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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes—KB5074109 appears to have triggered genuine NVIDIA gaming problems on a subset of Windows 11 systems, but it did not universally destroy GeForce performance. Users reported stutter, frame-rate drops, artifacts, black screens, driver resets and Vulkan freezes after the January 13, 2026 update. Some recovered by removing it, while others traced the problem to a driver, game, API, laptop power mode or hardware fault. Treat the update as a plausible cause to test, not proof that your GPU is damaged.
What KB5074109 changed
Microsoft released KB5074109 on January 13, 2026, for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. It produces build 26100.7623 on 24H2 and 26200.7623 on 25H2. This is a Windows security and quality cumulative update, not an NVIDIA driver. Microsoft says it includes security fixes and improvements carried forward from the previous optional preview release. The official release page is KB5074109 for Windows 11.
That security role matters: removing the update can restore compatibility on an affected machine, but it also removes its security fixes until a later cumulative update is installed.
Which NVIDIA problems were reported?
Reports came from desktop and laptop users with different GeForce generations, games and driver branches. They are user and support reports rather than a controlled benchmark proving one universal performance loss.
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| Reported symptom | What the evidence supports | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| FPS decline | Users reported losses ranging from noticeable drops to claims of 15–20 FPS or more | Game- and configuration-dependent; no standardized percentage is established |
| Microstutter and poor frame pacing | Repeatedly described alongside FPS changes | Often limited to particular games, APIs or settings |
| Artifacts | Repeated Microsoft Q&A and community reports | Specific games and configurations, including Forza Horizon 5 reports |
| Black screens or display recovery | Repeated reports and secondary coverage | Launching, exiting or switching fullscreen modes |
| Driver crashes | Some users reported display resets and nvlddmkm events |
Not proof of a failed GPU |
| Vulkan freezes | Discussed in an NVIDIA developer forum thread | Some Vulkan applications and driver/API combinations |
The graphics-artifact reports are documented in Microsoft Q&A, while Vulkan freeze reports appear in an NVIDIA developer forum discussion.
Is Windows or NVIDIA definitely responsible?
No published root-cause analysis settles that question. The strongest practical case is an interaction between the Windows graphics stack and particular NVIDIA driver, game or API combinations:
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- The timing commonly followed installation of KB5074109.
- Similar symptoms appeared across more than one game and GPU generation.
- Some users said uninstalling the update restored normal behavior.
- NVIDIA support representatives were reported by secondary coverage to recommend rollback as a temporary workaround.
That evidence does not exclude a simultaneous NVIDIA driver change, a game patch, overlay conflict, HDR or VRR transition, unstable overclock, thermal problem, BIOS issue or inadequate power delivery. Microsoft’s official KB page does not declare a general NVIDIA gaming-performance bug. Secondary accounts of NVIDIA guidance include Tom’s Hardware and Windows Central; they should not be read as proof that every GeForce card is affected.
Check whether KB5074109 is installed
- Press Win + R, type
winver, and confirm your Windows release and build. - Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Quality updates.
- Look for 2026-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 with identifier KB5074109.
- Optionally run PowerShell:
Get-HotFix -Id KB5074109. A returned hotfix record confirms installation; if there is no result, verify Update history because servicing-state reporting can differ.
Diagnose before removing a security update
Build a reproducible comparison
Write down the GPU and laptop model, Windows build, NVIDIA driver version, game, rendering API, resolution, graphics settings and a repeatable scene. Compare the same save or benchmark before and after the change. Record frame-time graphs and 1% lows, not only average FPS. Test whether the fault affects one game, several games, DirectX 11, DirectX 12 or Vulkan.
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Rule out common configuration conflicts
- Disable NVIDIA Overlay, Xbox Game Bar and background recording temporarily.
- Toggle HDR, G-SYNC or other VRR, and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling for comparison.
- Rebuild the game’s shader cache.
- Return GPU and CPU overclocks or undervolts to stock.
- Try another display cable or monitor input when black screens occur.
- Install current motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers.
- On laptops, test on AC power with the manufacturer’s high-performance mode and check Optimus or MUX settings.
- Monitor temperature, clocks, utilization and power draw while reproducing the fault.
Test the driver deliberately
Use NVIDIA’s official driver download page. Compare the current Game Ready driver, an appropriate Studio driver and a known-good driver from before the symptoms began. Select a clean installation rather than repeatedly layering packages. Display Driver Uninstaller can be used from Safe Mode, but it is a third-party utility and is not required by Microsoft or NVIDIA.
When rollback is justified
Removing KB5074109 is most defensible when the problem began immediately after installation, affects multiple games, did not exist with the same driver beforehand, and disappears when the update is removed. It is less persuasive when only one newly patched game is affected, the driver changed at the same time, temperatures or clocks changed, or the problem continues after rollback.
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Normal Settings route
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history.
- Select Uninstall updates.
- Choose the January 2026 cumulative update, KB5074109, then select Uninstall and restart.
The option may be unavailable if the update is superseded, outside the rollback window or protected by servicing dependencies.
If Windows will not offer the uninstall
- Enter Windows Recovery Environment → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates → Uninstall latest quality update, where available.
- Use System Restore if a restore point predates installation.
- Use Safe Mode only when needed for recovery or driver cleanup.
- Keep a current backup and do not force-delete packages from the component store.
Do not rely on wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:5074109. Microsoft says the combined servicing-stack and cumulative package cannot be removed through that ordinary WUSA command.
Best Value
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4 OC mode: 2640MHz/Default mode: 2610MHz (Boost Clock)
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.125-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
Understand the security cost
Rollback should be temporary incident response, not a permanent tuning setting. Pause updates only briefly if necessary, re-enable Windows Update, and install a later cumulative update or validated driver as soon as testing shows a safe path. Avoid modified drivers and unofficial “fixed” Windows packages.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to distinguish software trouble from a defective GPU
- Run a known-good game or benchmark after a clean driver install.
- Test another driver branch, game and graphics API.
- Check Event Viewer for recurring display-driver resets.
- Verify PSU cables and connector seating, and remove all overclocking.
- Test the card in another computer if practical.
- Look for artifacts in BIOS, on the Windows desktop and in another operating system.
Artifacts confined to one game after KB5074109 favor a software interaction, although they are not conclusive. Artifacts in BIOS or across operating systems, or failures that persist through clean Windows and driver tests, point more strongly toward the GPU, memory, display cable, monitor or power system.
Did later updates fix it?
As of August 18, 2026, Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 resolved-issues page lists several KB5074109-related problems and later fixes, but it does not clearly mark a general NVIDIA gaming regression as resolved. For example, KB5078127 fixed certain credential-prompt failures on January 24, 2026; that unrelated fix does not establish a graphics fix.
Some users reported improvement after later Windows updates, while others continued to report stutter or FPS problems. Older NVIDIA drivers reportedly reduced some Vulkan failures. Test your exact game, driver and API combination rather than assuming that a later update solved every symptom.
Bottom line
KB5074109 is a credible suspect for post-January 2026 NVIDIA stutter, artifacts, black screens, driver resets and Vulkan freezes on some Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 systems. The evidence does not show a universal FPS collapse or permanent GPU damage. Establish a before-and-after reproduction, test drivers and settings, then use rollback only for a severe, repeatable fault—and return to a patched Windows installation once a compatible update is available.
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