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Info: This bug was fixed on August 12th 2014 with the release of the month's Patch Tuesday. Make sure to install every update available for your system, if you're having the problem described on this thread.
Hello, I've been facing a "tough" problem with my computer running Windows 8.1 x64. I did not upgrade from Windows 8, I did a clean install and for the past month, everytime I play some of the new 2013 games (Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Battlefield 4, CoD:Ghosts etc.), I'm constantly getting a "low memory" warning from time to time.
So, giving that my laptop is capable of running these games (Asus N56VZ - Intel Core i7, Intel HD 4000 + Nvidia GT650 M, 6GB DDR3, 750GB 7200rpm, Full-HD 15,6" screen), I began searching for an answer. Here's what I've concluded:
When the game (eg: Battlefield 4) opens, the memory consumption begins to rise, and rise, and rise, non stop, until the system doesn't have more memory available and triggers the low memory warning. However, in the exact moment that I "alt+tab" out of game OR the memory warning does it for me, all of the occupied memory is emptied instantly, like magic!
I was able to "understand" this using Process Explorer by MS (sysinternals), heres a screenshot that shows the "climbing" and the sudden drops:
I cant really discover where all this memory is being allocated/used, and I have no idea on whats causing this. I also don't know if this is Windows-related, device-related or driver-related.
Is anyone facing this as well?
[UPDATE DECEMBER 9th] This issue is triggered when the resolution in which the games are being played differs from the resolution configured on Windows.
If you are playing a game, say, in 1366x768, you need to change the system resolution to the same 1366x768 BEFORE opening the game. That will stop the excessive memory consumption and you'll be able to play the game fine.
My system is in Portuguese, but I think it's easy to get it:
This also concludes that the issue is Windows-related and not driver related, so we'll have to wait for Microsoft to patch it. Meanwhile, remember to change your resolution when you're going to play.
[UPDATE APRIL 26th 2014]
According to some Intel folks at communities.intel.com (http://is.gd/71Vha2), Microsoft has confirmed the issue with Windows 8.1 in an internal email. It resides - as it was explained - on the DWM (Desktop Window Manager) which triggers a memory leak when running fullscreen games with a resolution different than the desktop resolution.
The memory leak fills the system memory and page file with junk until there's no more memory available.
We assume Microsoft is already working on a fix for this, altough we never heard anything "official" from them regarding the issue.
[UPDATE AUGUST 14th 2014]
The problem has been finally fixed by Microsoft with the release of the August updates on Aug. 12th.
Make sure to install every single update available - including the optional ones - and you'll no longer receive low-memory warnings when running fullscreen games/apps with different resolution/refresh rate.
Also make sure you're using the latest drivers available for your Intel and/or Nvidia GPU (it might be important).
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
I might be a bit cynical but I looked through all the support KB's from the updates today and couldn't find anything that related to fixing this issue (unless I'm missing something)...
Yesterday i have made the update and i found via the link also no description, but...
Yah!, after nearly 10 months, microsoft have now solved this bug.
With the latest patches (Patch Day 12.08.2014, also install the optional Updates),
all different resolutions and framerates works well.
I think our praying have been heard. Here is the new Intel HD Driver, I think our problem solved.
32 bit: http://www.mediafire.com/download/n58xahs4n3d75za/Intel\_VGA\_15.33.12.3383\_32.exe
64 bit: http://www.mediafire.com/download/icifd799yqu4c1q/Intel\_VGA\_15.33.12.3383\_64.exe
Best wishes
im not sure if this is the other alternative fix, but i had the same issue and then i checked the installed programs. heres what i did:
from desktop, right clicked the windows logo on the bottom left corner of the screen, and highlight and click "program and features".
and then i went to check every MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ that got installed in my system.
and i found few MSVC++ that is basically the same release but different size etc.
and i chose to uninstalled the "duplicates"(ones with same name strings) which has similar file size and leave one version that has the most latter installation dates still installed.
for example: i have 3 microsoft visual C++ redist 2008 x86 9.0.30729.
2 of them has similar size(one 788kb the other 778kb) and one has 2.6MB size. so i uninstalled the one with the size 788kb because the other twin with 778kb has a much latter installation date. but i leave the 2.6MB one alone. because the significant file size differences maybe means its for a different usage. basically i kept the 778kb and the 2MB versions.
i did this to the other releases such as the 2005, 2010, 2012, x64 or x86 versions of those MSVC++.
the result is, windows 8.1 no longer choked with maximum disk load during startup for too long, and i havent get any LOW MEMORY exclamation anymore so far. Plus all my programs and applications still running perfectly.
im not sure what i did was right, but at least for me it fixes my low memory/leak with games and digital workstations.
-- NO, THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM !!!---
I had also different version of C++ Redist. In the end i removed all version from the Laptop
and downloaded and installed the latest C++ Redist. from Microsoft downlaod. ALSO
NO SUCCESS!!! Virtual Mem still rises up!!
Here is a screenshot from the silly behavior. You can see the linear rise to 8GB in
less then 30 seconds! If you close the game, or alt Tabed, it immediately fall down!
Hey, microsoft, please look at this!!!!!
try my tips i posted in this thread earlier.
im not sure if this is the other alternative fix, but i had the same issue and then i checked the installed programs. heres what i did:
from desktop, right clicked the windows logo on the bottom left corner of the screen, and highlight and click "program and features".
and then i went to check every MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ that got installed in my system.
and i found few MSVC++ that is basically the same release but different size etc.
and i chose to uninstalled the "duplicates"(ones with same name strings) which has similar file size and leave one version that has the most latter installation dates still installed.
for example: i have 3 microsoft visual C++ redist 2008 x86 9.0.30729.
2 of them has similar size(one 788kb the other 778kb) and one has 2.6MB size. so i uninstalled the one with the size 788kb because the other twin with 778kb has a much latter installation date. but i leave the 2.6MB one alone. because the significant file size differences maybe means its for a different usage. basically i kept the 778kb and the 2MB versions.
i did this to the other releases such as the 2005, 2010, 2012, x64 or x86 versions of those MSVC++.
the result is, windows 8.1 no longer choked with maximum disk load during startup for too long, and i havent get any LOW MEMORY exclamation anymore so far. Plus all my programs and applications still running perfectly.
im not sure what i did was right, but at least for me it fixes my low memory/leak with games and digital workstations.
