For Windows 10/11, you can manually tell the OS to report a minimum VRAM to DirectX. Warning: Back up your registry first.
The DirectX "512 MB" error in Need for Speed Payback typically occurs when the game fails to detect sufficient Video RAM (VRAM) or when the graphics driver crashes during a memory-intensive task. Core Solutions nfs payback directx error 512 mb
If you are on a gaming laptop, your system is trying to run the game on the weak Intel Integrated Graphics chip. You must force Windows to use your dedicated NVIDIA or AMD card. Resolving the DirectX Error in Need for Speed:
: Even with ample physical RAM, some systems trigger this error due to a small or disabled paging file. Manually setting the virtual memory to a custom size (e.g., 4096 MB min/max) has been reported by many to stop crashes and memory allocation errors. Apply the changes and restart the game
The Windows error chime was like a gunshot in the quiet room. A gray box popped up, overlaying the shattered remains of his dream car.
He realized the truth. The game wasn't broken. The game was a time traveler. It was trying to tell him that despite all his horsepower, all his lighting effects, and all his 4K textures, the ghost of the Xbox 360 era was still trapped inside the code.