The Windows 11 ecosystem has once again raised concerns among gamers. The latest security update, identified as KB5074109, is under scrutiny following reports that it significantly reduces the performance of Nvidia GeForce graphics cards.
At first glance, the KB5074109 update seemed essential. It addressed 114 security vulnerabilities and introduced improvements aimed at enhancing battery life for “AI PCs” equipped with Neural Processing Units (NPUs). However, soon after its release, user forums were flooded with complaints about severe performance drops in games.
Noticeable Performance Drops in Gaming
According to multiple reports, some players experienced a decrease of 15 to 20 frames per second (FPS) in demanding titles. Interestingly, almost all the affected users were running Nvidia GPUs, suggesting a possible incompatibility between Microsoft’s patch and the GeForce drivers.
So far, the most effective workaround discovered by users has been to uninstall the update or restore their system to an earlier point before installation.
This isn’t an isolated issue. A similar problem occurred with the October 2025 update, casting doubt on Microsoft’s recent promises to improve Windows 11’s overall performance. In addition to the gaming issues, the KB5074109 patch also introduced other critical errors — including authentication failures in Azure Virtual Desktop and problems when formatting USB drives in FAT32.
As Microsoft and Nvidia investigate whether the issue requires a new system patch or updated drivers, users are advised to avoid installing this update for now, especially if they use an Nvidia graphics card.
