System performance is decreasing during PC startup.
System performance is decreasing during PC startup.
In the past couple of weeks I've observed a significant slowdown in loading times, yet no clear cause is evident. My storage devices appear normal—both the HDD and SSD look and function correctly according to Windows checks and health scans. No malware has been detected despite using multiple antivirus programs. All troubleshooting steps have failed; the BIOS is enabled, devices are properly seated, etc. The worst case is Valorant loading extremely slowly during matches. Normally I stick to Escalation and Team Deathmatch, but when stuck loading, the match starts prematurely and subsequent phases begin before I can finish, resulting in missed actions. After reinstalling Valorant about two weeks ago, other applications and the system boot time also slowed down. My browser, other games, and even the PC startup are affected. The issue seems linked to the SSD rather than the HDD, and I've removed Valorant and Riot Guard without improvement. Additionally, I experience freezing and stuttering at first load despite a stable Ethernet connection and good internet.
First, ensure you have a copy of the important data. It could be something other than a hard drive problem, but it's better to be safe. I'll begin by reviewing your system: monitor memory activity during heavy tasks like Valorant, test your SATA SSD with a benchmark tool such as CrystalDiskMark, assess available space on the drive, and examine disk latency via Task Manager. Let me know what you find!
I checked with a friend last night; hardware info showed everything was fine. Temperatures were a bit warm for idle on my CPU, but it’s also hot in my house this season, so it’s okay. The only issues were a 70GB left on my SSD (of 480GB) and an HDD that’s about half full. The task manager looked normal, but I’m not sure how to check latency. Benchmarks? I’ve never done them before—I just saw some people use tools like Cinebench.
For disk latency, refer to the Task Manager screenshot provided. To assess disk performance, CrystalDiskMark is available on its official site—simply search for it. The current results seem acceptable, though memory usage is slightly reduced than usual. Which Windows version are you using?
Also this week and the previous one I experienced a BSOD. I don’t recall any issues, everything looks normal, and my drivers seem okay. I’ve had this machine for nearly three years; the motherboard and RAM are up to date, though the rest are a bit older. It’s only been about a year since it was new, not the latest hardware.
Execute MemTest86 with 8 passes or 2x4 passes in the free version. Expect errors in at least three tests.
Visit C:\Windows\Minidump to see if any minidump files exist. If present, return to the Windows directory and transfer the entire Minidump folder to the Downloads folder (use your desktop if needed). Compress the copied folder and include it in a post. Please adhere strictly to instructions since Windows doesn't allow file manipulation there.