Ever experienced your computer freezing up or crashing? This frustrating issue can often be traced back to a setting called the video_TDR timer. In simpler terms, the Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) is a Windows mechanism that monitors your graphics card and its drivers to ensure stability. Part of this involves making sure the GPU responds to rendering requests within a specific timeframe. The default video_TDR timer is set to a short duration, which might be problematic for complex rendering tasks. If you’re encountering freezes or crashes during rendering, especially with large scenes, increasing the video_TDR timer could be the solution. In my previous blog post, I discussed the causes and troubleshooting steps for video_TDR errors. Here, we’ll delve into how to specifically increase video_TDR timer using the windows registry.
How to Increase the Video_TDR Timer via Windows Registry
By modifying a key value in the Windows Registry, you can extend the video_TDR timer. It’s important to note that editing the registry should be done with caution, so follow these steps carefully:
- Open the Registry Editor: Press the Windows key + R, type “regedit” in the Run dialog box, and hit Enter. (Remember, modifying the registry carries some risk, so proceed with caution).
- Navigate to the Key Path: Locate the following key path within the Registry Editor:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
- Modify or Create the TdrDelay Key:
- If the “TdrDelay” key already exists, double-click it and proceed to step 4.
- If the key is missing, right-click on “GraphicsDrivers,” select “New,” then “DWORD (32-bit Value),” and name the new key “TdrDelay.”
- Set the Value: Double-click the “TdrDelay” key and ensure the “Value data” field is set to “Decimal.” Now, enter the desired delay in seconds (e.g., 60 for a minute).
- Restart Your System: Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
Remember: While increasing the video_TDR timer can help with rendering stalls, it’s not a permanent fix. Investigate the root cause of the rendering issues. Updating your graphics drivers or optimizing your rendering software settings might be necessary for long-term solutions.
By following these steps and potentially revisiting my previous blog post on video_TDR errors.