Storage is full, performance drops, frame rate decreases.
Storage is full, performance drops, frame rate decreases.
Hello. So recently my PC has been doing this really weird thing. Sometimes the disk spikes to 100% and the PC completely freezes for a few seconds, in the same time CPU usage drops. Here is a picture from Task Manager when that happens: This happens when I play Modern Warfare the most. It spikes every 30sec-1min and the PC completely freezes for 20 seconds. It started happening in GTA V too but less than in MW, and the FPS is not like it used to be before, it started dipping below 60 FPS. I always had 90 FPS+ though. In Rise of the Tomb Raider, the FPS is also not like it used to be before, it has also started to dip below 60. In Modern Warfare, even though the disk spikes happen the most in it, I have good FPS (80+). The only games that I play that work normally are CS:GO and Minecraft. I also noticed that, for some reason, the GPU usage is 1-10% when I play the games in which I have started to have problems. When I play CS:GO, the GPU usage is fine, just like it used to be before. Also, when I stress the GPU, Task Manager says it's between 1-10% too. How is this even possible? Is Task Manager bugged? My PC: i5 7500 2x4GB RAM GTX 1660 120GB SSD 2TB HDD Does anyone know what is causing this? I have tried a lot of fixes, but none of them seem to work. I doubt that my SSD is failing because every software says that it's healthy, and this issue doesn't happen in every game. I've installed all the latest drivers for everything. Thanks in advance.
I think you're running low on memory. Your system is already using nearly all available RAM (about 94% in this case). I believe your computer will try to rely on the hard drive when it runs out of space, but that won't help because it's so slow. This results in freezing or stuttering as it waits for the slower storage to keep up. With only 8GB, it’s no longer sufficient.
But my PC worked well until about two weeks back. For Modern Warfare, it seems 8GB RAM isn’t sufficient. With other games, it performed smoothly before this issue began. Also, certain tasks like Service Host and "Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry" have seen usage spikes up to 30%. I ran a Malwarebytes scan and found no malware. I haven’t installed anything since the PC was stable too.
The issue arises when operating near maximum capacity, as just one background program can quickly consume extra RAM and push your limits. To address this, I’d consider using software such as Razer Cortex, which restricts background tasks to conserve memory while you play. Give it a shot and observe any changes (and check if the task manager reflects similar behavior). These tools aren’t a full fix—they can free up around 1GB at most—but might be sufficient.
I agree with what others are saying. You likely need more memory—at least 8GB is the minimum needed for your system. A higher option would be to perform a full clean install and only add essential background applications. In fact, I’d prefer to upgrade your RAM, whether used or new. Checking Newegg shows you can often find another 8GB for about $40 USD, depending on the speed and other factors. (And if you want it to match your current setup)
8GB isn't enough for today's games. With 16GB installed, I'm using around 13GB while playing Battlefield V. The sudden spikes in disk usage are probably because the page file is being accessed, which leads to slowdowns. The SSD performs much worse than RAM, so the system has to wait for it.
There might be several causes for this occurrence. Software updates, especially for Windows or games, are likely the main factor. The system tends to use the pagefile during these spikes. I experienced a similar problem with BF3 in the past—tiny delays appeared and disappeared when switching from 4 gigabytes to 8 gigabytes after an upgrade. The CPU could also be involved; it seems to be struggling with data transfer, reaching maximum usage during heavy gaming tasks.