RAM problem

I have Mushkin XP2-8500 1066Mhz 2x2 GB RAM on my EVGA 780i FTW. When I instal something big, like The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena, Fallout 3 and other games, or I copy something bigger that 3-4 GB, my 4GB of RAM fills up and I can't do anything. What can I do? I have Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and I set my Page file to 10 GB

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Copying files definitely shouldn't take much memory, even if the files are very large. Did you install a virtual hard disk application that uses as much memory as it can?

Reply to GhislainG

I doubt this is a solution to your problem but if you have another partition and you want to optimize your paging, try this. Set up a paging file on both partitions (system managed). Windows will use the paging file with less traffic.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314482

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Reply to starams5

starams5 wrote :

I doubt this is a solution to your problem but if you have another partition and you want to optimize your paging, try this. Set up a paging file on both partitions (system managed). Windows will use the paging file with less traffic.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314482

Separate partitions on the same hard drive would defeat the purpose. The needle head would have to travel far back and forth between the data it is writing and the paging file, and would slow things down. One page file, if necessary at all (other than around 200MB for the system dumps and such) should be placed on a hard drive other than the system drive.

Migelo, how do you know that all of your RAM is being used?

Reply to jedimasterben

You're right, I'm running a RAID0 configuration so that does not apply to me. He should take what you said into consideration.

Message edited by starams5 on 06-01-2009 at 01:16:03 AM

Reply to starams5

Oh, I didn't know that I should tell you that I have my 2x750 GB Samsung SpinPoint F1 in RAID0.

Because I was so modest with my computer's description in the begining let me describe it now. Here we go:

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2

Motherboard: EVGA 780i FTW
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9450 @ 2.66GHz (4 CPUs),
Memory: Mushkin XP2-8500 1066Mhz 2x2 GB
Page File: 3048MB used, 5333MB available
Hard Drive: 2x750 GB Samsung Spinpoint F1 in RAID0
GPU: GTX260 from BFG

Reply to Migelo

Cool, see my first post.

Reply to starams5

It says that I need to enable paging on another physical drive. I have my two drives in RAID0 so that is imposible.

Reply to Migelo

In a RAID0 configuration Windows only see one hard drive in so many words.

Reply to starams5

RAID 0 drive, the data is broken into fragments. The number of fragments is dictated by the number of disks in the array. The fragments are written to their respective disks simultaneously on the same sector. This allows smaller sections of the entire chunk of data to be read off the drive in parallel, increasing bandwidth. RAID 0 drive, the data is broken into fragments. The number of fragments is dictated by the number of disks in the array. The fragments are written to their respective disks simultaneously on the same sector. This allows smaller sections of the entire chunk of data to be read off the drive in parallel, increasing bandwidth. RAID 0 does not implement error checking so any error is unrecoverable. More disks in the array means higher bandwidth, but greater risk of data loss. More disks in the array means higher bandwidth.

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Reply to starams5

Sorry about the duplication and for some reason I have not been able to edit my messages lately.

Reply to starams5

starams5 wrote :

RAID 0 drive, the data is broken into fragments. The number of fragments is dictated by the number of disks in the array. The fragments are written to their respective disks simultaneously on the same sector. This allows smaller sections of the entire chunk of data to be read off the drive in parallel, increasing bandwidth. RAID 0 drive, the data is broken into fragments. The number of fragments is dictated by the number of disks in the array. The fragments are written to their respective disks simultaneously on the same sector. This allows smaller sections of the entire chunk of data to be read off the drive in parallel, increasing bandwidth. RAID 0 does not implement error checking so any error is unrecoverable. More disks in the array means higher bandwidth, but greater risk of data loss. More disks in the array means higher bandwidth.

Yes I know that, so it is impossible for me to set up a Pagefile on another physical drive.

Reply to Migelo

We'll use two HDD's in RAID0 as an example with 2 paging files. Page file on "C" 2.70Gb, page file on "D" the same for a total of 5.40Gb paging. The RAID controller will slice the 5.40Gb in half and put 2.70Gb on one HDD and 2.70Gb on the second HDD in the array. What I'm trying to say is, you are using two physical HDD's, think this through for a minute.

Message edited by starams5 on 06-01-2009 at 11:38:21 PM

Reply to starams5

The problem isn't with your pagefile. Copying a large file barely uses any memory. I just copied a 6 GB file and memory utilization on the system went from 6.42 GB to 6.66 GB. Swapping increased from 4667 MB to 4696 MB. CPU utilization (Q6600) increased by up to 25% when copying the file from a server and 1-2% when copying the file locally. Results are similar on my Windows XP system and an E8400 CPU (memory utilization increased from 816 MB to 829 MB). The systems obviously are not as responsive because the hard disk is very busy. It's most obvious if I try to delete another large file or load an application.

Reply to GhislainG

install xp and port dx 10 to it not that i hav a problem with vista but its not 4 novices

Reply to xaira

OK. I'll create paging file on my second partition to, and inform you how it went.

Reply to Migelo

Nothing, I still get my RAM filled up.
See this picture: http://www.shrani.si/f/3e/qu/2ZastJPM/ram-problem.jpg

after a couple of minutes installing Mass Effect it got filled completely.

Reply to Migelo

Moving the pagefile doesn't resolve that type of issue. You need to figure out what's using the memory, e.g., did you install DVD software that can cache a complete DVD (or some driver that has similar capabilities to speed up some tasks)? You definitely installed a piece of software that eventually takes up all memory.

Reply to GhislainG

Look at this picture again. http://www.shrani.si/f/3e/qu/2ZastJPM/ram-problem.jpg

Reply to Migelo

This post is explaining my previous one:

At the down side of the picture there is a Vista gadget called Top Processes. It shows the amount of RAM used by 15 processes starting with the most "hungry" from the top.

Reply to Migelo

A driver that runs closer to the kernel will not show up in that list. Your list shows executables only. If you boot in safe mode, you should be able to copy a large file without running out of memory.

You should know what's installed on that system and what services are running. If the problem doesn't occur in safe mode, then stop services that you don't need as it might help you determine which one is causing the issue. If that doesn't help, then you'll have to verify if any of the software that you installed can use memory as a cache and remove it.

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Reply to GhislainG

I kind of figure the page file thing wouldn't cure it as I stated in my first post. Curious, is your anti-virus picking up anything? I seen your pic, I had a similar problem a few months back. A worm infected every exe on my computer, I thought my AV was corrupt because of so many hits.

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Reply to starams5

starams5 wrote :

I kind of figure the page file thing wouldn't cure it as I stated in my first post. Curious, is your anti-virus picking up anything? I seen your pic, I had a similar problem a few months back. A worm infected every exe on my computer, I thought my AV was corrupt because of so many hits.

I'm 100% sure that it is not a virus/worm or other nasty little thing, because this has be happening to me since September and I formated my computer let's say 8 times and I always had this problem.

@ GhislainG: I'll run in Safe mode and try to install a game and report back.

Reply to Migelo

You have the problem right after installing the OS and nothing else? You copy a multi GB file and all memory is used?

Reply to GhislainG

Yes. Althought copying files uses all of RAM just now and then. When OS instalation was fresh (less than an hour) I copied 120 GB from my exterior HDD via eSATA and it went ok. Coping from exterior HDD was not and isn't a problem.
The problem with coping is not so major, the thing I forgot to mention is that when I order Kaspersky Anti-Virus to check my computer for viruses and it comes to Memory scan...VOILA the RAM is full in no time. Full system scan is set to 02:15 am and in the morning (7:30 am) when I wake up, the only thing I can do is to restart my computer. I checked last completed scan and it said that the last was interupted by restart.

Reply to Migelo

GhislainG wrote :

A driver that runs closer to the kernel will not show up in that list. Your list shows executables only. If you boot in safe mode, you should be able to copy a large file without running out of memory.

You should know what's installed on that system and what services are running. If the problem doesn't occur in safe mode, then stop services that you don't need as it might help you determine which one is causing the issue. If that doesn't help, then you'll have to verify if any of the software that you installed can use memory as a cache and remove it.

It is interesting to see that I installed Far Cry 2 in safe mod with no problem. Any ideas?

Reply to Migelo

After installing the OS, what else was installed? You definitely installed something that's causing the problem (DVD burning software, anti-virus, etc.)

Reply to GhislainG

I don't think it is a software problem. I think that when RAM is used, my computer (probably chipset) does not know how to free it, so it uses next free byte and so on, till it's full.

Reply to Migelo

Check out this link. I mounted a .iso image and tried to copy its content to my Local Disc (D. RAM got filled up in 5 seconds.

Reply to Migelo

The contents of the .iso image is loaded in memory by whatever application you are using to map the file. If you installed a driver/application that allows you to map .iso files, then it might also be configurable and allow you to set the amount of memory that can be used.

Reply to GhislainG

I mounted the image with Power Iso and the went to My computer where I opened my virtual drive and selected all files and copied them to map on D:.

It's a normal copy paste operation, that shouldn't eat all of the RAM.

Message edited by Migelo on 06-03-2009 at 07:07:15 PM

Reply to Migelo

It looks like PowerIso is a virtual drive that uses as much memory as it can (the maximum image size is 64 GB). If you don't install/use PowerIso, then you shouldn't have low memory problems.

Reply to GhislainG

Yeah, I know that now. I'll keep testing my computer with thinks that use a lot of RAM and delete Power Iso. I'll start using Daemon tools or Magic Disc. If something goes wrong again I'll keep you posted.

Reply to Migelo

Well, things were going ok for a month, when I got BSOD. I restarted my computer and then I got BSOD even before Vista loaded: See it for your self:

http://www.shrani.si/f/k/l4/4CFI5ORt/16062009488.jpg

http://www.shrani.si/f/2I/ap/3oBRinxe/16062009487.jpg

I removed my RAM modules and borrowed 2x2GB from my friend. It has been working for over 2 weeks with his RAMs.

Reply to Migelo

That type of error usually is caused by defective or incorrectly configured memory. It's difficult to determine why they stopped working particularly without any info about your hardware and settings. Is your friend's memory kit better than yours?

Reply to GhislainG

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2

Motherboard: EVGA 780i FTW
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9450 @ 2.66GHz (4 CPUs),
Memory: Mushkin XP2-8500 1066Mhz 2x2 GB
Page File: 3048MB used, 5333MB available
Hard Drive: 2x750 GB Samsung Spinpoint F1 in RAID0
GPU: GTX260 from BFG

Reply to Migelo

Is the Mushkin XP2-8500 memory yours or your friend's (or you have the same kit)? Did you run memtest+ on your modules? They might be failing.

Reply to GhislainG

Mushkin XP2-8500 is mine and the one getting me BSODs. My friend borrowed me PQI 2x2GB 800Mhz. It has been running fine with his RAMs so long.

Reply to Migelo

The main difference is that you are using overclocked RAM and he doesn't. Does yours work properly at 800 MHz?

Reply to GhislainG

I'm on holydays, so I'll report to you what happened if I underclocked my RAM to 800 Mhz on 5th of July.

Reply to Migelo

Sry for late reply. No, it doesn't, my RAM is not working properly on 800 MHz. I'll return it to the shop and exchange it with 4x2GB RAM. Thx everyone for help.

Reply to Migelo

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