Advanced Troubleshooting Steps (PC)
Please try the following advanced troubleshooting steps in the given order:
1. Limit GPU Max Frequency
Under heavy workloads, some factory-overclocked or modern graphics cards can push beyond their stable clock limits, occasionally triggering a GPU driver timeout or crash (TDR). Restricting the maximum boost clock can greatly improve overall system stability.
AMD:
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
Go to Performance > Tuning and select Custom under Manual Tuning.
Enable GPU Tuning and switch on Advanced Control.
Look up your specific GPU model’s official factory boost clock speed, and set that exact number as your Max Frequency (MHz).
Click Apply.
NVIDIA:
Open MSI Afterburner (or your preferred GPU utility).
Look at your core clock slider.
Instead of an overclock, apply a subtle underclock (e.g., -50 MHz to -100 MHz) or limit the Power Limit slider to 95% or 90% to restrict extreme frequency spikes during heavy asset streaming.
2. Limit Max Frame Rate for NVIDIA GPU
Uncapped frame rates put an artificial strain on both your CPU and GPU, which can lead to random stability drops during crowded horde encounters.
Navigate to NVIDIA control panel > Manage 3D settings and set preferred graphics processor to a High-performance NVIDIA adapter
Disable driver shader cache at NVIDIA control panel > Manage 3D settings > Shader Cache Size, set to disable, press Apply
Set Max Frame Rate to "60", press Apply
Launch title
3. Remove Local Driver Shader Cache
Corrupted driver-level shader caches can prevent the engine from compiling fresh game files properly, directly causing game crashes or severe stuttering.
AMD:
Open the Run dialog (Win + R), type %localappdata%\NVIDIA\DXCache
Delete everything inside.
Repeat this exact process for %localappdata%\NVIDIA\GLCache.
NVIDIA:
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Go to Gaming > Graphics > Advanced.
Scroll down to the bottom, look for Reset Shader Cache, and click Perform Reset.
4. Reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime
Uninstall Visual C++ Redistributable, then download both versions (x86 and x64) of this program and install them individually.
It is vital to download the necessary components for a 64-bit system (even if you have x64 Windows OS) and a 32-bit (x86) operating system because many programs use this particular file.
Make sure you have DirectX and .NET Framework installed.
5. Add Exclusions to Windows Defender
Strict real-time security scanning can occasionally flag the game’s executable or its anti-cheat modules by mistake.
Press the Windows Start button, type Windows Security, and open it.
Click Virus & threat protection > Manage settings (under Virus & threat protection settings).
Scroll down to the bottom and click Add or remove exclusions.
Click Add an exclusion, select Folder, and choose the main directory where Space Marine 2 is installed via Steam (e.g., ...\Steamapps\common\Space Marine 2).
6. Update Your Audio Driver
Outdated audio device drivers can fail to process spatial multi-channel gaming audio setups correctly, causing sound loops that completely lock up or crash the game client.
Right-click on the Windows Start button > Device Manager.
Open Sound -> Video -> Game controllers.
Right-click on the default audio device (e.g., Realtek High Definition Audio) > Update driver.