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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.
Conclusion: u can solve the problem setting the same resolution for both fullscreen game and deskop.
It must be a windows problem managing the memory to change from one resolution to the other dynamically or something. I confirm it is not related to a graphic card driver problem because I have 2 in my computer (Intel HD Graphics 4600 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M) and I have the problem with both of the graphic cards.
Can someone else confirm to have the same issue?
Agreed with Arcan. I am getting the same issues and similar output in Process Explorer. Only for fullscreen mode never for window mode. Doesn't happen on the primary display in native resolution (1600x900).
Games affected: Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, Simcity.
Specs: Win8.1 on, Samsung NP550P5C with 12GB DDR3, chipset is Intel HD4400 + Nvidia GT650M.
Temporary Solution:
To prevent the memory leak, the workaround is to first set the Screen Resolution in Win8.1 and make sure the game resolution matches.
Download and run the Windows Sysinternals Process Explorer procexp.exe, then goto 'System Information' <CTRL+I> to display Memory graph.s
Have this running in the background and ALT-TAB after 10-20 seconds of gameplay to make sure yellow System memory graph is a nice flat line rather than suddenly ramping up to 30+ GB 'Committed' System memory <-- this climbs exponentially for me and at 47+GB is the point it eventually crashes.
With the matching resolution settings applied, and Battlefield 3 or 4 in fullscreen mode, the System memory seems to hover steadily at around 6 or so GB when things are working correctly. Assuming also that, other than Battlelog in a your browser, there are no other memory hungry applications running.
Let me know if you can validate the above as a workaround.
I have a dell inspiron 7720 special edition 16gb ram 256 Samsung ssd and 1tb of mechanical hard drive.after upgrading to windows 8.1 im having low memory errors in game and constant freezing.i forgot to mention native resolution of 1080p.problem solved when I ran my games to 1080p no more memory errors and freezing hope this helps
It might be close to the solution. Seems that it is not related to your native resolution, but to the resolution you are using for ur desktop/windows.
My resolution in windows is 1600x900 (because I like it more) , but my native resolution is 1920x1080, which is the one I was using for games. I realized that if I set the game resolution to the same of my desktop I don't get the problem.
On the other way around is the same thing: if my desktop resolution is 1920x1080 and my game is set in 1600x900 I get the memory error, if I set both in 1920x1080 no problem. I haven't tested other resolutions, but it will probably be the same thing.
Conclusion: u can solve the problem setting the same resolution for both fullscreen game and deskop.
It must be a windows problem managing the memory to change from one resolution to the other dynamically or something. I confirm it is not related to a graphic card driver problem because I have 2 in my computer (Intel HD Graphics 4600 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M) and I have the problem with both of the graphic cards.
Can someone else confirm to have the same issue?
I have a dell inspiron 7720 special edition 16gb ram 256 Samsung ssd and 1tb of mechanical hard drive.after upgrading to windows 8.1 im having low memory errors in game and constant freezing.i forgot to mention native resolution of 1080p.problem solved when I ran my games to 1080p no more memory errors and freezing hope this helps
I'm getting this same issue- I just bought a new laptop, installed 8.1 Pro from the dreamspark iso, and every time I'm in a full screen game, a memory leak of some sort seems to fill up all of my memory (virtual + physical). It slowly fills up to just under 32 GB before dropping back down to approx. 4 GB over and over again, or when I tab out of the full screen game.
My laptop is running an i5-4200U with a GTX 765M Nvidia graphics card and 8GB DDR3. I have the latest intel & nvidia graphics drivers (version 15.33.5.64.3316 for intel HD 4600 graphics and GeForce 331.82 for the GTX 765M).
