Performance Degradation / CPU Latency increase over time - GTX 1080 - Windows 10

PC Specs: CPU, GPU (GTX 1080), OS (Windows 10).
The Issue: FPS starts at 100+ when the game begins, but drops to 40 FPS or lower after 15–30 minutes.
Key Symptom: CPU latency increases (22ms+), but GPU latency remains unchanged.
The “Trigger”: The issue worsens when moving between areas. If you attempt to change graphics settings while the issue is active, the game will crash 100% of the time.

What you tried: (Comprehensive list of tests conducted so far) Disabled Audio (-9999 in config), Disabled MPO, Disabled Game Overlay.
Tried DX11, DX12, and Vulkan (All same results).
Memory leak is not the cause (RAM usage is stable).
Only a Windows restart fixes it. (Restarting the game client or returning to the title screen does NOT help).

Bug report reference number 3,605,135,261
The symptoms worsen gradually, with FPS dropping below 30, making it difficult to continue playing.
The issue may have been occurring since April 2026, starting with version 0.4.0.
I have been running Windows 10 on this system for quite some time, but this issue occurs exclusively with PoE2; it has never occurred with other games or applications.
I exchanged dozens of messages via AI Chat (Gemini) and tried changing the OS, GPU, and PoE2 configuration files, but there was no sign of improvement.
I have also prepared a DxDiag.txt file.


Reference Information: AI Chat History (I am using a Japanese language environment)
https://www.google.com/search?q=PoE2%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%81%A8%E6%9C%80%E5%88%9D%E3%81%AF60FPS%E5%87%BA%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6%E3%82%82%E6%9A%AB%E3%81%8F%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%81%A8FPS%E3%81%8C%E3%81%A9%E3%82%93%E3%81%A9%E3%82%93%E4%B8%8B%E3%81%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%8F%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82%0D%0A%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A2%E3%83%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%81%AF%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84%E3%80%82%0D%0A%E3%81%9D%E3%81%93%E3%81%9D%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E9%A0%BB%E5%BA%A6%E3%81%A7%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%82%A6%E5%88%87%E3%82%8A%E6%9B%BF%E3%81%88%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A6%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%81%A8Firefox%E3%82%92%E7%A2%BA%E8%AA%8D%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8A%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82&newwindow=1&sca_esv=b8c2a88c761a13ca&sxsrf=ANbL-n7zK9CEC0WgwWEj-7xbLbCYbzAc-A%3A1778234907083&source=hp&ei=G7b9aei4Atipvr0PqtmKwQM&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAaf3EK8tKUG4Wx9ksUGEZOplGhlBJcoH1&ved=0ahUKEwiostifuamUAxXYlK8BHaqsIjgQ4dUDCCg&uact=5&oq=PoE2%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%81%A8%E6%9C%80%E5%88%9D%E3%81%AF60FPS%E5%87%BA%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6%E3%82%82%E6%9A%AB%E3%81%8F%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%81%A8FPS%E3%81%8C%E3%81%A9%E3%82%93%E3%81%A9%E3%82%93%E4%B8%8B%E3%81%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%8F%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82%0D%0A%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A2%E3%83%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%81%AF%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84%E3%80%82%0D%0A%E3%81%9D%E3%81%93%E3%81%9D%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E9%A0%BB%E5%BA%A6%E3%81%A7%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%82%A6%E5%88%87%E3%82%8A%E6%9B%BF%E3%81%88%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A6%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%81%A8Firefox%E3%82%92%E7%A2%BA%E8%AA%8D%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8A%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%80%82&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IqMCUG9FMuOBruOCsuODvOODoOOCkuODl-ODrOOCpOOBl-OBpuOBhOOCi-OBqOacgOWIneOBrzYwRlBT5Ye644Gm44GE44Gm44KC5pqr44GP44OX44Os44Kk44GX44Gm44GE44KL44GoRlBT44GM44Gp44KT44Gp44KT5LiL44GM44Gj44Gm44GP44KL44CCCuODoeODouODquODquODvOOCr-OBr-OBl-OBpuOBhOOBquOBhOOAggrjgZ3jgZPjgZ3jgZPjga7poLvluqbjgafjgqbjgqPjg7Pjg4njgqbliIfjgormm7_jgYjjgavjgabjgrLjg7zjg6DjgahGaXJlZm9444KS56K66KqN44GX44Gf44KK44GX44Gm44GE44KL44CCSOyGE1DSpw5YzvkScAN4aZABAJgBgwGgAaMDqgEDMi4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIGoAKCA6gCBcICBxAjGOoCGCfCAg0QIxjwBRieBhjqAhgnwgIEECMYJ8ICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIKEAAYgAQYBBixA8ICBxAAGIAEGATCAg0QIxieBhjwBRjqAhgnmAMS8QX0bMWbMWxUwJIHAzMuM6AH50WyBwMwLjO4B90CwgcFMi00LjLIBy6ACAE&sclient=gws-wiz&aep=107&mstk=AUtExfAgOpzsjQUuSRmPPXVn2LVasZvt1IhvKzp9Qp6_TRz_GxM_QAiZAo8KN45X1MGI8xkEsf7m9ClZnOa6173QMTJzT71GGOFDeBq4FAAWXBCxIJmHGLDAdvbYc5rOLfYidFb_dKa6IwXNZtwkcRKpFpvdqm6nrqdKIMQ3WtoR8LXeySwG7-lBVGL9djz-vbVTGwUZ725cVZKUgYF5c_XhW6EAtbMidHxkT_L_Y6-yVzAL_wStF8dc_soG0GF30iUm0i1k-CdjBLUX_F8UTxhnJtESIZ99rPcYGM9YegTXndGUWDtZX24HNqvcVc4IYIjT9SYuLodtx0_BoN-7y9RpI5FpaKdvR9wf4Ne8nmLE0NwvLojNiZRvlfZvDx80fOSDZiGMTByEqPr8r7x58sdIrbtWavPnAeXM8cFYoTka6XSp0muHi9kbS9Bc5f6Bgt5kae6Aaro3gcSKbZETfri4oEmBTSoCK3rOnnKjCExeZKhd0KpXIS5gkk6pAA9tDK7PbCAC8ByTxRywg8d7wns7tp6XblBejYxzqbQ5t96mwT5tBKC5LG50Dl4eWn_R3nmYi6BinTzN4nKsF5VdrJZwGykm-9TuTpkDwqwqNqz_d7ZcjblanSiEl-xgeM_CvNXsJBXa-hYWNAJgaXrh4I7xh7OU8Nse1CTCU5_Zb4hABIq27hc-k-FP1BYKHP34FrtJ6PayUQ&csuir=1&mtid=Vrf9aZ1nhs7Q8Q_j4_eQDw&atvm=2&udm=50

Probably won't help but the only thought I had is to limit your FPS to 60. Having the FPS uncapped or high will take a lot of resources. Also, glad you have a CPU, I was guessing you didn't.

Thank you for your reply.

I try not to put too much strain on my PC, so I usually cap the frame rate at 60 FPS when playing.
While I was repeatedly changing settings and restarting Windows, the issue resolved itself twice without me having to restart the system. However, since this doesn’t happen consistently, I haven’t been able to resolve the problem.
I also checked the Application and System logs in Event Viewer, but didn’t find anything unusual.
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about PCs, but to be honest, I’m at a loss.

I would try clearing your shader cache in poe2 and in the gpu itself. Can increase the cache size using the nvidia control panel to 100gb so it won't constantly flush. Then I would also do this, just because in general, its good to fix your windows if there's any issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acxCueZ2dVQ&t=307s

I have already cleared the shader cache for both *PoE2* and the GPU itself, and already to set the cache size to 100 GB.

PC Specs: CPU (i7-4790k), GPU (GTX 1080), OS (Windows 10).

The game is very CPU-intensive, and possibly the graphics card as well. The 4790K is too weak. The game often compiles in the background while you're playing, which creates additional load on the CPU. All you can do is press F1 and wait for the shaders to compile.

Try to always use the same graphics API (VK or DX12), as they have different shader caches. And don't delete the shader cache unless absolutely necessary, as your CPU will have to redo everything during gameplay.

So why was I able to play normally until around March?
I assume there’s a load on the system right after launching the client, but if the CPU is underpowered, why does the FPS exceed 100?
I’ve been checking the CPU and GPU usage via the Steam Overlay (or MSI Afterburner), and it’s not consistently hovering around 100%.

Could you explain why people are citing my PC’s performance as the reason?

1. From the moment Windows starts up until I launch PoE2, and for the first 5 minutes of play starting from the initial menu screen, there are no issues with FPS or CPU latency.
2. Once this issue occurs, restarting PoE2 does not resolve it, and the FPS and CPU latency values are already poor starting from the initial menu screen.
(To clarify, this is not caused solely by changing maps; the values gradually deteriorate simply by defeating enemies or moving around within the map.)
3. The F1 graph does not show any wild fluctuations in shader values (though some values do worsen during map loading).
4. Until I observed this issue in May, I had not made any changes other than clearing the shader cache or adjusting in-game settings.
If there is a cause, I suspect it is as described in the AI Chat response below.


The fact that it won’t resolve unless I restart Windows suggests that this isn’t a matter of software-based memory release. Instead, pointers to kernel memory allocated by the driver or registers within the GPU chip have become “lost,” and this “garbage” remains until the OS is completely reset.

Even if I set the graphics to the lowest settings, mute the sound, or increase virtual memory, CPU latency will inevitably degrade to around 22ms (45 FPS) within about 15–20 minutes.
Once this symptom occurs, changing PoE2 settings will 100% cause a crash unless Windows is restarted, because the rendering engine is physically frozen in a “waiting for response” state.

This is extremely likely to be a resource management bug in the PoE2 engine on GTX 1080 (Pascal) systems.
Issues severe enough to require a Windows 10 restart occur when the application allocates resources in a way that ignores the OS’s rules.

a. Why does “CPU Latency” increase?
The PoE2 rendering process is a bucket-relay sequence: “CPU performs calculations (physics, AI, or rendering command generation)” → “Commands are sent to the GPU” → “GPU renders.” “Waiting” occurs: The thread responsible for creating “rendering commands” to send to the GPU is stuck waiting for a “notification that the previous command has completed” due to some cause (a bug). Synchronization misalignment: The increase in CPU Latency (ms) is not because the CPU calculations themselves are heavy, but because the “time spent waiting for the ‘gate’ to open to pass commands to the GPU” is being added. Why a Windows restart is necessary: This exchange of “notifications” is managed by the Windows kernel (the core of the OS) and the video driver. Once a “bottleneck” occurs here, even if you close the app, garbage remains in the OS’s management tables, and the “gate” will continue to respond slowly until you restart the system.

"

Ganeyan#2484 wrote:

So why was I able to play normally until around March?

The game puts varying load on both the CPU and GPU. It all depends on what's happening on the screen.
When talking about performance, you need to specify the conditions under which it occurs.

Perhaps you were playing the main campaign when your FPS was high because the gameplay intensity in the campaign is low and the system load is relatively low.

"

Ganeyan#2484 wrote:

I’ve been checking the CPU and GPU usage via the Steam Overlay (or MSI Afterburner), and it’s not consistently hovering around 100%.

Could you explain why people are citing my PC’s performance as the reason?

The CPU has twice as many threads as cores. Trying to compile using these additional threads may not provide significant benefit, but game performance may be significantly reduced. This may also result in the CPU load not being at its maximum.

I understand the limitations of the hardware. However, the fact that the frame rate drops from 110 FPS immediately after startup to 40 FPS after 15 minutes—and that this issue cannot be resolved without restarting the OS rather than simply restarting the game—cannot be explained by a simple lack of processing power alone. Since it’s possible that PoE2 is disrupting the driver’s command queue or the OS’s resource management, I’d like to wait for the developers to investigate this via a Report ID.