Need For Speed Unbound Shuts/Restart Down PC

[Stephen]

I installed need for speed unbound yesterday for the 1st time. Immediately after launching it on the loading screen the whole PC restarted.

After that I retried, and the game launched, and I could play. I exited the game successfully and when I launched it again, navigated to continue but boom, the whole PC restarted a hard restart just as before.

Since yesterday the issue is on and off at times, I can play at times just restart.

Intel Core i7-14700K

ASUS ROG Strix Z790-H (Latest BIOS 1503)

Crucial DDR5 Pro 32GB (16GB x 2) 5600MT/s

Solidigm P44 Pro (2TB x 2) / PNY XLR8 CS3140 2TB

Intel ARC A770 Limited Edition (Latest Driver 32.0.101.5768)

Windows 11 Pro (With all updates till 13th August 2024)

This is the only game that has the above issue.

[Stephen]

*UPDATE*

I continued testing and digging around in various BIOS settings.

Turns out that Need for Speed Unbound doesn't know how to deal with the hybrid architecture, in this case my Intel i7-14700K.

When I disable the e-cores in the BIOS the game loads with no issue at all.

Intel kindly work with the developer to release a proper patch, because I don't want to keep on disabling e-cores each time I want to play this game.

[Stephen · Accepted solution]

*UPDATE*

I used a better method to disable the e-cores but only in the NFS Unbound. No need to disable the e-cores in BIOS.

I created a user.cfg file using note pad. Inside, it contains.

Thread.ProcessorCount 8

Thread.MaxProcessorCount 8

Thread.MinFreeProcessorCount 0

Thread.JobThreadPriority 0

GstRender.Thread.MaxProcessorCount 16

---

Which effectively limits the game to only using p-cores along with hyperthreading. 

I copied the user.cfg file into the game's main directory folder.

No more shutdown/restart issue.

Intel kindly work with developer to fix the issue, the above stated is a work around not a fix.

A fix should come from intel and developer.

We should not have to limit the CPU performance.

Just work with the developer to get their engine to better utilize the hybrid architecture in its entirety all P-CORES and E-CORES, subsequently they will release game update that will patch/fix the issue.

[CAKK_ALI]

i experienced the same problem playing NFS unbound as you on my handheld msi claw ultra 5 135h. The Device freezing after playing few second and can't be operated. can you help me to make config that is compatible with my device? I'm frustrated haven't found a solution for almost a month

[Stephen]

Greetings CAKK_ALI,

According to your description your issue might be deferent to mine.

Though below create a user.cfg containing following

e.g. on your desktop open notepad

in it type or copy paste the following which should be specific Intel Core Ultra 5 135H CPU/s

Thread.ProcessorCount 4

Thread.MaxProcessorCount 4

Thread.MinFreeProcessorCount 0

Thread.JobThreadPriority 0

GstRender.Thread.MaxProcessorCount 8

---

 Then save the file with a .cfg extension

Copy it to the game folder where need for speed unbound is installed, should look like the screen shot below.

[JeanetteC_Intel]

Hello Stephen,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities.

I understand that you already have a workaround and as much as you do, we'd like to fully address this issue. To get a better understanding of the issue and be able to provide an effective recommendation, please provide the missing key information here:

Please confirm if this is the actual system device that you have. ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI

Based on the information you shared, the BIOS version you have is not the latest (1503). *Have you tried updating it to the latest version (2503) and made sure to load the BIOS default settings?

Was there any error message(s) when the game crashed?

I will wait for your reply.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[Stephen]

Hello Jeanette

I confirm it is ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI

Apologies for the typo I meant to write BIOS version 2503, I've been on that BIOS 2503 since release and everything is intel default settings.

There was on error message(s) logged.

I can confirm I still use the work around.

Best Regards,

Stephen

[Stephen]

There appears to be NFS Unbound Volume 8 Update that has sorted this issue, I can confirm before update I removed my work around then I updated the game.

After the update I have tested the game numerous times, and the issue appears to be resolved for now.

Forget all that the new update did not help; after testing some more we are back to the issue, and I am back to my work around.

[JeanetteC_Intel]

Hello Stephen,

Greetings!

Please proceed with the steps below and share the information we need for further checking:

1) Have you tried a clean installation of the latest Intel® Graphics Driver 32.0.101.5972 (WHQL Certified) for Intel® Arc™ A-Series Graphics using DDU (Safe mode)? I not, please click the hyperlinks above to proceed with the steps.

2) What game platform distribution did you purchase the game (eg: directly from EA, Steam, Epic Games, etc.)?

3) Did this happen out of the box?

4) I would like to know your system configuration so I can fully check and provide you with an accurate fix. This could be possible by downloading the Intel® System Support Utility for Windows* software. When the download is complete, launch SSU.exe.

• Scan: Check the box Everything.
• Click Scan.
• Review: When finished scanning, click Next.
• Click Save (.txt). Attach the log file as you reply.

5) Please the crash/memory log. *Reference: Need help? Reporting a bug or issue with Arc GPU? - PLEASE READ THIS FIRST! - Intel Community (see "Crashing/freezing issues/BSOD" part).

I will wait for you reply.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[Stephen]

Hello JeanetteC,

1) I have tried clean install of Driver 32.0.101.5972 WHQL, I used DDU then installed.

    The issue is still very much there.

2) I bought the game directly from EA, I use EA app/software to launch the game, the app and game are all up to date too.

3) Yes, the issue happened straight out of the box.

4) I have attatched SSU

5) There is no crash report logged when this happens.

I also tried moving from Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2 and alas the issue is still there, I use the work around to avoid that issue.

Best Regards,

Stephen Bwana

[Stephen]

* UPDATE *

There was an update to the game, it downloaded and updated the game through the EA App, well the issue is still very much there, I re-applied my workaround as usual.

[JeanetteC_Intel]

Hello Stephen,

Thank you for sharing this update. Kindly give me time to further check on this with our engineering team and I will post an update once it's available. 

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[Stephen]

Thank you for following up.

+ *UPDATE I installed the latest Intel Graphics Driver 32.0.101.5989 BETA

and the issue is still very much there. back to work around .....

[JeanetteC_Intel]

Hello Stephen,

Greetings.

This issue is still being reviewed alongside our engineers and would need your help with the following steps:

1. Check if the game is using the Arc graphics card by monitoring the task status under "performance". Look for the Arc graphics card and ensure the graph is active when the game is running.

2. Ensure the game is set to use the Arc graphics card. For reference, you can check this article on How To Set the Default GPU for Applications and Games.

3. Perform a DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and install the latest graphics driver version 32.0.101.5989.

4. Share the event viewer logs by providing the application logs to help identify the root cause of the issue.

5. Confirm which digital distribution service you are using to play Need for Speed Unbound (e.g., Steam, EA, etc.).

I will wait for your reply, so we may resume our investigation.

Best regards,

JeanetteC.

Intel® Customer Support Technician

[Stephen]

Hello JeanetteC,

1. The game is using the Intel ARC A770 LE, it can clearly be seen on the task manager.

2. Yes, the game is set to use intel ARC graphics card.

3. I used DDU before installing the latest BETA Driver 32.0.101.5989.

4. Check attached events

5. I confirm digital distribution EA

Best Regards,

Stephen

[JeanetteC_Intel]

Hello Stephen,

Your diligence in supplying log files and detailed information is greatly valued. I will proceed with further checking and ensure you are updated as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Jeanette C.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Stephen]

Hello Jeanette C.

An update, I downloaded the latest beta driver 101.6077

Still the issue persists, I'm obviously back to the work around.

Best Regards,
Stephen

[Stephen]

*UPDATE*

I installed the latest driver 32.0.101.6078 WHQL Certified which is largely the same as 32.0.101.6077 BETA obviously this did not help issue is still there.

Since the very 1st time when I installed the game and encountered the issue, I thought to myself, the issue presents itself as a shader compilation issue when all CPU cores are active. Though I haven’t seen this issue in any other software or games that I have.

Its possibly a CPU issue! as much is I was trying to ignore, let me put this out there.

[Stephen]

I'm on the latest driver BETA 32.0.101.6079_101.5736

Still not fixed

[Earl_Intel]

Hi Stephen,

Thank you for providing this update to us, no worries, I will continue to coordinate this with our engineers for further troubleshooting.

Kindly provide us with the latest Intel SSU scan logs from your system for us to check the issue.

Intel® System Support Utility for Windows*

Best regards,

Earl E.

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[Stephen]

Hii Earl,

The PC is the same as the last time I provided the SSU, I think that SSU is still relevant.