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Why is my gaming PC lagging after the Windows 11 update?
The Windows 11 October 2025 Update (KB5066835) has introduced severe stability problems for gamers and enterprise users. Beyond the reported failures in WinRE, Task Manager, and BitLocker, this update significantly degrades gaming performance. Users report that frame rates in demanding titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows drop precipitously. If you installed this mandatory patch, your system likely exhibits stutters and reduced responsiveness previously unseen on your hardware.
Uninstalling the update restores performance, but Windows restricts this option after a short 7 to 14-day window. Once this period expires, the operating system deletes old files to save space, leaving a clean install as the only manual rollback method. Microsoft has not yet acknowledged this specific defect, leaving affected users without an official operating system patch.
Nvidia Releases Hotfix for Frame Rate Drops
Nvidia has independently deployed a solution to address these performance bottlenecks. The company confirmed that the Windows 11 October update triggers lower performance in specific gaming scenarios. To rectify this, Nvidia released GeForce Hotfix Driver v581.94 on November 19, 2025.
This driver specifically targets the conflict introduced by KB5066835. Users verifying the fix report that frame rates return to normal levels immediately after installation. In some instances, performance metrics exceeded pre-update baselines by roughly 5%. You must download this executable directly from the Nvidia support website. Note that the Nvidia app may display incorrect release dates due to a separate internal bug; disregard these display errors and proceed with the v581.94 installation.
Technical Analysis of the Anomaly
The performance degradation manifests uniquely. Users previously maintaining 120–140 FPS saw figures plummet to the 40–70 FPS range. This drop occurs even on high-end hardware like the RTX 5090 or 4090. Technical analysis reveals a discrepancy in power management.
While monitoring tools show the GPU at 99% usage, the actual power draw drops significantly—often by 100 watts or more. This suggests the Windows update incorrectly throttles the GPU’s power budget while the system reports full load. The operating system appears to force the graphics card into a constrained power state, causing heavy stuttering and halved frame rates.
Affected Hardware and System Configurations
This issue primarily impacts systems running Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 (Build 26200.6725 / 26100.6725 or newer). The data indicates the flaw is specific to the interaction between Windows 11 and Nvidia architecture.
Impacted Nvidia Hardware:
- RTX 5000 Series: 5070, 5080, 5090, 5060 Ti
- RTX 4000 Series: 4080, 4090
Competitor hardware reacts differently. AMD Radeon users (specifically RX 7900 XTX) report normal gaming performance but experience sluggishness in Windows interface elements like File Explorer and the Taskbar. Linux and Steam Deck users remain unaffected, isolating the fault strictly to the Windows 11 kernel’s handling of Nvidia drivers. Until Microsoft issues a formal patch, installing Nvidia driver v581.94 is the mandatory fix for stabilizing your system.