RAM all of a sudden at 75% idling

[LittleJerk]

This rig's 1 year anniversary is coming up in a month, and it's my first build - but as of last week, starting my computer up - 70-77% of the 16 gigs of RAM it has is being used up. Instead of the normal 40-50%. I tried to load up Battlefield 4 and it was the first time my computer has ever lagged. I ran Norton 360 and CCleaner Professional to no avail. I looked up the task manager, and I don't know what the difference is between Commit memory, working set memory, shareable, private, etc. The top programs were my Cannon printer's quick menu and Razer's Synapse Surround sound driver. I uninstalled the Cannon software as I never use it anyway. Still 75%.

Any memory software I should download to check performance? Should I run any maintenance? I looked at my computer's info and it still registers 16 gigs of ram, I thought maybe one of the sticks died and it was using 8 gigs. Maybe it's software my computer picked up that norton didn't pick up? I can't play any EA game anymore because Origin takes up so much memory, and my RAM is at 77% without doing anything.

Specs:
Asus Maximus VI Hero
i7-4770k (stock)
GTX 780 (EVGA Double Classified, running at stock)
G.Skill Trident X 2133 Mhz CL 9 (2 x 8) http://www.amazon.com/G-SKILL-Trident-F3-2133C9D-16GTX-240-Pin-Desktop/dp/tech-data/B008Y6SX5Q (stock)

This computer up until now ran like silk. I've never waited for it to boot up, load a program, I even use a Samsung 840 EVO SSD to load up my games.

 

[skit75]

In Task Manager, click the Processes tab then click Show processes from all users. Sort by Memory.

You should be able to identify a source process hogging your RAM

 

[Tom Tancredi]

1) remove any dead sticks. Leaving the dead stick in will just confuse us and our results
2) Personally I seen Norton actually be the issue, and I have not recommended either "Pay For" antiviruses as both have been the cause of many problems (yes review my 'Answers' and you will see several people immediately resolved everything by removing Norton).

I would do the following just to make sure we are all on the same page with what 'we know'

Download Speccy and copy the first tab here to show us your full specs

Download Malwarebytes and do a FULL (it is on quick as default) Scan, repeat till system is cleaned.

Remove any Antivirus you have (Microsoft Security Essentials doesn't work, and many whom have Norton keep finding it is interfering with program fully working by blocking different parts) and install either Comodo, Avira or AVG from www.filehippo.com (NOT AVAST! as they been hacked and since been unreliable)

Again do a full scan till clean.

Run Windows Update and make sure ALL patches and OPTIONALs (except BING) are installed.

Download and run SlimDrivers to ensure all drivers are up to date.

 

[LittleJerk]

I checked to make sure the sticks were good, they were. I then ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic. It took about an hour, but it came up with no problems. After I ran that check, the next time my computer booted up, it was at 10% idling, which is where it should be. But then, soon enough, it's back up to 70% again. I've been running Norton for an entire year, and I find it hard that N360 (although I know it's a terrible program) would cause these problems out of the blue). That's why I bout 150+ dollars worth of RAM, so I wouldn't have this problem.

I'm downloading those programs now: But just so you guys can see, Task Manager is completely useless. The first 5 or 6 programs will be at 20 mbs... and then the next 100 or so will be at 5 mbs or lower. And even if there were 200 programs, it would only amount to 2 gigs. Somethings very wrong here. Some screen shots:

http://imgur.com/DS05Gui,pJYYaHI,7FgQ1tB - This is how it normally is.

http://imgur.com/DS05Gui,pJYYaHI,7FgQ1tB#1 - And this is when it starts pissing me off. The numbers don't add up. All those processes do not make 8000 mbs. Obviously you can't see all the programs, but most of those under that aren't even 1 mb each (take a look at how much space the scroll bar is taking.)

http://i.imgur.com/7FgQ1tB.png - And now it's getting even worse.



Summary:
Operating System
Windows 8.1 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i7 4770K @ 3.50GHz 34 °C
Haswell 22nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 667MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. MAXIMUS VI HERO (SOCKET 1150) 28 °C
Graphics
BenQ XL2720T (1920x1080@60Hz)
3071MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (EVGA) 27 °C
Storage
232GB Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB (SSD) 26 °C
465GB Western Digital WDC WD5000HHTZ-04N21V0 (SATA) 24 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH16NS40
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

RAM:

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots 4
Used memory slots 2
Free memory slots 2
Memory
Type DDR3
Size 16384 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 667.7 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 9 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 9 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 9 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 1T
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 66 %
Total Physical 16 GB
Available Physical 5.38 GB
Total Virtual 18 GB
Available Virtual 7.42 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 2
Slot #1
Slot #2


... Oh hey wait a second.... this says it's at 667 MHz.... stock is supposed to be 2133 isn't it? Went to UEFI and the DRAM was set to auto, it was detected at 1333 MHz

 

[Tom Tancredi]

... Oh hey wait a second.... this says it's at 667 MHz.... stock is supposed to be 2133 isn't it? Went to UEFI and the DRAM was set to auto, it was detected at 1333 MHz

No that is OCing, 1333 would be what you installed all set to stock no OCing at all I believe. The rating (2133) is the best level you can OC at safely I BELIEVE. You can easily verify by just grabbing the Hero Manual and look up about the DRAM, usually will show the number 2133 (OC) when listing above 1600, but you can check and validate that for me (was just looking at another manual similiar and was how they are currently showing it there).

Okay, YES you can easily chew up 8 GB of RAM becuase you have ALOT of stuff running in the background, and yes collectively it adds up, especially when we talk tabs in your Chrome browser and such too on top of all the little 'apps' you have running (the RAZER Game scanners, etc.) that you DO NOT NEED to turn 'on' the computer. I would widdle down all the 'startups' to just the core stuff (driver for Mouse, Audio Control Panel, etc.) .

You ARE AWARE in Windows 8, it purposefully (picture 1) loads the minimal stuff 'just to get to desktop' first, then as it 'sits there' (aka idle) finally loads everything else (antivirus, Audio Control Panel, etc. etc. aka Picture 2 then finally 3). THIS IS BY DESIGN AND DIFFERENT than XP/7, which 'takes forever before I can click on anything to load - whine!' . So while you can start to 'click' on thing, it isn't really READY to start to use for a good 2 or more minutes AFTER you see the desktop icons.

As for Norton, as I mentioned, it has ALOT of issues that 'gets in the way' of programs but I wouldn't run WITHOUT a Antivirus, thus my steps include getting FREE antivirus, as well as running MALWAREBYTES which will fine malware that AV doesn't pick up. Also you ARE aware, that you were supposed to BUY Norton AGAIN after 1 year (renew) for continued coverage, personally (as I said) I wouldn't waste my time, but if you didn't that ALSO causes Norton to become a issue (not renewed license).

 

[LittleJerk]

... Oh hey wait a second.... this says it's at 667 MHz.... stock is supposed to be 2133 isn't it? Went to UEFI and the DRAM was set to auto, it was detected at 1333 MHz

No that is OCing, 1333 would be what you installed all set to stock no OCing at all I believe. The rating (2133) is the best level you can OC at safely I BELIEVE. You can easily verify by just grabbing the Hero Manual and look up about the DRAM, usually will show the number 2133 (OC) when listing above 1600, but you can check and validate that for me (was just looking at another manual similiar and was how they are currently showing it there).

Okay, YES you can easily chew up 8 GB of RAM becuase you have ALOT of stuff running in the background, and yes collectively it adds up, especially when we talk tabs in your Chrome browser and such too on top of all the little 'apps' you have running (the RAZER Game scanners, etc.) that you DO NOT NEED to turn 'on' the computer. I would widdle down all the 'startups' to just the core stuff (driver for Mouse, Audio Control Panel, etc.) .

You ARE AWARE in Windows 8, it purposefully (picture 1) loads the minimal stuff 'just to get to desktop' first, then as it 'sits there' (aka idle) finally loads everything else (antivirus, Audio Control Panel, etc. etc. aka Picture 2 then finally 3). THIS IS BY DESIGN AND DIFFERENT than XP/7, which 'takes forever before I can click on anything to load - whine!' . So while you can start to 'click' on thing, it isn't really READY to start to use for a good 2 or more minutes AFTER you see the desktop icons.

As for Norton, as I mentioned, it has ALOT of issues that 'gets in the way' of programs but I wouldn't run WITHOUT a Antivirus, thus my steps include getting FREE antivirus, as well as running MALWAREBYTES which will fine malware that AV doesn't pick up. Also you ARE aware, that you were supposed to BUY Norton AGAIN after 1 year (renew) for continued coverage, personally (as I said) I wouldn't waste my time, but if you didn't that ALSO causes Norton to become a issue (not renewed license).

You're right, 1600 MHz is stock (which is weird because it says it's detected at 1333 on auto detect via UEFI). 2333 is the recommended OC, but some people have the sticks stable at just under 3000 (which I won't do, obviously).

Now, while I am running "a lot" of programs - all of these are drivers, or cloud programs (icloud/google drive/dropbox). Chrome is still taking up a lot of RAM even though I close all windows (and have changed the setting to close out of background) - The Razer-game scanner is part of the Razer Surround/Razer Synapse programs that are the drivers for my razer headset and mouse. Obviously these are terribly produced software that eats up too many resources. I've turned off all the "scheduled" and "start up" tasks outside of core things - adobe/itunes update, samsung SSD magician, etc) [Not that I had more than 1 or 2]. Even while I manually close the top 10 drivers/software, my ram % never goes down more than 1% which mathematically, does not make sense.

I was not aware of the Windows 8 initialization, that explains a lot, thank you. But I'm still not quite sure why this happened all of a sudden, instead of being a constant problem for the last 13 months. I pre-paid Norton for 2 years, and its still up to about December of next year, but I'll uninstall it.

But we're getting slightly off topic here. I keep doing the math for all the processes showing on task manager, it still does not add up to the 6.7-8.1 gigs that my sticks are at. Is there a DEFINITIVE list for ALL the things that are taking up RAM? Task manager does not show every process (and yes, I sat here adding up all the 48 processes and rounding up to the nearest 5th MB to allow for the constant changes. It's still not 60%)

And second - why does Speccy show my RAM clock at 667 instead of 1333 like my UEFI is auto-detecting? Or 1600 like my MOBO is supposed to allow my sticks to run on stock at? Does the RAM not clock up unless it's required to? Because when I run Battlefield, it shoots up to 10 gigs, and Speccy still shows it at 667.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Hi again,

Okay a couple things;
1) Did you run Windows Update and get all the latest, because SPECCY shows you running 8.1, but if you never did ALL the Updates including optionals (except BING) you may have one of the things the update is supposed to address. You should show when looking at COMPUTER >PROPERTIES is Windows 8.1 Update as your current version. Without the 8.1U version you will NOT be receiving all updates.
2) Did you run SLIMDRIVERS as I suggested. If any of the drivers are not 100% functional (reason we update drivers) then it can cause any number of issues. Again this was a step you did not state you completed from my list.
3) Your system can RUN RAM at 1600, but you bought 1333, so they are running below the level you 'stock' should be at at to do OCing. If memory serves me, the SPECCY clock is showing as individual sticks, because they need to run in pairs, 666.66666 (ropunded up to 6667) plus 666.66666 is 1333.33333,.....
4) I noticed on each screen shot you're running Maelstrom VAD Streaming Service, which is the same time you say your having issues. I did a quick search and seems your not alone. https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=Maelstrom%20VAD%20streaming

I personally found Razer's software (which I used for audio enhancement) great to use, BUT has serious programming issues that cause other serious enough problems I had to remove it from my computer (running Windows 7 just to show it isn't a "8" thing). I believe (as you even noted) the culprit of your issues is the software and how it is 'reaching out' causing alot of overhead on your PC as I found for myself AND I wasn't 'streaming' my audio (which is what the program is trying to do). I suspect that program, though it is showing at the moment only 200MB being used, when it detects what it 'believe' it needs to 'stream' it then helps eats up system RAM. The same issue can also be seen when you look at Chrome.

5) " Task manager does not show every process" - Yes it does you just didn't look (get ready to FACEPAW). See the little triangle next to some of the services, CLICK IT. It will then show you the SUBPROCESSES which is all the 'other stuff' you're not 'seeing' . So while it shows Google Chrome, then you click the triangle next to it you will see 20-50 new 'chrome' sessions each with their own dedicated amount of RAM to each process, for each add on Extension you installed, each APP or GAME you installed from the Chrome Store, and each Tab you have open at this moment, including background stuff.