Fix for Unusually High Memory Usage

[KMEO]

Hi all! I wonder if any of you can help me out with a problem I've been having for a few weeks now. As the title suggest, I need a permanent fix (if possible) to my problem. My computer seems to spike in memory usage and it's slowing down my computer from time-to-time, and the only "band-aid" I can think if is just having to restart the computer to keep it low. However, this is becoming a nuisance and I'd like to understand why this is happening. I have no clue on how to solve this problem since my google wizardry and my very limited knowledge of computer hardware & software can only get me so far.

 

Things that might help in diagnosing:
1. After I download and/or update a game on steam, my memory usage reaches, or is close to, the peak @ 16GB for the whole duration of me operating until I either restart or stop using the computer.

2. Read this online, but I noticed this as well: when my computer goes to sleep, my memory usage spikes, and just like the first one, it stays there for the whole time.

 

I'll provide some screenshots of what I'm seeing on Task Manager's Processes and Performance tabs.

[Tedster]

Seems like a Steam service that doesn't show up under processes might be causing a memory leak?

 

Have you tried fully reinstalling the Steam client?

 

[KMEO]

1 minute ago, Tedster said:

Seems like a Steam service that doesn't show up under processes might be causing a memory leak?

 

Have you tried fully reinstalling the Steam client?

 

I have not tried that. I knew something was up with the Steam client because after a huge download, my memory maxes out and my processes become slower.

[Enderman]

upgraded or clean installed windows 10?

[Tedster]

20 minutes ago, KMEO said:

I have not tried that. I knew something was up with the Steam client because after a huge download, my memory maxes out and my processes become slower.

I think you should try it then.

[KMEO]

Even after reinstalling steam, as well as the games that were uninstalled, it seems my computer is still maxing out on memory. In addition, my cursor is now "skipping" across the screen when I drag it. What is going on?

 

Here are the readings:

[KMEO]

APPARENTLY, after some further digging through Steam, someone came up with this cause: Killer Ethernet Port. Further digging suggest that Killer Network seems notorious for causing many a memory leak that doesn't get displayed on Task Manager because it's "forgotten" or something along those lines. I'm not 100% sure this is it, but can anyone else comment on it? Here's a reddit post that talks about it.

Note: My MoBo is  MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

 

Included a snippet of another steam user's problem:

Edited May 4, 2016 by KMEO
grammar/spelling

[KMEO]

I'm basically just replying to myself now, but I just want to let you guys know the problem is solved. After downloading XCOM 2, the memory column did not spike. The main cause of the problem was an outdated Killer Network driver. After updating the Killer Network driver (link here), the memory leaks seem to have subsided. Anyway, thanks for trying to help out Tedster and Enderman!