I built my new PC in May 2025, and it seems to be struggling with performance compared to my old setup from 2015, which was running Windows 10 with a GTX 960. Despite not playing many new titles, I expected a performance boost, but I've ended up going back to my old machine. My new PC lags during games like Dark Souls Remastered and No Man's Sky, and I'm even noticing texture issues in Ghost of Tsushima. The only games that run well are older ones like Stardew Valley. Even basic tasks like using Windows File Explorer are slow, taking a few seconds to load. I'm using Intel graphics driver software and have Resizable BAR enabled, and I originally installed the drivers with the ASRock utility.
Here are the specs of my build:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F
- GPU: Sparkle TITAN OC Arc B580
- Motherboard: ASRock B760M-HDV/M.2 Micro ATX
- RAM: Silicon Power Value Gaming 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30
- SSD: Patriot P300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
- PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600 W 80+ Gold Certified ATX
- Monitor: Dell P2415Q 23.8" 3840 x 2160 60 Hz Monitor
5 Answers
Your hardware looks solid on paper, but the Intel Arc B580 GPU might be the weak link. Arc graphics cards have been known to struggle with driver issues, especially for older games. This could explain the stuttering and graphical problems you’re seeing in games like Team Fortress 2 and Dark Souls. They’re generally better suited for more modern titles. A few tweaks you could try:
1. Make sure to update your Arc drivers — they’ve been improving performance with older DirectX games.
2. Check Intel Arc Control settings; turn "ReBAR Always On" to Enabled and turn off "Smooth Sync."
3. Disable Windows Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling — Arc doesn’t like it.
4. If problems persist, you might want to try a clean reinstallation of Windows to avoid driver conflicts.
If you mostly play older games, consider getting a used RTX 2060 or RX 6600 for a much smoother experience!
It's worth checking to make sure you're actually using the dedicated GPU and not the onboard graphics. That could be causing the lagging issues!
I’ve got it plugged into the GPU’s DisplayPort, not the motherboard HDMI, so I think I’m good there.
Thanks for the insights, everyone! I'm definitely considering a monitor upgrade. Any recommendations for something between $100 to $150? Should I look for specific features?
Running a B580 at 4K is quite ambitious! For a smoother experience, invest in a 1080p monitor, or just set your 4K monitor to a lower resolution for gaming. The B580 is still in the middle of driver optimization, so you may want to look for a more powerful GPU if you want a hassle-free experience at 4K.
I have already set my display to 1920x1080 in Windows, so hopefully that helps!
If you're thinking about a new monitor, aim for a decent 1080p high-refresh rate option. You should be able to find some good ones within the $100-150 range. Just search around and I’m sure you’ll find more options to fit your budget!
Thanks for the info! That explains why my older PC handles my main games better. I'm not sure about getting a new GPU just yet, but I will check those settings you mentioned.