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Performance Issue - WoW - 100% HDD Usage - Laggy

Calebe Costa

Calebe Costa

Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
74 (0.02/day)
System Specs
Processor i3 4160 @ 3.60Ghz
Motherboard ASUS B85M-E/BR
Memory 2X4GB Crucial Ballistix Sport 1600Mhz
Video Card(s) GALAX 1060 3G
Storage Samsung 840 Evo 120gb / Seagate 500GB
Case Thermaltake M9
Mouse Multilaser MO206
Software Win 10 Pro
Hello,

I'm experiencing some performance issues with a combination of some softwares running simultaneously

My PC Set it's something about 2009/2010 set:
i7 860 @2.80Ghz
MB: Asrock H55M-LE
Memory: 2x2GB Kingston 1066Mhz or 1333Mhz (Dont remember)
GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk 1GB dedicated 128bits
HDD: Seagate 500GB
PSU: Thermaltake 550
Case: Thermaltake M7
Default CPU Cooling
Win 8.1 Pro - Original

The combo software are:

World Of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor;
Curse Client;
Kaspersky AV 2014;
Tukui Client;
FRAPS (for fps measure only).

I used to play WoW on Ultra when was WoTLK. (but now i ran all on low except of Distance view that is on ultra)

When i do the ALT + TAB the computer acts so slow like micro freeze when i open the task manager it shows a 100% of HDD usage and some times it says that is my AV other times the curse client, in fact when i try to maximize curse client it take several seconds to maximize and when it does it only a white page and then after another several seconds appears the content. WoW sometimes show a consumption more than 1.2Gb of memory (just when it became several minutes minimized and when i maximize the game is very laggy).

I don't have money to a complete pc upgrade, but maybe be able to buy some computer parts next year.

What should i buy to resolve these 100% HDD usage and memory usage?

Samsung 840 Evo 250Gb for OS and some games?

G.Skill Ripjaws X 2x4GB 1600Mhz? (My MB accepts 8GB only)

Or change my actual GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk 1GB dedicated 128bits?
 
Combination of things. Running Windows and a game from the same hard drive slows performance slightly, further, it sounds like your AV is scanning files used in real time, perhaps downloads from curse client, so I'd look into that

Also don't record with fraps to the same disk you're playing your game from, it will catastrophically kill your HDD speeds. That's assuming you're recording though, I know you said just fps figures.

It's also possible WoW is using more than 1GB VRAM and resorting to using you windows virtual memory. This also kills performance.

I'd be tempted to grab a mx100 SSD for just your OS and software. Games can go on the HDD, they don't benefit enough from an SSD imo. That would destroy your main system bottleneck. Look at ram afterwards, and then GPU at a later date. While it's a low end GPU, wow isn't too demanding, it's just that VRAM that's a minor concern.
 
Last edited:
4GB of ram sounds a little lean. It's possible you're running out of physical memory and that the 100% disk I/O you're seeing is the computer trashing and hitting the page file constantly. I don't know how WoW is now, but a single 6870 never had a problem with it when I used to play years ago.
 
RCoon said:
Combination of things. Running Windows and a game from the same hard drive slows performance slightly, further, it sounds like your AV is scanning files used in real time, perhaps downloads from curse client, so I'd look into that

Also don't record with fraps to the same disk you're playing your game from, it will catastrophically kill your HDD speeds. That's assuming you're recording though, I know you said just fps figures.

It's also possible WoW is using more than 1GB VRAM and resorting to using you windows virtual memory. This also kills performance.

I'd be tempted to grab a mx100 SSD for just your OS and software. Games can go on the HDD, they don't benefit enough from an SSD imo. That would destroy your main system bottleneck. Look at ram afterwards, and then GPU at a later date. While it's a low end GPU, wow isn't too demanding, it's just that VRAM that's a minor concern.
Click to expand...

4 softwares that task manager indicates when use my HDD 100% and memory @ 70-90% (it happens when all softwares are opened at the same time)

Curse client - 1st (it's not premium so it only download when i demand)
Kaspersky - 2nd (don't have any game customization yet)
Google Chrome - 3rd (when lot of tabs open (checking wowhead for some info))
WoW - 4rd (when minimized for several minutes)

i don't know why but i think the actual 4Gb ram is the main problem, i wish i could understand what is the conflict. What make the 100% usage? :c
 
Aquinus said:
4GB of ram sounds a little lean. It's possible you're running out of physical memory and that the 100% disk I/O you're seeing is the computer trashing and hitting the page file constantly. I don't know how WoW is now, but a single 6870 never had a problem with it when I used to play years ago.
Click to expand...

The GPU is fine. I put some graphics on low and fraps shows me 50-97 fps depending of place.
A friend of mine told me once that if the game demands more memory and the GPU can't fill it so the game pull from ram memory. i think he is right when WoW is minimized for several minutes, when maximize the game is about 1-30fps (another thing that i don't understand) and after that i check the task and it indicates more than 1Gb ram memory usage.

When i start the game from the beginning is only shows a 500Mb - 800Mb usage. Another day after being minimized it showed 1.2Gb and memory sage nearly 100%.
 
I also think you're running out of RAM, so its booting things to the page file and loading them back again, which is causing the disk usage and stuttering.

edit: removed a bit. if alt tabbing is causing it, its ram. windows dumps minimsed apps to the pagefile if its low on ram first.
 
Calebe Costa said:
When i start the game from the beginning is only shows a 500Mb - 800Mb usage. Another day after being minimized it showed 1.2Gb and memory sage nearly 100%.
Click to expand...
How are you measuring that? Task manager? Make sure you're looking at "Peak Working Set (Memory)" and "Commit Size" instead of "Working Set (Memory)" as those more properly reflect the maximum amount of memory used at any given time.
 
you need to post a screen shot of the task manger
something is eating a bunch of ram
 
Turn off av during gaming. I remember norton doing this in w98 days
 
Like others have said in this thread your probably running out of ram, if your gaming 8GB is roughly the standard for gaming and it wouldn't hurt to get a video card with at least 2GB of dedicated memory either.
 
RCoon said:
Combination of things. Running Windows and a game from the same hard drive slows performance slightly, further, it sounds like your AV is scanning files used in real time, perhaps downloads from curse client, so I'd look into that

Also don't record with fraps to the same disk you're playing your game from, it will catastrophically kill your HDD speeds. That's assuming you're recording though, I know you said just fps figures.

It's also possible WoW is using more than 1GB VRAM and resorting to using you windows virtual memory. This also kills performance.

I'd be tempted to grab a mx100 SSD for just your OS and software. Games can go on the HDD, they don't benefit enough from an SSD imo. That would destroy your main system bottleneck. Look at ram afterwards, and then GPU at a later date. While it's a low end GPU, wow isn't too demanding, it's just that VRAM that's a minor concern.
Click to expand...
Having wow on a ssd is a HUGE difference with load times.
 
I agree that it's probably page file usage, but it might also be worth it to check the SMART status on the drive too. CrystalDiskInfo will do this well.
 
Yep sounds like the page files usage and backgroud stuff.

Try setting your page file to No page file. Reboot then add your page file back as windows managed reboot again. So in theory your rebuilding your page file.

And check your harddrive with crystal disk
 
RCoon said:
But there are so few loading screens. You hit a loading screen once every hour
Click to expand...
WoW loads the world on the fly once the loading screen is complete, it's not that the loading screen is loading everything, just enough to get going, so it can lag while the world is loading in game if the HDD is over-burdened. An SSD would practically eliminate that problem but I still think swap space is getting hit.
Calebe Costa said:
So i'm confused now.

This look like most cost-benefit.

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-606958460-memoria-8gb-2x4gb-ddr3-2133mhz-gskill-ripjawsx-_JM

My motherboard
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H55M-LE/?cat=Specifications
says that i can have this memory, but my processor
http://ark.intel.com/products/41316/Intel-Core-i7-860-Processor-8M-Cache-2_80-GHz
says the oposite. What is the true?
Click to expand...
You won't get much benefit from faster memory. While the IMC can overclock, I would stick with DDR3-1600 with some low timings. Maybe something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656

Edit: I updated the link, it's supposed to be Crucial Ballistix Tacticals 2x4GB sticks @ 1600 (8/8/8/24).
 
That memory should work fine, but your processor may not take advantage of it. It'll either automatically run slower (with tighter timings) or at a higher clock speed (as specified by the BIOS). I've poked around on the website you've linked and you're right, that RipjawX seems to be among the cheaper options. Looks like there isn't much selection available.

Like Aquinus said, Intel's usually aren't starved for memory bandwidth. I thought the first-gen Core i7s were though, hence them having the option for tri-channel memory. I'm not too familiar with the finer workings of the Intel lineup, so I'd wait to see if someone else could weigh in on this.
 
Calebe Costa said:
Hello,

I'm experiencing some performance issues with a combination of some softwares running simultaneously

My PC Set it's something about 2009/2010 set:
i7 860 @2.80Ghz
MB: Asrock H55M-LE
Memory: 2x2GB Kingston 1066Mhz or 1333Mhz (Dont remember)
GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk 1GB dedicated 128bits
HDD: Seagate 500GB
PSU: Thermaltake 550
Case: Thermaltake M7
Default CPU Cooling
Win 8.1 Pro - Original

The combo software are:

World Of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor;
Curse Client;
Kaspersky AV 2014;
Tukui Client;
FRAPS (for fps measure only).

I used to play WoW on Ultra when was WoTLK. (but now i ran all on low except of Distance view that is on ultra)

When i do the ALT + TAB the computer acts so slow like micro freeze when i open the task manager it shows a 100% of HDD usage and some times it says that is my AV other times the curse client, in fact when i try to maximize curse client it take several seconds to maximize and when it does it only a white page and then after another several seconds appears the content. WoW sometimes show a consumption more than 1.2Gb of memory (just when it became several minutes minimized and when i maximize the game is very laggy).

I don't have money to a complete pc upgrade, but maybe be able to buy some computer parts next year.

What should i buy to resolve these 100% HDD usage and memory usage?

Samsung 840 Evo 250Gb for OS and some games?

G.Skill Ripjaws X 2x4GB 1600Mhz? (My MB accepts 8GB only)

Or change my actual GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk 1GB dedicated 128bits?
Click to expand...
WoW is not my game but it is my friends and I have had to fix some issues in the past for him regarding this game. With you HDD its should not really be a problem as he runs on a 1tb 7200RPM drive with ease though he keeps telling me that sometimes he gets a little skip here and there when walking into new areas and sometimes sees a pop in or two. An SSD has alleviated the issue that he recently added into his system but he also updated from 8gb to 16gb as well so I could be wrong exactly what made the best difference though to be fair I did not think at 1080p (Just mentioning for reference) the game was eating up that much ram.

My advice is the SSD would probably make the best difference for loading the game especially with the texture/game expansion in Warlord of Draenor as that seems to have upped a bit of the requirements in the game (Hence the recent SSD upgrade and more ram he went with though the ram was his call and I am still arguing it lol).
 
I've played WoW on an external hard drive over USB 2.0 without too many issues (other than the obvious slowness loading things). If it's in-game skipping, likely memory. If it's actual loading screens, SSD.
 
I tested again, I just alt+tab wow for 2 minutes. (i play on low. Just view distance on ultra and i get 60-90 fps) After that i maximize wow and i got like 20-40fps. To fix that i had to close and open again. Other than that my taskmanager says that the hdd is on 100% usage. I think is the curse client. It take several minutes just for maximize and after maximize it show blanck page. It takes another several to show the content.

In another forum one guy told me that the memory linked before is not a good option because of the timing. 11-11-11-whaterver. And i should pick a 8-8-8-24. Lol there is no such thing on mercadolivre.com (it's Brazillian version of ebay) and i found a 9-9-9-24 its like R$140 more expensive than the previous 2133Mhz.

Loadscreen are fine, what kills is the time taking when i alt+tab.

My processor: On task manager i use this computer since Jun/2009, since there i never used 30% of total capacity of it, always stay like 9%-15% processor usage. So in my "naiveness" i believe if i haven't used more than 80% of my cpu so i shouldn't upgrade it. I believe the processor is fine.

I said to my wife: "Your cellphone and our computer have the same age." (She haves an iPhone 3GS 8GB) And some app doesn't work anymore like facebook.

I'm 100% sure if i buy a ssd and new memories it will work fine,

Oh look a cheaper version: http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/...-8gb-ddr3-1600mhz-gskill-ripjaws-x-series-_JM

The diference between single and dual channel is absurd? Do you think this product up here is a good call?

If i had money i could upgrade to this build:

Processor: i5 4690 (without "k" version i hate satan)
MoBo: Asus z97-k
PSU: Corsair rm650 gold full modular
Memory: Crucial G.Skill RipjawsX 2x4GB 1600Mhz
Cooler: Corsair Hydro H55
Main Storage: Samsung 840 Evo 250GB or 850 pro
2nd Storage: Western Digital 1tb 64mb
VGA: GTX 970
Case: A fine one :p

So is this a good option
http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/...-8gb-ddr3-1600mhz-gskill-ripjaws-x-series-_JM

It will resolve the 100% hdd usage and veeeeery slow computer on alt+tab?

Thanks

EDIT: I always say g.skill because someone told me it was the best cost-benefit-ratio option and i believed that. If is there a better option with better price let me know. Thanks.
 
A good option is just upgrading your memory and seeing where it gets you. Also I don't think anyone linked 11-11-11 memory, as I linked 8-8-8 DIMMs.
Calebe Costa said:
EDIT: I always say g.skill because someone told me it was the best cost-benefit-ratio option and i believed that. If is there a better option with better price let me know. Thanks.
Click to expand...
There is no benefit to using memory that your CPU can't run at full speed. I recommended 1600 because your CPU probably can run it without a problem. G.Skill makes decent memory but no more decent than other reputable brands IMHO.
Calebe Costa said:
My processor: On task manager i use this computer since Jun/2009, since there i never used 30% of total capacity of it, always stay like 9%-15% processor usage. So in my "naiveness" i believe if i haven't used more than 80% of my cpu so i shouldn't upgrade it. I believe the processor is fine.
Click to expand...
Your CPU won't be loaded if the machine is trashing, it's probably swapping pages in and out more often than the CPU can do anything which is what everyone has been telling you...

All in all, this is the last time I'm going to say it: Upgrade your physical memory and see where it gets you because 4GB is not enough. If you're not going to listen to us, don't post asking for help. Considering you did't even bother checking the task manager for memory usage, I suspect that you're not listening to us.
 
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what you need is more memory. with your system 1600Mhz is about as fast as you need - so find the cheapest memory 1600Mhz or above, so you can get 8GB or 16GB of dual channel ram.


the alt tabbing is just proof you're out of ram, because its forcing WoW to the page file to make room for whatever you're doing, and then the same in reverse when you alt tab back.

Pick your top three choices of RAM from your website(s), let us help you choose the best of those three, and get that first. you can decide if you need an SSD later.
 
Mussels said:
what you need is more memory. with your system 1600Mhz is about as fast as you need - so find the cheapest memory 1600Mhz or above, so you can get 8GB or 16GB of dual channel ram.
Click to expand...
His motherboard/CPU only supports 8GB between two DIMMs. Just wanted to throw that out there since you said 16GB as well.
 
Aquinus said:
His motherboard/CPU only supports 8GB between two DIMMs. Just wanted to throw that out there since you said 16GB as well.
Click to expand...

unusual, but a good point. so the fastest/most cost effective 2x4GB set he can find then.
 
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