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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.
@Rene-
Wow! That is a great piece of advice that I have never seen mentioned in any of the threads I am following on this issue.
Nicely done.
**In reply to "**with the same resolution as my desktop it still happen."
It happened to me too, I think the reason was that I did not "auto-hide the taskbar". Coincidently I saw in "Speccy" that my working desktop resolution wasn't 1920*1080 but 1920*1050.
Extract from Speccy:
Name 227ELH on Intel HD Graphics 4400
Current Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
Work Resolution 1920x1050 pixels
State Enabled, Primary, Output devices support
Monitor Width 1920
Monitor Height 1080
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 60 Hz
Device \.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
After I changed settings to "auto-hide the taskbar" I no longer had the problem when playing in the same resolution as that of the desktop resolution, that be of 1920*1080 native resolution or any other. As I sometimes, have to play in lower resolution. For example playing BF3, I change my desktop setting to 1366*768 and play BF3 in the same resolution without errors. The reason I have to lower the resolution playing BF3, if not obvious, is that HD4400 is simply not powerful enough to run other than 1366*768, with the graphics settings I prefer. It would otherwise be a laggy game of 10FPS. Now I can enjoy an average 30FPS.
Perhaps your settings are not "auto-hide the taskbar", is the reason that you are still experiencing “low memory” when running in “same” resolution as your desktop resolution.
I hope this is helpful.
I've tried all the about earlier Intel drivers mention and they aren't compatible with my symtem. After I install my metro interface in win8.1 shows only black. So many other features tend to get very buggy. Microsoft and Intel should release a fix fast cos even when I play Splinter Cell: Blacklist with the same resolution as my desktop it still happen. I can't understand Microsoft would be encouraging people to upgrade to 8.1 when they can't even put their act together and for once provide a clean OS.
Windows 8.1 is terrible for gaming and is incompatible with some games like Assassins creed 2 where I get a blinking black screen.
@andynan - Remove all Intel drivers and install 2874, 2884 or 3105. you are running HD4000 graphics and can therefore use a windows 8.0 driver. Doing this will fix the memory leak issue. Not an optimal solution, but a solution to your specific issue.
