Hi,

Wanting to return to the Witcher Wild Hunt Complete Addition) I have met a load of issues, much of which is documented. I have read around the issues, and this is what I have tried without success. Issue is video (not always sound) disappears. Also, game constantly updating and resetting options.

This is what I have tried often with multiple changes engaged

1) Updated all drivers (AVG) and NVidia
2) Re-installed game and verified.
3) Turned off GOG updating (and downloads while playing) in GOG Settings
4) Set executable to /x64 to avoid Dx_12
5) Tried to run by forcing Dx11.
6) Run in windowed mode.
7) Used RIVA Stats Server to identify any CPU, temp issues.
8) Run direct from executable and GOG in with Administrator Rights
9) Optimized Nvidia Graphic settings from GeForce Experience, and then didn’t. Also run in LOW graphics default (No AA or equivalent)
10) Turned off Windows Security (Defender and Firewall) and Bit-Defender (was in Game Mode) and Google Drive.
11) Used variety of previous saves and ‘New Game’ and clean saves.
12) Changed to Steam ‘Classic version’ – no luck – got refund.

Here is my system summary.

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i5 4690K @ 3.50GHz36 °C
Haswell 22nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 800MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
MSI Z97M-G43(MS-7924) (SOCKET 0)29 °C
Graphics
XB273 GX (1920x1080@60Hz)
4095MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (Gigabyte)35 °C
Storage
238GB Samsung SSD 850 PRO 256GB (SATA (SSD))29 °C
931GB Seagate ST1000DX002-2DV162 (SATA )26 °C
931GB TOSHIBA MQ01ABD100 (SATA )23 °C
Optical Drives
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-224FB
Audio
NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM)
Power supply is 650W

ANY help appreciated!

Only in Witcher 3 or in other games as well?

Hard to diagnose this issue; I'd suggest contacting technical support but as you reference "Steam" in your post, you might want to raise a ticket either through support on that store (if you bought it there) or with CD Project Red directly. Obviously if you purchased it through the GoG store then you can ask support here.

I wouldn't swap out your GPU at this stage; if you get to that point, I would be inclined to replace the entire system as Haswell is coming on 10 years old (and I can't remember the last time I saw RAM running at 800Mhz)

Thanks for the response it’s good to have someone appraise the hardware, having a quick look at the GeForce 1060 they come in at ~£300 . Same with 1660Ti cards. New PC? Thanks for the response - I am on my way to convincing myself to buy a new PC given the cost savings vs. self build.

my CPU bit slower than yours but your old GPU sux. in Novigrad or other busy city i get min FPS 40, open areas mostly 60. see my FullHD gfx settings and ingame FPS pics, dont pay overpriced brand NEW 1060 or 1660 card, i got my used for 120€, and its best max GPU for this CPU , it must have min 6GB Vram. I had 1060 3GB before this was too slow in W3, almost half fps as 1660ti with these settings. if not on a budget, u can get 1st a new faster GPU ie NV 2060 or 3050/3060 keepin this PC 1st, will be CPU limitied but another dimension like this ancient 970. if all new, imo get AMD am5 and cheapest sixcore 65Watt ryzen cpu 1st, its powersaving vs pricy Intel + much faster than yours and can upgrade to pricy ryzen X3D cpu later.. great value new very fast GPU would be AMD 6800 16GB 250Watt with oldschool 8pin Power, my 3rd pic has 3dmark Timespy free bench to compare Score 5675 , Gfx 6110 cpu 4044. compare to yours.

What's your budget ?

The new 12th and 13th gen i3 12100 and i3 13100 cpu's run circles around your decade old CPU man. Throw in a 3050 or rx 6600/ 6600xt and you'll have a very capable 1080p system.

Just don't worry about ray tracing as this game has a very poorly optimised implementation of it.

as active Haswell user with ZERO gaming performance problems af FullHD gaming, i cant say I3-12100 "runs circles" being barely 20% faster, has only 4cores HT uses pricy intel Platform 12/13rd gen boards, with no big upgrade future (14.gen Raptorlake cpu WONT run on these Boards) Avoid these lowend cards 3050 ( bad choice, 1660ti is cheaper +faster!) or rather slow NEW RX6600 ( my amd power hint RX6800) for this old but still good performing i7 4790K 4ghz which easily oc to 4.5 (try it!) IF going to new PC AM5 has long upgrage path and now Asrock released affordable 130$ AM5 board B650M-HDV/M.2 your options..

a) invest max 150$ for used / refurbished 6GB Nvidia 1060 or better 1660ti, highes used hint RTX 2060 ) on AMD side used RX580 8G or RX6600, AVOID RX6400/6500 crap

b) invest now in a strong future proof 3D card ( like NV 3060 12GB, or 3070/80 NOT nvidia 4000 Ripoff series, AMD: min RX6700, better RX6800 (or XT) 16GB, but the new 7000 series 1000$ cards not that great) enjoy huge diffrence in this PC vs your 970 crap and later upgrade to extreme fast Ryzen 7 7800X3D gaming cpu, faster than expensive i9 13900k in gaming!

c) go full upgrade with futureproof AM5 AMD path ( all new coming AMD cpus in next 2 years should run on todays AM5 board), start with cheapest 6core Ryzen7600, will be a feelable boost, unlike 4 core i3. ITS not a AMD vs intel fanboy flame, ( i LOVE my Haswell Intel:) but imo atm AM5 just delivers and saves powercosts with X3D cpus..

my verdict 4790k Has well Aged, Overclock it to 4,5ghz, with newer GPU u will see FullHD gaming is fun again vs old 970, which is your problem, not the CPU. BUT if you decide get all new i would buy your old used cpu 4790 for 30$ via paypal, no joke :)

I'd advise against using the Userbenchmark site unless you're there for the comedy reviews.

Their testing methodology is a bit dubious (with their weird EFPS metric) and they have a huge anti-AMD bias (their testing methodology was re-designed to favour Intel). That being said, it probably does give a reasonable intel to intel comparison.

If OP can afford it and is looking at an upgrade, on the CPU side, pretty much any modern multithreaded 4 to 8 core CPU will outperform the Hawell. Intel may offer a better price/performance offering at the moment, but from a gaming perspective the AMD 3D chips are hard to ignore (if expensive and hot under load). I'd agree with you that the AM5 platform will be around for years and historically, they have been great at getting future generations running on older boards with a BIOS update.

I would also be inclined to see whether the RTX 4060 (when it finally launches) is priced more competitively. If it has decent DLSS 3 Frame Generation (like the 4070Ti, 4080 and 4090) it will be hard to ignore. Provided you're not competitively gaming, it's a real game changer. It actually makes ray-tracing viable (I'd expect it to give really good 1080p performance on a 4060)

Glad we agree somewhat. im not anti new hardware or amd fanatic, but imo i7 4790k is maybe Best longlive CPU legend of intel ever. so OP has OLD very BAD gpu (only 4GB Vram with known 3.5GB max bug) and OLD pretty GOOD cpu. he can have 2 WOW-Moments with 2 upgrade steps.

1) upgrade NOW lame nv 970 to used sub 150$ 1660ti or RX6600 or at least nv 1060 6gb or rx580 8GB and see BIG improvent at fullHD with THIS pc, maybe overclock 500Mhz, since this is Haswell TOP cpu with improved Soldered heatspreader for lower temps and open multi for noobproof Overclock, just change in bios multi from stock 40x to 45x or less till stable. thats just 150$ for 1st "WOW" and problem solved for now.

2) bigger upgrade to strong NEW card like Nvidia 3060 12gb if u find one, (new 3060 have only 8gb) or 3070. higher cards are overkill for fullHD on AMD side new RX6700 or sweet RX6800 16GB for 500$ which is a beast for the money, can do 4k too. 3D is a bit limited by CPU but not so dramatic that games would stutter, it would be like 40fps lowest fps, usual 50 - 60fps.

3) End of the Year update PC to ie AM5 7800 X3D and 16GB ddr5, you get 2nd WOW, since your present new 3D card gets addtional FPS boost from new CPU. old 4790 was bottlenecking it a bit, ie Witcher 3 high goes then 50 to 80 fps at full HD

interesting card will be NV 4050 for fullHD, thats Nvidias chance to win new full HD buyers if price isnt so crazy like other 4000 cards..

Ok so swapped out card and replaced with MSI Geforce GTX 1660 Ti. No crashes yet. Still stutters. BUT the issue with the game has updated is still there (see attached file picture)

1) Defender and Firewall off
2) Update 4.01
3) Running Dx11

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help so far!

Are you running through Galaxy, Steam or another launcher - or are you using the offline installers? Wondering if the launcher keeps forcing an update to reset the settings...

SOLVED. Fore some weird reason the Witcher Folder in My Documents was read only??? Danke vielmals!

That would do it. It would have been incapable of flagging that you had already started the game once and saving settings.

Also, I'm assuming you've updated to 4.02? If not, do that because the performance is much better.

on my similar even slower old good Haswell and 1660ti W3 runs flawless at FullHD, all set to high. What i use is DX12, NO galaxy launcher and Win10. FPS set set to max 60 and important use FSR2 Quality scaling, no blur, no stutters , FPS are stable mostly 50-60, cities can go to 40s with normal slow Sata SSD and 24GB DDR3 ram