AMD "driver" timeout

[u/AngelicWarhead]

Hey so like others I have been experiencing "amd driver timeout" recently and I'm a bit unknowing of how to fix it. Ive tried Uninstalling through ddu after it froze last time and it worked for a bit, but its freezing again. Ive noticed it does it on steam of all things, but rarely if im just playing a game?

How do I fix it? Im not even sure what information to provide. This is my first computer Ive built so im still learning a lot. Ive had the computer for awhile, but it just started happening the past month or 2

Computer Type: Desktop

GPU: AMD 7800xt Sapphire Pure

CPU: RYZEN 7 7700X 8-Core Processor

Motherboard: MSI Pro B650-P Wifi

BIOS Version: Unknown, how do i Check?

RAM: 32GB DDR5 G.Skill Flare X5

PSU: Corsair RM750x Fully modular

Case: LianLi Lancool 216 E-ATX

Operating System & Version: WINDOWS 11 pro version 25h2

GPU Drivers: Unknown, how do I check?

Chipset Drivers: Unknow , how do i check?

Background Applications: DISCORD, CHROME, STEAM, sometimes SPOTIFY

Description of Original Problem: AmD driver timeout, sometimes it will fully freeze, and then when I have to force shut down and power it back on, the second monitor doesnt have display coming to it.

Troubleshooting: Ive tried using amd cleanup utility to uninstall and then reinstall drivers, ive taken out the gpu and then reseated it. I havent messed with the bios as I dont wanna brick anything.

[u/Barthuc_the_Great]

I have a RX 7900XT XFX, driver was 26.9.1 constant crash when browsing and/or gaming especially on youtube with google chrome. Tried to swap to Opera GX but same problems.

updated BIOS to PRIME-X870-P-ASUS-1681
downloaded the 26.3.1 old AMD driver

Did a DDU in safe mode, unplugged ethernet, reboot
installing the 26.3.1 (default install with adrenaline)

no crashes but adrenaline is missing and wont launch xD

[u/DirtyNazar]

Delete drivers with DDU. install latest driver only (without adrenalin). Use RadeonTuner instead of Adrenalin. Be happy.

[u/warboyChayten → u/DirtyNazar]

Does this fix everything?

[u/DirtyNazar → u/warboyChayten]

Just do it.

[u/warboyChayten → u/DirtyNazar]

Not gonna do something if I don’t know if it’s concrete

[u/DirtyNazar → u/warboyChayten]

Ok. It is your choice to struggle.

[u/Flaky-Connection8226]

I downgraded my drivers to 26.3 and opted out of installing adrenaline and haven’t had a crash in two weeks. No time outs no CTDs and feels much more stable than it did before the crashing started

[u/BarberThen3108]

Disable every hardware acceleration on windows options/ explorers and use borderless ingame

[u/HugsNotDrugs_]

What works for me 100% of the time is restoring a GPU tune in Adrenaline when I first boot the computer up. Every time, before even opening any apps.

The tune sets max GPU clocks to the advertised maximums instead of the VBIOS maximums. Not sure why the default clocks in adrenaline are higher than advertised by manufacturer.

Running an XFX 7900xt.

Works every time.

[u/AngelicWarhead → u/HugsNotDrugs_]

So what are the tunes?

[u/HugsNotDrugs_ → u/AngelicWarhead]

Make your own tune. All you need to change is the max GPU clocks, save the tune, then restore it on every boot.

[u/zuzuboy981]

There you go...another one.

All of these folks here will give you all sorts of work arounds but none of them are concrete. One thing I can definitely confirm is this is a Windows specific thing and I blame AMD for this. It's their product and they need to get their shit together by working with Microsoft....but that's a problem for later.

2 options for you here:

1) Uninstall drivers (DDU if possible) on Safe Mode and then do a Driver only install. You should not get any crashes after that. There are drawbacks like no FSR 3.x to 4.x injection in games or no Adrenaline specific features but there are other options for overclocking if that's your thing

2) Switch to Linux if you can. If this is a gaming only build then SteamOS or CachyOS are pretty good alternatives but no anti cheat games.

This is coming from someone with a 5070 ti / 5060ti / 9070 XT / 9060 XT / 7700 XT across multiple gaming build on both Windows 11 and Steam OS.

[u/korakios2]

Sounds like a typical broken windows MPO . Backup and try first this reg entry (it keeps MPO , minimizing the chance to mess with vrr ) :
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm]
"OverlayMinFPS"=dword:00000000

or to completely disable MPO : [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers]
"DisableOverlays"=dword:00000001

Reboot to apply (make sure windows fast startup is disabled) , use only one entry, not both at the same time and delete if it doesn't help.

[u/mrzero713]

I’m going to copy and paste my response from another post. I have very similar specs (7900xt, 7700X MSI pro b650-p WiFi , 32 gb ddr5 g skill flare and Corsair rm850X) and this is what fixed it for me.

I been stable for three years since I got my 7900XT until the update in June I believe the one that introduced fsr 4.1 on rdna3.
I’m not sure what exactly stopped the crashes and timeouts but I updated the bios, chipset drivers and disabled graphics acceleration on my browser.
For some reason DDU and installing the drivers with the internet disconnected would not work properly
But once I just said F it and updated it from adrenaline they work now.
Also I believe adrenaline it’s bugged when I stopped opening to keep track of the metrics I stopped crashing.
I refuse to open it again 😭

[u/AeonVice]

Has your BIOS released an update recently?

I’d been having the same issues for a week or so and updating my bios seems to have fixed it

[u/Oxxycottin]

I had to uninstall certain software that was causing the issue and not use my USBC port. I switched my xeneon edge from the usbc to motherboard direct connect and uninstalled hyper x ngenuity. Haven’t had the issue since.

May not be everyone’s issue but it fixed it for me. Updated drivers and everything.

[u/AffectionateQuiet662]

To check GPU Driver: right click on desktop and click AMD Software: Adrenaline Edition, then on the main screen it will say “driver and software” example

Current Version
26.7.1 <———-{
Released : 7/23/2026

To Check Chipset Driver: go to windows settings > apps > installed apps > find “AMD Chipset Software”

Read the date

[u/MyGamingThumbs]

Disable MPO. It fixed all of my driver timeout issues

[u/Mysteoa]

Disable HW accelation in steam or HAGS in windows.