Question Games freeze after alt tabbing ?

[mark129]

Hello All,

I have been having a problem with my PC regarding games. I tab out sometimes and when I tab back its just a like a still picture and have to re-tab multiple times to get back to playing the game if it lets me, sometimes it just crashes. What would be the cause and is there any test I can run to find out what would be the cause?

My specs:
Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13600KF 3.50 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
OS: Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
MB: ASUS Prime Z790-P D4

I read about that this processor is causing problems with games, but does this sound like the issues of the CPU cores dying(at least what i was told its whats happening).

If i can supply more info to help diagnose my problem, please let me know.

If it is my CPU what would be a good replacement with the same socket.
My knowledge is very basic.

--Mark

 

[Aeacus]

I tab out sometimes and when I tab back its just a like a still picture and have to re-tab multiple times to get back to playing the game if it lets me, sometimes it just crashes.

Is it one specific game or multiple different games?

If single game, try running Borderless Window (looks like full screen still).
Then, there's the issue that many games pause themselves when they aren't the active window anymore. Could be that your specific game doesn't do well with the stop-start system (up to devs to code that support to the game).

If it is several different games - things get more complicated.
If so, did you had that issue always or did it came about lately? If not always, then what software change you did, to make the issue come about?
Another option to try fixing multiple game freeze issues, would be clean OS install. Meaning OS drive format + new, clean OS installation.

If it is my CPU what would be a good replacement with the same socket.

Any Intel 12th, 13th and 14th gen CPU (LGA1700 socket) will do.
Basically these, pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/cpu/#k=40&sort=price&X=19549,278095&s=12,13,61
(Note: some CPUs there are weaker than what you have but i can't filter those out.)

Best upgrade would be i9-14900K, if you have the money for it,
comparison: https://technical.city/en/cpu/Core-i5-13600KF-vs-Core-i9-14900K

Well, absolute best would be i9-14900KS Special Edition CPU but availability and price would be huge issues,
comparison to i9-14900K: https://technical.city/en/cpu/Core-i9-14900K-vs-Core-i9-14900KS

 

[mark129]

Is it one specific game or multiple different games?

If single game, try running Borderless Window (looks like full screen still).
Then, there's the issue that many games pause themselves when they aren't the active window anymore. Could be that your specific game doesn't do well with the stop-start system (up to devs to code that support to the game).

If it is several different games - things get more complicated.
If so, did you had that issue always or did it came about lately? If not always, then what software change you did, to make the issue come about?
Another option to try fixing multiple game freeze issues, would be clean OS install. Meaning OS drive format + new, clean OS installation.


Any Intel 12th, 13th and 14th gen CPU (LGA1700 socket) will do.
Basically these, pcpp: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/cpu/#k=40&sort=price&X=19549,278095&s=12,13,61
(Note: some CPUs there are weaker than what you have but i can't filter those out.)

Best upgrade would be i9-14900K, if you have the money for it,
comparison: https://technical.city/en/cpu/Core-i5-13600KF-vs-Core-i9-14900K

Well, absolute best would be i9-14900KS Special Edition CPU but availability and price would be huge issues,
comparison to i9-14900K: https://technical.city/en/cpu/Core-i9-14900K-vs-Core-i9-14900KS

Thanks so much for your comment.

It is actually multiple games, I run all my games in borderless window that allows me.

The issue just came out of the blue, had 0 issues before after the build and went great for months and all of a sudden this started happening.
I thought it might be software so I done a complete fresh install of my OS but unfortunately the issue still happens, so i put it down to hardware.

I will have a look at the new chips you linked me, thanks!


Does it sound like a processor issue or could it be something else?

 

[Aeacus]

I thought it might be software so I done a complete fresh install of my OS but unfortunately the issue still happens, so i put it down to hardware.

Yeah, with clean OS install and issue still happens, it comes down to hardware.

Does it sound like a processor issue or could it be something else?

Could be RAM too.

Download and run memtest86,
link: https://www.memtest86.com/

Guide to install and use it: https://www.memtest86.com/tech_creating-window.html

1 full pass (all 15 tests) is bare minimum. 2 full passes are better while 4 full passes is considered acceptable.

Since it takes a while, best to let it run overnight.
1x 8GB ~1h per 1 full pass. ~4h for 4 full passes.
2x 8GB ~2.5h per 1 full pass. ~10h for 4 full passes.
2x 16GB ~5h per 1 full pass. ~20h for 4 full passes.

If there are no errors - RAM is sound.

For absolute testing of RAM, 32 full passes are needed (due to test #7).
Further reading: https://www.memtest86.com/tech_individual-test-descr.html
But no-one in their right mind is going to do 32 full passes, since it takes forever + then some. Especially when you have a lot of RAM in the system. Consensus in the tech support is that 4 full passes are enough.


For an off-chance, it could come down to GPU as well, whereby GPU fails to re-initialize itself once you bring the game as active window again.

For GPU testing, there is Unigine Superposition,
link: https://benchmark.unigine.com/superposition

There are actually others as well, like 3DMark, FurMark, PassMark and many latest games have their own in-game benchmark as well.
Same for CPUs, many benchmark programs, like: Cinebench, Prime95, AIDA64.

For Superposition, best to use presets available and check the final score against same GPU you have, from Unigine leaderboard. To see how your GPU fares.
Link: https://benchmark.unigine.com/leaderboards/superposition/1.x/1080p-extreme/single-gpu/page-1

1080p Extreme is GPU torture test.
Now, Superposition doesn't tell if your GPU has fundamental flaw, it instead tests it's performance. But if you see stutters/artifacts during the run, then you can further investigate the GPU.


Now, when to think about it 🤔 , it would be a good idea to bench your CPU as well. Cinebench is good since you can compare the results score for the same CPU from the net as well.

 

[QyInvoLing]

Use 7zip to unzip a big(>1GB) file and check if it fails. If so, your 13600kf is dead.

 

[stonecarver]

I have been having a problem with my PC regarding games. I tab out sometimes and when I tab back its just a like a still picture and have to re-tab multiple times to get back to playing the game if it lets me, sometimes it just crashes. What would be the cause and is there any test I can run to find out what would be the cause?

You could try a few tricks I have found that work when you pause a game and I have the game freezing or PC lock up just like you mentioned.

My saga was because I have multiple PC's running off a KVM switch and when I have a game going and pause it and move to another computer than back to the game yup frozen.

My trick is if it's a steam game I bring up the overlay in steam with Tab +Shift than I hit the Windows key it keeps the game in a state I can just click back in and keep playing later.

Or if I can't use the over lay if I Ctrl Alt Delete while the game is paused I can get to my pinned firefox and that will suspend the game without freezing it and when I want to resume playing I just click the icon of the game in my taskbar and instant back in the game.

But there are two game that I have found that refuse to work this way is the original Crysis and F.E.A.R 2/3

 

[mark129]

Yeah, with clean OS install and issue still happens, it comes down to hardware.


Could be RAM too.

Download and run memtest86,
link: https://www.memtest86.com/

Guide to install and use it: https://www.memtest86.com/tech_creating-window.html

1 full pass (all 15 tests) is bare minimum. 2 full passes are better while 4 full passes is considered acceptable.

Since it takes a while, best to let it run overnight.
1x 8GB ~1h per 1 full pass. ~4h for 4 full passes.
2x 8GB ~2.5h per 1 full pass. ~10h for 4 full passes.
2x 16GB ~5h per 1 full pass. ~20h for 4 full passes.

If there are no errors - RAM is sound.

For absolute testing of RAM, 32 full passes are needed (due to test #7).
Further reading: https://www.memtest86.com/tech_individual-test-descr.html
But no-one in their right mind is going to do 32 full passes, since it takes forever + then some. Especially when you have a lot of RAM in the system. Consensus in the tech support is that 4 full passes are enough.


For an off-chance, it could come down to GPU as well, whereby GPU fails to re-initialize itself once you bring the game as active window again.

For GPU testing, there is Unigine Superposition,
link: https://benchmark.unigine.com/superposition

There are actually others as well, like 3DMark, FurMark, PassMark and many latest games have their own in-game benchmark as well.
Same for CPUs, many benchmark programs, like: Cinebench, Prime95, AIDA64.

For Superposition, best to use presets available and check the final score against same GPU you have, from Unigine leaderboard. To see how your GPU fares.
Link: https://benchmark.unigine.com/leaderboards/superposition/1.x/1080p-extreme/single-gpu/page-1

1080p Extreme is GPU torture test.
Now, Superposition doesn't tell if your GPU has fundamental flaw, it instead tests it's performance. But if you see stutters/artifacts during the run, then you can further investigate the GPU.


Now, when to think about it 🤔 , it would be a good idea to bench your CPU as well. Cinebench is good since you can compare the results score for the same CPU from the net as well.

Thanks!

I will run the RAM test tonight and see.

I ran the GPU benchmark and compared it seemed to be just about similar to the others on the website you linked too.

Going to test Cinebench also.

Thanks so much for your help, its been great!

 

[mark129]

Use 7zip to unzip a big(>1GB) file and check if it fails. If so, your 13600kf is dead.

Will try, thanks!

 

[mark129]

You could try a few tricks I have found that work when you pause a game and I have the game freezing or PC lock up just like you mentioned.

My saga was because I have multiple PC's running off a KVM switch and when I have a game going and pause it and move to another computer than back to the game yup frozen.

My trick is if it's a steam game I bring up the overlay in steam with Tab +Shift than I hit the Windows key it keeps the game in a state I can just click back in and keep playing later.

Or if I can't use the over lay if I Ctrl Alt Delete while the game is paused I can get to my pinned firefox and that will suspend the game without freezing it and when I want to resume playing I just click the icon of the game in my taskbar and instant back in the game.

But there are two game that I have found that refuse to work this way is the original Crysis and F.E.A.R 2/3

Thanks, ive tried a few different tricks with steam games, but now with Space Marine 2, if i even alt tab while doing that, i cant get back into the game.

 

[johnbl]

Hello All,

I have been having a problem with my PC regarding games. I tab out sometimes and when I tab back its just a like a still picture and have to re-tab multiple times to get back to playing the game if it lets me, sometimes it just crashes. What would be the cause and is there any test I can run to find out what would be the cause?

My specs:
Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13600KF 3.50 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
OS: Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
MB: ASUS Prime Z790-P D4

I read about that this processor is causing problems with games, but does this sound like the issues of the CPU cores dying(at least what i was told its whats happening).

If i can supply more info to help diagnose my problem, please let me know.

If it is my CPU what would be a good replacement with the same socket.
My knowledge is very basic.

--Mark

I would first look at the pagefile.sys size and where it is located.
is it on a ssd? or on a HDD?
next I would look at the resources being used.
task manager->performance->memory->non paged pool used
and paged pool used.

 

[mark129]

I would first look at the pagefile.sys size and where it is located.
is it on a ssd? or on a HDD?
next I would look at the resources being used.
task manager->performance->memory->non paged pool used
and paged pool used.

Not sure how I can find "pagefile.sys" but I have 2 SSD and 1 m.2 drive(which my os is on).
My non paged pool used is 584mb and paged pool used is about 494.

 

[johnbl]

Not sure how I can find "pagefile.sys" but I have 2 SSD and 1 m.2 drive(which my os is on).
My non paged pool used is 584mb and paged pool used is about 494.

the paged and non paged numbers look reasonable.

the pagefile.sys is the windows virtual memory
google how to set windows pagefile size
to see where it is set

you might also download a tool like crystaldiskinfo.exe to read the smart data from the drive and check the firmware versions and see if it needs to be updated.

sometimes with outdated firmware, the pagefile has a lot of bad sections and the trim functions get behind and it makes it very hard to page. (fix is to update firmware, or boot into bios and leave the machine on for a hour or two to let the ssd firmware do its internal cleanup functions. )

you can also do: download microsoft rammap64.exe and run find the empty menu item and select each item and reboot.

you can also google how to make windows delete the pagefile.sys on reboot and make the registry change and reboot. (fixes some problems, with malware and can help bogged down ssd trim functions) I would remove the registry change after I figured out the system problem.

can your game run in windowed mode? sometimes that will make it much easier to task switch. full screen mode take longer.

 

[mark129]

the paged and non paged numbers look reasonable.

the pagefile.sys is the windows virtual memory
google how to set windows pagefile size
to see where it is set

you might also download a tool like crystaldiskinfo.exe to read the smart data from the drive and check the firmware versions and see if it needs to be updated.

sometimes with outdated firmware, the pagefile has a lot of bad sections and the trim functions get behind and it makes it very hard to page. (fix is to update firmware, or boot into bios and leave the machine on for a hour or two to let the ssd firmware do its internal cleanup functions. )

you can also do: download microsoft rammap64.exe and run find the empty menu item and select each item and reboot.

you can also google how to make windows delete the pagefile.sys on reboot and make the registry change and reboot. (fixes some problems, with malware and can help bogged down ssd trim functions) I would remove the registry change after I figured out the system problem.

Its on a SSD.

Downloaded both: crystaldiskinfo.exe and rammap64.exe. I checked the firmware with crystaldiskinfo.exe and my drives are up to date and emptied the items. The game that i initially noticed the problem on is now not doing freezing with many alt tabs, I will test with other games and hopefully the problem doesnt persist.

 

[Aeacus]

What memtest86 said?

 

[mark129]

What memtest86 said?

Thought I responded to you, oops, it said it passed. So i guess its my processor.