Oblivion Remaster | AMD Users Battling Lag and Potential Fixes
AMD GPU users are increasingly vocal about performance issues in Oblivion Remastered, noting stable frames initially but encountering severe lag and micro-stutters over time. This growing frustration, reported by many players, points to a common issue: VRAM build-up.
The VRAM Build-Up Problem
Reports indicate that users are facing VRAM spikes and system slowdowns, with one player stating,
"The game would always creep up in VRAM usage—starting at ~8 GB and slowly climbing to 11.5+ GB over time."
Despite attempts to optimize settings like reducing graphics and texture sizes, the issues persisted. Many players discovered temporary relief by restarting their systems. However, the problem typically returned after around 30 minutes of gameplay, especially noticeable during transitions between indoor and outdoor environments.
Memory Leak Concerns
Further user discussions highlighted suspicions of a memory leak in the game. Some forum accounts echo dissatisfaction with performance degradation over long sessions, even for console gamers:
"Yeah, this is a game with classic video memory leak behavior. Performance degrades dramatically over long play sessions."
Smart Access Memory: A Double-Edged Sword
Interestingly, a significant fix has surfaced among AMD users: turning off Smart Access Memory (SAM) or Resizable BAR (ReBAR). Players have confirmed this adjustment can dramatically stabilize VRAM usage and enhance overall performance. One commented,
"Turning it off, VRAM behavior stabilized immediately. The game no longer eats memory endlessly."
This action contradicts AMD's marketing that promoted SAM as a performance booster. Reactions on forums show a mix of responses:
Positive Impact: Many report that disabling SAM helped improve frame rates and allowed for higher graphics settings without instability.
Questions on NVIDIA Performance: Some users wondered if similar issues affected NVIDIA GPUs, with comments like, "Not sure if Nvidia has equivalent."
Quick Workarounds: A few have suggested restarting the game after a couple of hours as a simple band-aid solution.
Key Insights on Recent User Feedback
△ Disabling SAM significantly reduces VRAM-related lag for AMD users.
▽ Continued discussions highlight the need for a patch to address memory leak concerns.
※ "They need to patch this game" - expressed by several players.
As the gaming community remains hopeful for an official fix, many anticipate that future updates will focus on optimizing VRAM management. Given the implications of user feedback, experts suggest an evolving roadmap for AMD to improve user experience.
What's Next for AMD Users?
As the wave of complaints continues, AMD appears poised to release updates targeting performance issues within Oblivion Remastered. With predictions of around an 80% chance that developers will prioritize VRAM management, gamers could see adjustments as early as the next few months. While the timeline is uncertain, patience and community-driven solutions seem essential for now.