2.8.

I hope this is some more important information that can help you further.

[VonM_Intel]

Hello Scarlet_Melli,

Thank you for your patience while we reviewed your concern regarding KINGDOM HEARTS – HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX on Steam. After a detailed assessment, I've confirmed that this title requires at least a low-end discrete graphics card (dGPU) to run as specified by the game’s system requirements. Since your current setup utilizes an integrated graphics processor (iGPU), this particular configuration falls outside the official requirements defined by the game developer. 

I recommend reaching out directly to the game’s developer or publisher to inquire whether future updates or optimizations may include support for integrated graphics. 

Best regards,

Von M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Scarlet_Melli]

Oh okay, then I still have one question. If Kingdom Hearts can only run on a dGPU, why do Kingdom Hearts 0.2 BBS (in the 2.8 Collection) and Kingdom Hearts 3 run smoothly in DirectX 11 on my Iris Xe?

​Isn't there a way to convert the DirectX 12 signal to DirectX 11? Outside of Steam? Maybe through a .dll file? I think the problem is 99% due to the DirectX 12 signal.

​Could you please check the system requirements for Kingdom Hearts 2.8 and 3? If it also says that those titles are only for a dGPU, especially for Kingdom Hearts 3, then there must be a solution.