WIndows 8.1 gaming issue(s)

[kodiak.pw]

Hello all,

 

So i have recently upgraded, "upgraded", my OS to windows 8.1 and im already having issues with it, most specifically with Far Cry 4.

 

My specs:

 

CPU: C2D E8400 @ 4005 Mhz

Mobo: P5B DLX

HDD: 500GB

RAM: 6GB Gskill DDR2

GFX: HD 7790 1GB @ 1200/1600 Mhz

 

Im playing at 900p high settings, and when on windows 7 Far Cry 4 would run fine and fairly smooth, using the resources it had available, now, with windows 8.1 it starts out fine, then after a few minutes it hits 3GB of RAM usage and starts going to HDD instead, creating screen freezes and just alround god awful performance, because apparently its just ignoring the other half of my system RAM (win8.1 recognizes all 6GB of it just fine too).

 

I'll restart the game, and it does the same again, runs ok for a few minutes, then hits 3GB and starts going to HDD for resources, turning the game unplayable pretty much. I monitored both win7 and 8 situations with MSI AB.

 

So windows 7 = would use up to 5.3GB RAM while running far cry 4 aka capped, rest is reserved to windows.

Windows 8.1 = hits around the 3GB mark, starts going to HDD, game is unplayable.

 

 

Am i missing something with this OS? is there some feature that i need/could turn on, or off, to fix this problem, or...?

 

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

[Bastian]

First of all, the OS isn't using your HDD for more RAM, it uses that (as far as i know) only for crash reports.

So there might be an issue with your RAM...

 

But i don't really know, how to fix that other than just buying new ram and testing if it's solved then, so...

 

Sorry for my bad english 

[kodiak.pw]

Thanks for replying.

 

@frantakiller i really just went with it mate, i have a friend on steam that sort of wouldnt shut up with win8.1, and despite some reluctancy i went ahead and got it. I might have to go back to win7-64 since now i got both discs anyway, if i cant find how to fix this, because that OS gave me no issues whatsoever. Plus, it runs better, even my benchmarks get higher results under 7.

 

@Bastian English is fine, thanks. its not the RAM mate. When i overclock the system i usually also test. The CPU is at 4005 Mhz but passed 12 hours of prime95 that works it far more than far cry 4. In comparison, prime heats the CPU to 65 celsius, far cry 4 cant even make it pass 56º. As for RAM issues, they also pass(ed) several RAM tests, both from prime, and memtest. All came out clean.

 

And like i said, the only thing i changed was the OS, this same PC was playing FC4 on 7-64bit absolutely fine in the settings i described earlier. Now on windows 8.1? im lucky if i get 5 minutes without it stuttering me to death. And i was wondering if there is a fix, because the OS is clearly not using the resources available, or if this is just simply how this terrible OS handles things.

[Gamerjoe]

Did you do a clean install of windows 8.1, if yes did you remember to install all your drivers.

[kodiak.pw]

@Gamerjoe yes, clean install, driver was formatted before putting 8.1 in, all updates it sent my way are properly installed and running. And yes, all drivers are installed and up to date.

 

it mimics my win7-64 bit OCD installation, in every way. Only thing that differs is the horrendous performance.

[tmlhalo]

Sounds like a memory leak. Probably Ubisoft and their shoddy code. Try running in Windows 7 compatibility mode and see if the behavior continues. Also the OS does use storage as ram when it runs out of ram, called the page file area, virtual memory, or swap space.

[kodiak.pw]

tmlhalo yep, i am aware of it. The strange behavior that i am seeking help for, is when windows (8.1) still has some 2.5GB available to use, and it just seems to start going for virtual memory, writting on HDD when im looking at all that free, much, much faster RAM.

 

Ive read about similar issues on windows 8.1, as theres plenty of users saying they get "low memory" warnings, when infact they have plenty still to be used. In some of the situations its even more drastic, because their game even crashes. MIne just simply doesn't perform. And there i am, looking at MSI Afterburner readings, VRAM just sitting at 780MB doing perfectly fine, the system RAM at like 3098MB out of 6144MB total, BUT, windows decides its a great idea to start reaching for virtual memory.

 

So i started this topic wondering if anyone more seasoned with win8.1 could tell me if there is some sort of tweaks, or service i could maybe disable, that got me my win7 performance back.

[tmlhalo]

Short of turning the page file off I am not aware of anything to adjust page file usage. I don't think this is the issue but the installation is 64bit correct? On the side note changing resource allocation wouldn't help if it is a memory leak from fc4 not freeing up old memory. I would consider trying compatibility mode in case the leak is unique to 8. Maybe try with page file off second. 

[kodiak.pw]

@tmlhalo just tried your win7 compatibility mode, nothing changes. RAM usage around 3GB, screen even freezing, people shooting arrows at me and i just stand there because yes, game too busy freezing all over the place, HDD going mental 100% usage, OS is acting like its run out of system memory. VRAM not near capacity either. Wasn't even ingame for 10 minutes.

 

As for the installation, i only presenced this yesterday, when i re-installed far cry 4 to go play some more. But this time i am on win8.1. I did the full playthru on the windows 7 install, like 36 hours, not once did this happen. It would simply just use the rest of the RAM (and cap it even) and never give me any troubles.

 

p.S.: both OS are 64-bit yes. As i mentioned, win8.1 even recognizes the 6144MB it has to work with, just doesnt care for using them.

 

P.S.2: i rather not have to set PF off, as ive read about it, and even had it myself before, but some things just dont like that, and added instability because of the already mediocre looking win8.1 is not what im looking for. I already played with PF size and everything, otherwise. No changes occured.

[kodiak.pw]

One last plea.

 

Anyone with something that i might have missed, to fix this windows 8.1 issue?

[StainlessSR]

Have you thought about going with windows 10 preview? it will still give you the metro interface if you want that feature (about the only reason I can see for someone to go with win 8 over 7)

[kodiak.pw]

@StainlessSR i did, but it looks a bit green still. And im guessing i made a mistake opting for windows 8.1.

 

I have already formatted the HDD, re-installed my windows 7, and played a quick run of far cry 4, and for the 20 25 minutes i was in there i was presented with absolutely no issues. My resources are being used once again.

 

Welcome home, windows 7?

 

Thanks for all the replies.