Borderlands 2 — How to Fix "Ran out of video memory"
Ran out of video memory in Borderlands 2: the fix path, and when it is grounds for a refund.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
If Borderlands 2 is failing with "Ran out of video memory", this page tells you which fixes are worth your time and when you should stop troubleshooting and go to the store instead. The causes are specific, so the fixes are too.
What the error looks like
Confirm you are dealing with the same failure.
Recognising "Ran out of video memory"
Borderlands 2 crashes with a message saying it has run out of video memory, often during extended sessions or heavy combat.
Why it happens
The cause determines the fix.
Cause 1
PhysX at High generating particle and fluid data faster than the engine’s memory manager can retire it. This is the primary culprit, not textures.
Cause 2
The 32-bit executable addressing only about 2 GB of RAM by default, which limits how much the memory manager can work with.
Cause 3
High-resolution textures and long view distance accumulating allocations over a session, plus 4K output pressure.
Fixes, in the order that works
Cheapest and most reversible first.
Lower PhysX to Low or Medium first
This is the single most effective change. On AMD cards PhysX falls back to the CPU and performs poorly above Low, so Off or Low is the practical setting there.
Apply the 4 GB patch
A large address aware patch lets the 32-bit executable use up to 4 GB of virtual memory. Back up the original executable first — you are modifying a binary.
Reduce texture quality and view distance
Both free substantial VRAM. At 4K, prioritise resolution clarity and scale back ambient occlusion, shadows and PhysX instead.
Disable fullscreen optimizations
Right-click Borderlands2.exe in Binaries\Win32, open the Compatibility tab and disable fullscreen optimizations. This also fixes the micro-stutter common on Windows 10 and 11.
Close background applications
Browsers, recorders and overlay utilities consume system memory the game needs. Update GPU drivers with a clean install as well, since legacy title support is refined regularly.
How to confirm it is fixed
One successful launch is not proof.
Retest properly
Play a long session in a combat-heavy area with lots of explosions and elemental effects. The error is cumulative, so a short test will not reveal it.
When to ask for a refund instead
Troubleshooting has a deadline.
Know the window
Steam refunds within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of playtime, and documented technical faults are sometimes accepted past that. Microsoft Store and Epic follow similar rules with store-specific exception paths.
Evidence changes outcomes
Attach crash logs, a DxDiag and the steps you already tried. A denied refund can sometimes be overturned when you can show the game is genuinely unplayable rather than simply disliked.
Bans are not refundable
If the failure follows an anti-cheat ban or a modified online client, no store will refund it. That is a separate category from a game that will not run.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for Borderlands 2. GameFixPro does not host or link to copyrighted assets. Modding guidance is for single-player use only — never use mods in online multiplayer. Verify current requirements, prices and policies with the publisher before acting.