How to Fix a Graphics Card Error Message
If you have been experiencing this problem, then it is likely that you are running an outdated version of your drivers. Luckily, this issue can usually be resolved by updating or reinstalling your drivers.
Another possibility is that you are using a third-party program that interferes with the game. To fix this, you will need to disable any programs that are not necessary for the game.
1. Check the Drivers
There is a chance that your GPU driver has become corrupted and is causing problems with the game. To resolve this, download the latest drivers for your GPU and install them on your computer. To do this, press the Win key and type ‘ Device Manager’. Once the menu opens, go to the ’ Display adapters ’ tab and select your GPU. Once you have done this, restart your computer and check if the error has gone away.
Alternatively, you can also try using Disk Clean-up to delete all the corrupted temporary files that are eating up memory. This will free up space and make sure that the GPU is working properly. After doing this, you can also try adding Valorant to your Windows defender exclusion list. This will prevent it from being detected as malware by Windows defender and help you play the game without any interruptions. If this doesn’t work, you may need to reinstall your graphics driver.
2. Check the PSU
If you are getting a lot of BSODs, you may need to get a new PSU. Your old one might be failing and not delivering enough power to your components, including the graphics card. Alternatively, you might have upgraded your system with some new components that require more power than your current PSU can deliver.
To check this, you can use a program called chkdsk. This is a Windows utility that scans your disk and finds corrupted files. You can also run Disk Cleanup to remove any temporary files that are causing the error.
Another option is to disable some of the settings in MSI Afterburner, which is a popular application that can monitor your GPU in real-time. You can do this by opening the application and going to the Settings menu. Here, you will need to uncheck the “Enable low-level IO drivers” and “Enable low-level hardware access interface”. If you do this, you should see that the problem is resolved.
3. Check the BIOS
If this error message keeps appearing on your computer, you may be having problems with your BIOS. This is the piece of software that starts your PC and makes sure your hardware mingles well with the rest of the system. Many users report that by updating or reinstalling their drivers, this problem goes away.
Another potential cause of this error is overclocking your GPU. To fix this, you can try resetting your BIOS to its default settings. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, this may require a key to enter or can be done from inside the system.
Finally, if you have Windows defender installed on your computer, make sure that Valorant is added to the exclusion list. This will prevent Windows defender from interfering with the Vanguard service and stopping you from playing Valorant. To do this, press the Win + R keys together to open the Run app. Then, type “vgc”, and then click the OK button.
4. Check the Software
If you have done all of the hardware checks above and still find yourself getting this error message, it may be due to a software issue. It can be caused by applications like MSI Afterburner that monitor the temperature of your GPU and CPU, or it can also happen if you have overclocked your graphics card for extra performance. Disabling these settings can help prevent this from happening and should resolve the problem.
Another application that can cause this error is any software that uses hardware acceleration, such as web browsers or other programs. This will take up a lot of resources and can cause the video driver to overheat, which could then result in the NVLDDMKM error. Disabling this feature can save your graphics card from overheating and should solve the issue.
If all of these solutions fail, you can always submit a ticket to Riot for further help. They will respond within 48 hours and try to fix the problem for you.