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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.
Nvidia has dedicated windows 8 drivers for the 750m.
But the installer, will install the 8.1 drivers no matter that u DL as most nv packages do all their cards and windows 7-8.1 in one driver DL file.
If that's your issue , then youmust manually locate the win 8 vs 8.1 driver and brute force install it into windows. Windows will complain bitterly. But u should be able to force it
nvidia makes drivers all the way back to 7 for any new product (even vista for others)
If this is your issues, I can explain, in detail, how to install the win 8.0 only drivers and install them
If you go to nvidia's site, and tell it you want the win 8 only driver for the 750M you get this:
| Version | 337.88 - WHQL |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Mon May 26, 2014 |
| Operating System | Windows 7 64-bit <br><br>Windows 8.1 64-bit <br><br>Windows 8 64-bit |
| Language | English (US) |
| File Size | 318.41 MB |
Your 8 only driver IS in there.. but the install program will ONLY install the 8.1 You must find the 8.0 folder, and brute force install it into windows via device manager and telling it you have a disk , point it to the driver and install it.. windows may say "your HW doesn't match or it's for an earlier version of windows..." but you should be able to tell it to install anyway.
Even if THAT doesn't work.. there are other ways to force a driver installation.
(same process for 32bit)
My work laptop has this issue, it had major issues getting the win 8 driver it.. until then I used a 128GB page file.. that let me game for 3-4 hrs before the page files filled with garbage and it crashed out (granted I was playing a 64bit game on a 64bit OS)
now for 32bit users.. this issue will be TERRIBLE as the pagefiles won't help
Plus I see no reason for people run 32bit windows any longer
I do have dedicated graphics. nVidia 750M. It doesn't matter if I'm using dedicated or integrated; the problem still persists. And I obviously know you can manually download and install drivers, but if you would have carefully read my post, you'd see that the problem is an unavailability of windows 8 drivers, not Windows 8.1. I know Windows 8 drivers can be used with windows 8.1.
I'm using an XPS 15 9530. If you want to go ahead and track down Windows 8 drivers, then be my guest.
You've been annoying since this whole low memory thing started. If your computer works fine, then good, carry on, but don't come here acting like our mom telling us what's best for us. I choose not to spend money on something I shouldn't and so I don't. We're not the ones to fix s***; Microsoft and Intel are. If you don't have any problems on Windows 8.1, what are you really doing here?
I'm so sorry I'm trying to help. If u used your brian you'd see I posted I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ON MY WORK LAPTOP and can replicate it in my desktop
so b4 insulting, someone, go read all 20 pages
i don't come here and INSULT ppl
i offer solutions, fixes , ways to get through this until a fix is made. Some of my ideas work some don't because everyone has different HW/Sw
now I have said "u get what u pay for". That's true. It stil means things should WORK
but intel graphics are the bottom of the barrel .. You wint see them rocking Titan, theif, etc. They may b able to play them but at crappy quality
You can't think of a reason people run games in a different resolution? Honestly? A lot of people experiencing this issue are using laptops. Most laptops don't have the power to run intensive games at full resolution. It's better to run a game smoothly at a lower resolution than suffer terrible performance at full resolution.
Also, for users with higher resolution screens than 1080p, running at full res is even less of an option. Good luck getting a laptop to run something smoothly at native 3200x1800.
And as far as your other points go,
- Not all hardware has older drivers. My laptop arrived in January with brand new hardware and the first revision of all of its drivers. When I checked for new drivers, there weren't even any available. I've even tried going back to Windows 8, but there aren't any windows 8 drivers available for my hardware.
- Increasing the page file only lengthens the time before the error message occurs. In my case, it takes me from an error every 5 minutes to one about every 10.
If you've just come to this forum to yell at users, you're in the wrong place. We're getting enough trouble from Microsoft and Intel. We don't need any extra from users like you.
What's your VIDEO HW that has no older driver that works?
iyou shouldn't be 4k gaming with an intel graphics solution. They can't handle it. And if ur laptop has more than a 1080 screen it SHOULD have A dedicated ati or nvidia system. My. Gaming alienware laptop has 2 gtx 800Ms. It can 4k game just fine
I put the pagefile option as that has help 64bit users to get them to game 1-2 hrs. One user made a 2TB. Pagefile and gamed for hrs. Band aid fix
My work laptop:
I have a ve a laptop with this issue. I've gotten it to work around thus bug. That's why I'm here to HELP.
