vaskovass
-Do you have any overclocking settings, and could you provide your graphics card statistics? Voltage, core clock, VRAM clock, and max usage percentage would be useful. These can be checked with MSI Afterburner, GPU Tweak, AMD Adrenaline, or the NVIDIA app. Also, are you running Battlefield on DirectX 12 with the latest graphics driver? Do you have an FPS cap set? Lastly, are you using any sync technology such as V-Sync or G-Sync?
-I know that’s a lot of questions, but I’m updating my references on potential causes of this issue. More users with lower-generation GPUs are now reporting it; not that your 3090 is low-end, but it shows the scope extends beyond just the 50 series I first suspected.
-It makes sense that lowering graphics reduces the chance of errors, even with overclocking. A common misunderstanding is that higher settings only strain the GPU. Many also stress the CPU. For example, level-of-detail (LOD) and shadow quality increase draw calls and geometry processing, which the CPU handles before passing commands to the GPU. This can clog the CPU-to-GPU pipeline, especially under DX12. What you described with AFK XP runs; large player stacks in one spot; aligns with this, since it forces the CPU to process more objects, shadows, and geometry at once. GPU-heavy settings add to this by creating large command lists that delay processing. Together, these factors increase latency in frame generation.
-Another misunderstanding is that FPS capping reduces latency. While it can lower system load, it increases latency if capped below what the system can handle. The CPU keeps building commands, but with a cap, the GPU enforces timed intervals between frames. During this pause, the CPU stacks commands. When the GPU resumes, it suddenly faces a backlog and spikes usage to catch up. Basically, the GPU says, “I finished my work for this frame, and now I’m taking my scheduled break before I start the next one” - like coworkers leaving you hanging during a busy shift. This stop-and-go behavior creates latency and can trigger hung errors. Some games smooth this out with built-in pacing, but Battlefield 2042 relies on external limiters, which can’t manage the command pipeline.
-In summary, you’re right that lowering graphics helps avoid GPU hangs. Focus on settings that heavily hit CPU or GPU: terrain detail/LOD, shadow quality, ray tracing, volumetrics (smoke, fog, god-rays), foliage, and reflections. If you’re using a frame cap, find a sweet spot just under your GPU’s max usage so it runs consistently. Also, check if any overclocks are adding instability.
