[SOLVED] Portal RTX Crash on Main Menu - Driver 572.47 → Update to 581.57+ Required

[ggfevans]

TL;DR - Solution

If you're experiencing crashes at main menu with driver 572.47.0, update to driver 581.57 or later.

Portal RTX crashes with access violation on driver 572.47.0 but works correctly on 581.57+. The generic error dialog provides no indication that a driver update is required.

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Issue Description

Portal RTX crashes to desktop immediately upon reaching the main menu on NVIDIA driver 572.47.0, displaying only a generic RTX Remix Runtime error dialog with no actionable guidance:

The RTX Remix Runtime has encountered an unexpected issue. The application will close.
Please collect any: 
  *.log files in <application_directory>/rtx-remix/logs/
  *.dmp files next to the application or in the .trex folder
and report the error at https://github.com/NVIDIAGameWorks/rtx-remix/issues.

Reproduction Rate: 100% on driver 572.47.0
Resolved By: Clean installation of driver 581.57+

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Environment (Where Issue Occurred)

• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (12GB VRAM)
• Driver Version: 572.47.0 (9 major versions behind current)
• Operating System: Windows
• Display: 3840x2160 @ 60Hz primary, 1080x1920 @ 60Hz secondary
• Portal RTX Version: remix-main+909ce539
• DXVK-Remix Version: remix-1.0.0+207f7ae0

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Technical Details

Crash Signature

• Exception: Access Violation (0xc0000005) in NvRemixBridge.exe (64-bit server)
• Address: 0x00007FFFE933281B
• Present Semaphore Timeout: Bridge client reports indefinite wait before crash
• Minidump: NvRemixBridge.exe_20251014_221710.dmp

Notable Log Warnings

• 18+ instances of NaN (Not a Number) values in USD light attributes
• Bridge synchronization issues between 32-bit client and 64-bit server
• Present semaphore deadlock immediately before crash

Timeline

1. Bridge handshake succeeds
2. D3D9 device created, assets load
3. Display mode change triggers
4. Crash occurs - access violation in bridge server

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Resolution Steps

1. Download Latest Driver: NVIDIA Driver Downloads
   • Recommended: 581.57 or later (DCH WHQL)
2. Perform Clean Installation:
   • Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) in Safe Mode, OR
   • Select "Clean Installation" in NVIDIA installer
3. Restart System
4. Launch Portal RTX - should now work correctly

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User Experience Issue

Problem: The error dialog provides no indication that outdated drivers are the cause, leading users to:

• Waste time collecting logs and debugging
• Verify game files (doesn't help)
• Assume the game or mods are broken
• File bug reports for what is actually a driver compatibility issue

Recommendation for Remix Team:

The RTX Remix Runtime should implement minimum driver version checking with a user-friendly error message:

❌ Current Implementation:
"The RTX Remix Runtime has encountered an unexpected issue."
[Generic, no actionable guidance]

✅ Suggested Implementation:
"RTX Remix requires NVIDIA driver version 5XX.XX or later.
Your current driver (572.47) is not compatible.

Please update your NVIDIA drivers at: nvidia.com/drivers

[Update Drivers] [More Info] [Close]"

This is especially important because:

• RTX Remix is cutting-edge technology with specific driver requirements
• Users may not realize their drivers are outdated (9 major versions in this case)
• The generic error wastes developer time processing non-bugs
• User frustration increases when the solution is simple but hidden

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For Other Users Experiencing This Issue

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Check your driver version: NVIDIA Control Panel → System Information
• [ ] Compare to latest available at nvidia.com/drivers
• [ ] If more than 2-3 versions behind, update before troubleshooting further
• [ ] Use clean installation method to avoid conflicts

Still Crashing After Update?

If you've updated to 581.57+ and still experience crashes:

1. Collect the logs as instructed in the error dialog
2. File a new issue with "Still crashing on driver 581.57+" in the title
3. Include your specific driver version and GPU model

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Attachments (For Reference)

Logs from the crash on driver 572.47.0: bridge32.log - Shows Present semaphore timeout bridge64.log - Shows access violation exception remix-dxvk.log - Shows NaN light values and rendering pipeline state

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Discussion Question for Maintainers

Would it be feasible to add minimum driver version detection to RTX Remix? This could prevent a significant portion of "mysterious crash" reports that are actually driver compatibility issues.

Potential implementation points:

1. Startup check: Before initializing Vulkan/D3D9 interop
2. Graceful degradation: Fall back to non-RTX mode with warning
3. User notification: Clear message with download link

Happy to discuss technical approaches if this is of interest to the team.

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Suggested Labels: documentation, driver-compatibility, ux-improvement, solved

[NV-LL]

Thanks for reaching out! This is helpful info. We've filed REMIX-4676 for internal investigation.