Problems with old games

[Yano17]

Hello! My Arc B570 graphics card has constant crashing problems in several older games, especially those that use DirectX 9.

One solution I found is to manually clear the ShaderCache folder, as files that typically exceed 150MB cause the game to crash or simply not open.

A solution would be to empty this folder during gameplay or simply not allow files larger than 100MB to be created in this folder.

This solution will probably work, as the B570 and B580 cards are powerful and fast enough to constantly generate new files without losing any performance and don't need this type of ShaderCache for older games.

[VonM_Intel]

Hi Yano17,

Thank you for posting in our Community. Crashes in older DirectX 9 titles aren’t expected behavior, and the ShaderCache observation you mentioned is particularly useful. I’d like to gather a few more details so we can narrow this down and push the right data forward for investigation. To assist you further, could you please confirm the following:

1. Which specific DX9 games are crashing, and do they crash at launch or during gameplay?

2. What driver version are you currently using on your Arc B570?

3. When the crash happens, do you see an error message, or does the game close instantly?

4. Have you tested the games after performing a clean driver installation using Intel’s clean-install method?

5. Are you using any mods, wrappers, or compatibility DLLs (e.g., dgVoodoo, ReShade) for these older titles?

6. Is the ShaderCache folder growing for all affected games, or only certain titles?

7. Could you also confirm your Windows version and build number?

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.

Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Von M.
Intel Customer Support Technician

[Yano17]

The answers follow >>

--Which specific DX9 games are crashing, and do they crash at launch or during gameplay?
Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor Edge, Fallout 3

--What driver version are you currently using on your Arc B570?
I am using the latest version (32.0.101.8250)

--When the crash happens, do you see an error message, or does the game close instantly?
The game closes instantly, without any error message.

--Have you tested the games after performing a clean driver installation using Intel’s clean-install method?
Yes, I've already done a clean install of the drivers, used older versions, tried changing settings, and the games still crash.

--Are you using any mods, wrappers, or compatibility DLLs (e.g., dgVoodoo, ReShade) for these older titles?
Some games did have mods (like Resident Evil 6), but I uninstalled everything, downloaded a new and updated version on Steam without any mods or alterations, and it didn't solve the problem.

--Is the ShaderCache folder growing for all affected games, or only certain titles?
It's growing for all affected games. I've noticed that any ShaderCache above 150MB causes the games to crash.

--Could you also confirm your Windows version and build number?
I participate in the Microsoft Insider program (Canary channel) and am currently using an Insider build, but I've tested it with several versions of Windows 11 and always have the same problem (I also tested it on Windows 10 PRO).

Specifications:

Windows 11 Pro Version 26H1 64-bit
Build 28000.1199
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.253.0

12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12400F Processor (2.50 GHz)
16GB RAM (Dual Channel 8GB + 8GB) 2400Mhz

Intel Arc B570 Graphics Card

All the necessary drivers are installed on my computer, as well as libraries including all C++ packages, .NET Framework, .NET SDK, and all DirectX packages (32-bit and 64-bit)...

I often chat on forums and Discord servers with people who have the same error as me, and it seems they all manage to temporarily resolve it by clearing the ShaderCache folder. The problem is that games with many cutscenes (like Resident Evil 6) very quickly create a file that exceeds 150MB and causes the crash.

[VonM_Intel]

Hello Yano17,

Thank you for providing such a detailed overview of your system and the issues you’re experiencing. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of effort into troubleshooting, which really helps us understand the problem. To ensure we can focus accurately and perform proper research and possible replication, please be aware that we can only accommodate one game per support thread. This allows me to concentrate on the specific behavior of that game, investigate ShaderCache interactions, and provide more precise recommendations or solutions. Could you please confirm which single game you would like me to focus on first? Once I have that, I can proceed with testing and provide targeted guidance. Also, kindly share the exact version of that game.

Additionally, 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.

Thank you again for your patience and cooperation. We’ll work diligently to get this resolved.

Best regards,

Von M.
Intel Customer Support Technician

[Yano17]

The game I'd like analyzed is Resident Evil 6 version 1.0.6 (I also have version 1.10 and the same error occurs...)

I used the SSU Tool and generated a text file with all my PC's information (attached file).

[VonM_Intel]

Hello Yano17,

Thank you for confirming that you’d like us to focus on Resident Evil 6 (versions 1.0.6 and 1.10). I appreciate you also taking the time to run the SSU Tool and attach the system report. I’ll need to conduct additional research on this specific issue, including reviewing the behavior you reported and checking for any known compatibility or ShaderCache-related patterns for RE6. I’ll post an update in this thread as soon as I have more information to share.

Best regards,

Von M.
Intel Customer Support Technician