This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
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.
Check this out:
Virtual memory is @ 100% if i run a game at a different resolution than the desktop resolution!
Intel's replies are garbage. They just send you to generic MS sites on how to resolve VM issues.
Intel just needs to fix their 8.1 driver to handle the fact 8.1X64 has a 128TB memory space per application vs 8TB for Vista,7,and 8...
Why don't people just run in full screen at the same resolution as their desktop, won't that make this issue temporarily go away?
- I don't see a reason to run LOWER than what your monitor does (unless your graphics can't handle the res of your monitor)
- you can't run higher than your desktop res (unless you manually set your desktop to below you monitors max capability (and I see no real reason to do that)
I have a 2560x1600 monitor... that's my desktop res.. that's the res I run every game in unless a game doesn't support it. So if the game only did 1920x1200.. then I'd set my desktop to 1920x1200
wouldn't that make the intel issue go away?
Correct me if wrong? The memory issue ONLY happens when the GAME and DESKTOP resolutions DO NOT MATCH? If that's the case, it's a VERY easy fix till intel fixes it:
Adjust the game to match the desktop
Adjust the desktop to match the game
Yes, you are wrong! Also the refresh rate must match. People who use xbmc have also the
BUG when they are connect the Laptop to a TV (refresh 50Hz).
And of course it makes sense to run games with lower resolution. In most cases
users from a Laptop are affected. Destop is set to FULL-HD and games are set to HD-READY,
because the power from the GPU ist not strong enough. And every time to change the resolution
ist very stupid. This is a big BUG and should be solved. More than 5 month i have to live with this
workaround.
@TallBear-
I think that many laptop users will have a higher resolution on their desktop than in their games. There is just not enough power in some of these machines to run a 1280x720 or 1920x1080 game. @Ray is correct. The resolution and the refresh rate have to match or else the bug happens. You are correct in that there is a way to get around it (match your refresh rate / resolution). It is just that end users do not want to have to adjust their settings before firing up their games.
Another way around it is to alt-tab to the desktop and then back to the game every 5-10 minutes.
I run windows 8.1 pro with Media Center. I discovered the bug accidentally. If I had WMC up in full screen mode and I powered off the TV I would have the the dialog up on my screen when I powered the TV back on. Turns out that when Windows (7, 8, 8.1) gets a monitor power off event it changes the resolution of the desktop to 1024 x 768. Because WMC is in 1920 X 1080 mode the mismatch occurs. My temporary resolution is the insertion of a $10 A/B HDMI switch. It stops the OS from receiving the Monitor Powered Off event, therefore my resolutions always match. Not elegant, but it works.
Is it possible that Microsoft has admitted it is an issue on their side?
@BRORIM -
I do not believe you are suffering from the issue we have been talking about in this thread. Or, perhaps as @TallBear has suggested your AMD graphics drivers are out of date. Verify you have the latest installed.
@Giuliano - Verify your refresh rate of the display and the graphics match. That along with the resolutions matching will cause the bug not to occur.
@TallBear-
Do you believe that users of windows 8.1 32 bit would not see the issues? I wonder if we could find someone with a 32 bit install to verify they are not seeing it.
I have also experienced this problem:
I play Deus Ex: Human Revolution fullscreen, on my laptop. The laptop is connected to my home theater onkyo reciever by HDMI, which is connected to my tv. Windows, Deus Ex: HR and my TV are all operating at 1920x1080 resolution. 10 minutes into gameplay, I get the warning that my memory is low, it appears that practically 100 percent is in use, and half of the time this appears to make my PC restart. Resolution might be related to this, but I can verify that my game and PC are all running the same resolution, so the problem might be something else. Either way, Microsoft, you need to develop a fix for this glaring problem.
Yep thats about the same problem i have ..
Problem, so far, arise in Battlefield 4 and Landmark ( the game ) . Funny thing about Landmark is it happens in windowed mode as well as in fullscreen mode ..
I will be testing a wide array of games today to replicate the issue ( even though this should not be my job and it pays nothing. ) If this is a game wide issue windows 8.1 is going in the trash ( for good ) ..
@BRORIM -
I do not believe you are suffering from the issue we have been talking about in this thread. Or, perhaps as @TallBear has suggested your AMD graphics drivers are out of date. Verify you have the latest installed.
@ewtaylo
Latest driver .. I would not be writing anything here if not all the options available to me has been tested..
