GAME INFORMATION
These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed.
- GAME BUILD #: ######
- GAME PLATFORM: Steam
- OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 11
#Natürlich, Nui! Hier ist dein übersetzter Beitrag für das offizielle Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Forum oder Support-Team – klar, technisch und höflich im Ton:
Bug Report: Extremely low FPS + Freezes despite GTX 1060 on Surface Book 2 (AoE2 DE)
Hi there,
I’m experiencing severe performance issues with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and I’m hoping for some help or feedback from the developers or community.
Device: Microsoft Surface Book 2 – 15 inch
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 (dedicated) + Intel UHD (integrated)
CPU: Intel i7 (8th Gen)
RAM: 16 GB
Platform: Steam
DirectX: dxdiag only detects Intel GPU, although Nvidia is correctly assigned
Issue summary:
- Game launches, but FPS remain locked at ~3
- Nvidia GPU load hovers around 20%, Intel near 0–5%
- Steam FPS overlay shows “n/a”
- Game freezes after a few seconds
What I’ve already tried:
Unfortunately, none of this resolved the issue. I suspect there’s a bottleneck caused by GPU passthrough via Nvidia Optimus or something specific to the Surface Book architecture.
Questions:
- Are there known issues related to Surface Book 2 and AoE II DE?
- Any way to fully bypass Intel GPU or enforce exclusive Nvidia rendering?
Thanks in advance for your support!
Du kannst das so direkt posten auf https://forums.ageofempires.com oder ich helfe dir, einen Screenshot deines dxdiag-Berichts und Taskmanagers dazuzupacken. Ready to rally the devs! 
Hi,
First of all, good news: I highly doubt your system cannot handle AoE2 DE.
AoE2 DE is primarily CPU-bound and uses 2D rendering, which even older hardware handles well. It should run decently even on the integrated GPU.
Here are a few more things to check to narrow down what could be causing the bottleneck on your system:
- CPU Utilization: How high is your CPU usage while the game is running?
- CPU Thermals: Check your temperatures with tools like HWInfo or CoreTemp. (It has been quite hot in Germany recently, and fanless/low-fan laptops can start to throttle heavily. Sometimes external cooling or a cold pack under the device can help.)
- Free RAM: How much RAM is available while running the game?
- Free VRAM: How much VRAM is available on the GTX 1060 when the game is running?
A few clarifying questions:
- You mention 3 FPS (which is extremely low). Does this occur immediately in the main menu or only after starting a match (e.g., Skirmish)?
- You mention the game freezes after a few seconds. Does it completely stop responding, requiring a force close, or does it recover eventually?
- Are you running the game at your monitor’s native resolution?
- Do you have the Ultra HD Graphics Pack installed? If so, please uninstall it for testing, as it can significantly increase VRAM usage.
- Do other games on your Surface Book 2 run well? This helps confirm if the issue is specific to AoE2 DE or a broader GPU/driver problem.
Disabling Fullscreen Optimizations (FSO):
The game can struggle with multiple graphics cards, especially when Fullscreen Optimizations (FSO) are enabled, as FSO changes how the game’s frames are routed through the GPUs and Windows compositor. This can lead to issues, for example when using Alt + Tab, or when switching focus, particularly on dual-GPU setups like the Surface Book 2.
Try disabling Fullscreen Optimizations to see if it improves stability and FPS:
How to disable FSO for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition:
- Locate your game folder (default:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\AoE2DE)
- Right-click
AoE2DE_s.exe and choose Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Click Apply and launch Age of Empires II again.
This can help ensure the Nvidia GPU is properly utilized without interference from the Intel GPU and Windows fullscreen handling.
Let us know what you find!
his hardware is surface and that explains it all.
CPU limitation especially on AI pathing. depending on how many units in the game, bigger performance issue he’ll face.
unless the surface is well within last 5-6 years of CPU AND running at least above 2+ ghz theres little hope. that or hes in multiplayer with someone else thats got crappier hardware than he does.
Sorry, but I rarely read so much uninformed nonsense. The game is 25 years old, with only some graphical uplift in the DE release. You can check his processor: it’s a Core i7-8650U quad-core @ 4.2 GHz from late 2017. That should be more than capable of running a standard game, especially considering even an old Intel Pentium can handle AoE2.
We don’t even know if he’s actually getting into a match. From what he described, he might be frozen on the main screen, or he’s freezing when starting a match, which isn’t any better. My toaster can handle a 3-pop Dark Age Start in AoE2.
From what he told us, my best guesses would be:
the CPU (located behind the display) is running too hot and throttling itself down,
there are too many background programs clogging up the RAM,
or there’s another serious issue with his setup.
Please take this rant about other people’s hardware somewhere else.
To go forward, we need some more info from the OP to narrow down why his system is underperforming in this title or generally.
the uninformed one is you. I can break apart your list of nonsense but it’d be a waste of time for me.
if you don’t believe AI pathing can cause lag then nothing really to discuss here, you should remain uninformed.