Zenimax, this memory leak is getting ridiculous

Rescorla_ESO · August 2014

dharbert wrote: »

16 crashes in 2 days. It's getting worse every time I log in. Sometimes I can't even play for 20 minutes before it crashes. Fix it.

Are you using any addons? If so which ones?

I've been playing since closed beta in January and never had any crashes until last week. I had recently installed some new addons, plus some existing addons were out of date. Fairly certain they were the cause of the crash.

freespirit · August 2014

Liquid_Time wrote: »

freespirit wrote: »

OK.........

Windows Vista 32 bit
3GB Ram
Intel (R) Core Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.4GHz
AMD Radeon HD 6570

No crashes since Update 1.3.3......

Not even in Cyrodiil..........

EU server

One word. Lucky.

:'(

I actually haven't needed to close the launcher either and can have Web pages open in the background as well......

Definitely no memory leak for me......

I do however have a certain amount of OCD where keeping my PC secure and excess files removed is concerned......

and I say again NO Addons

dharbert · August 2014

Rescorla_ESO wrote: »

dharbert wrote: »

16 crashes in 2 days. It's getting worse every time I log in. Sometimes I can't even play for 20 minutes before it crashes. Fix it.

Are you using any addons? If so which ones?

I've been playing since closed beta in January and never had any crashes until last week. I had recently installed some new addons, plus some existing addons were out of date. Fairly certain they were the cause of the crash.

No addons. I've never used any.

It doesn't matter what I'm doing in the game. I can be simply riding a horse in Cyrodiil, or using a wayshrine, or using the bank, etc..... Doesn't matter. Crashes every 10 minutes or so in Cyrodiil, and every 30 minutes or so in other zones.

Caroloces · August 2014

I'm getting crashes pretty regularly now, and prior to the last 2 patches I never had this problem. I don't know what's causing it, but I know my system is top notch, and my internet connection is quite good and stable.
BTW, the crashes have been occurring with a character in Rivenspire.

dharbert · August 2014

I just tried to use the Blacksmithing station in Shornhelm.....crash.

motty2307 · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

I suppose I should ask....

Did the nVidia people install 340.52 around the same time as the patch came out?

I reverted back to the previous drivers for my GeForce 660 (driver version 337.88) and it seems to have fixed the crashing issue for me. Perhaps rolling back to the previous drivers (if you recently updated) will fix this issue for more folks.

Phinix1 · August 2014

jrgray93 wrote: »

You could try putting caulk on the memory. It should prevent leaking if you let it dry before playing.

I'm sorry, putting WHAT in my memory?!?!

In all seriousness, I just had an 7 hour session yesterday without logging out. (I just left my character sneaking and came back every couple minutes to move the mouse when I got up to make dinner or walk around a bit).

Not a single crash.

I too tend to suspect hardware overheating. If not that then it is some magical mystery combat code that only gets run in Cyrodiil and not when you combat other things in the world. Which could be the case for all I know.

Crumpy wrote: »

This game is *** honestly and serioiusly

Wow, only three stars? I would have at least given it a **** but that's just me.

KingRebz · August 2014

I was crashing every 10-20 minutes or so all over Glenumbra

Circuitous · August 2014

motty2307 wrote: »

lordrichter wrote: »

I suppose I should ask....

Did the nVidia people install 340.52 around the same time as the patch came out?

I reverted back to the previous drivers for my GeForce 660 (driver version 337.88) and it seems to have fixed the crashing issue for me. Perhaps rolling back to the previous drivers (if you recently updated) will fix this issue for more folks.

Unfortunately I'm running ATI (and I've been using the same drivers since ESO's release).

SirenofEntropy · August 2014

motty2307 wrote: »

lordrichter wrote: »

I suppose I should ask....

Did the nVidia people install 340.52 around the same time as the patch came out?

I reverted back to the previous drivers for my GeForce 660 (driver version 337.88) and it seems to have fixed the crashing issue for me. Perhaps rolling back to the previous drivers (if you recently updated) will fix this issue for more folks.

I have the same GPU as you. I was using outdated drivers pre-patch and not crashing at all. After the patch I started crashing frequently on the same drivers. I actually updated mine AFTER I started having the problems hoping that it would help, but so far there's been no change.

I do wonder though, out of the people saying they have no crashing problems at all, how many are on Windows 8? This could very well be a memory problem that is isolated to a specific OS, but for those of us stuck with Windows 8 with no way to switch to something else, we're screwed unless ZOS can fix it.

Caroloces · August 2014

I reverted back to the previous drivers for my GeForce 660 (driver version 337.88) and it seems to have fixed the crashing issue for me. Perhaps rolling back to the previous drivers (if you recently updated) will fix this issue for more folks.

Tried your suggestion and rolled back to 337.88, got into the game and played a bit, went into the bank at shornholm . . . . crash!

motty2307 · August 2014

SirenofEntropy wrote: »

I have the same GPU as you. I was using outdated drivers pre-patch and not crashing at all. After the patch I started crashing frequently on the same drivers. I actually updated mine AFTER I started having the problems hoping that it would help, but so far there's been no change.

I do wonder though, out of the people saying they have no crashing problems at all, how many are on Windows 8? This could very well be a memory problem that is isolated to a specific OS, but for those of us stuck with Windows 8 with no way to switch to something else, we're screwed unless ZOS can fix it.
[/quote]

I'm currently running Windows 7 Home Premium SP1.

SirenofEntropy · August 2014

motty2307 wrote: »

I'm currently running Windows 7 Home Premium SP1.

See, most of the people who I've seen claim to have no crashing are on either Windows XP or Windows 7. Which is another reason why it seems like it could be a Windows 8-specific problem.

Unless somebody can come along and say they're crashing a ton on Windows 7, that's starting to seem like it may be the culprit. $:\$

motty2307 · August 2014

SirenofEntropy wrote: »

motty2307 wrote: »

I'm currently running Windows 7 Home Premium SP1.

See, most of the people who I've seen claim to have no crashing are on either Windows XP or Windows 7. Which is another reason why it seems like it could be a Windows 8-specific problem.

Unless somebody can come along and say they're crashing a ton on Windows 7, that's starting to seem like it may be the culprit. $:\$

Well I was crashing constantly...until I reverted my GPU drivers.

Caroloces · August 2014

That does it . . . Tried another character in another alliance, another zone. A few minutes into playing . . . . . Crash!
I'm finished for the night. Time to read a good book and sack out.

Caroloces · August 2014

Unless somebody can come along and say they're crashing a ton on Windows 7, that's starting to seem like it may be the culprit. $:\$

I've been crashing a ton . . . running Windows 7 professional.

ferzalrwb17_ESO · August 2014

AlienDiplomat wrote: »

jrgray93 wrote: »

You could try putting caulk on the memory. It should prevent leaking if you let it dry before playing.

Not a single crash.

I too tend to suspect hardware overheating. If not that then it is some magical mystery combat code that only gets run in Cyrodiil and not when you combat other things in the world. Which could be the case for all I know.

Why would overheating only affect ESO which actually isn't that resource-intensive?

This game raises a slight sweat on my system - not much more.

I'm getting 3-4 CTDs a day since this patch and I can assure you it's not overheating. It's the dodgy gamecode. You've been lucky so I hope your keyboard was on solid wood when you typed your response.

SirenofEntropy · August 2014

ferzalrwb17_ESO wrote: »

Why would overheating only affect ESO which actually isn't that resource-intensive? This game raises a slight sweat on my system - not much more.

I'm getting 3-4 CTDs a day since this patch and I can assure you it's not overheating. It's the dodgy gamecode. You've been lucky so I hope your keyboard was on solid wood when you typed your response.

Agreed. My PC is definitely not overheating. I check the temps often. Plus, heat related crashes in my experience tend to shut the whole PC down, not just crash a game to desktop.

The only game to date (that I play at least) that's ever made my GPU break a sweat is heavily-modded Skyrim with graphics all maxed out.

OccultOverload · August 2014

Still no official statement on this @ZOS_JessicaFolsom‌? Whats the story? What is causing this? Are you looking into a fix? Whats the ETA? Bueller? Bueller?

Elsonso · August 2014

While I don't discount the bank crash that @Caroloces is having, or @motty2307 who rolled back video drivers, as being valid crashing problems, I do not think they are the same cause that others might be having in the thread.

I am seeing a pattern in some of the reports where this crash can sneak up on people after a few hours. In other reports, frequently related to Cyrodiil, the crashes happen more frequently. In both cases, I seem to see people reporting lagging, which I interpret to be noticeable stop and go stuttering, which is followed after a while by the crash.

Honestly, this sounds to me like it could be an ever-growing in-memory data table that is frequently referenced. As the table grows, so does the time required to find something in the table. The increased time results in steadily more noticeable stutter. Eventually, the table gets too large to hold in memory and the game crashes. Just a guess, mind you. This is not necessarily a memory leak.

I have not seen a lot of clear 32 bit vs 64 bit revelations....

I guess I might ask how many of us are running 64 bit Windows with more than 4GB of RAM?

Vatter · August 2014

Its a memory leak. ZoS has said so, players have said so, tests have said so. anyone else who says "its your system." Doesn't have a single clue and are only here to try and get some attention that their parents are not providing. But then again thats what happens when you live in their house.

cf398ub17_ESO · August 2014

i have only gotten 1-2 crashes but its the lag thats killing me

SirenofEntropy · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

I have not seen a lot of clear 32 bit vs 64 bit revelations....

I guess I might ask how many of us are running 64 bit Windows with more than 4GB of RAM?

I'm on 64-bit Windows 8 with 12GB of RAM installed.

motty2307 · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

I have not seen a lot of clear 32 bit vs 64 bit revelations....

I guess I might ask how many of us are running 64 bit Windows with more than 4GB of RAM?

I'm running 64-bit Windows 7 with 16GB RAM. I was crashing like crazy until I rolled back my nVidia drivers.

I do agree with you that just because it worked for me doesn't mean it's not other issues with other systems.

ferzalrwb17_ESO · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

I guess I might ask how many of us are running 64 bit Windows with more than 4GB of RAM?

Most people. It's 2014.

Sethowar · August 2014

the game runs in 32-bit. regardless of your OS. so there is that.

and I know my crashes are memory related because I have a usage tracker, and with nothing else opened on my computer it goes from 4k free when I first open the game and it then just keeps dropping

Elsonso · August 2014

Vatter wrote: »

Its a memory leak. ZoS has said so, players have said so, tests have said so. anyone else who says "its your system." Doesn't have a single clue and are only here to try and get some attention that their parents are not providing. But then again thats what happens when you live in their house.

This is not precisely true.

No one posting in here has the tools and knowledge necessary to identify, for sure, a memory leak in eso.exe. People can use various monitoring tools to see that ESO is using more memory, but quite frankly, when you get an out of memory error, or the game crashes when it reaches a certain memory allocation, monitoring tools are not really telling anything we don't already know.

Zenimax has not yet said in any place that I can find that Update 3 introduced a memory leak, but they have said they are investigating reports of one.

All of that said, eso.exe clearly has some sort of memory management problem, of an indeterminate nature. We will never really know what the cause is. I find it interesting to speculate, but I know I will never have that speculation validated.

Sethowar wrote: »

the game runs in 32-bit. regardless of your OS. so there is that.

My reason for asking is that 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows handle memory for 32-bit applications differently. The 32-bit Windows will allow up to 3.5 GB of memory for a large address aware application. The 64-bit Windows can allocate the full 4 GB of memory to the same 32-bit application.

This means that ESO.EXE can use up to 4 GB of memory on a 64-bit Windows and should not crash or run out of memory, as a result of Windows saying that no more memory can be allocated, until it gets to 4 GB.

SirenofEntropy · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

This means that ESO.EXE can use up to 4 GB of memory on a 64-bit Windows and should not crash or run out of memory, as a result of Windows saying that no more memory can be allocated, until it gets to 4 GB.

What doesn't make sense to me is why my game consistently crashes at 3.7 GB of RAM usage even though I'm on a 64-bit OS and still have plenty of system RAM to spare when it occurs. It won't even hit that 4GB cap, every time it reaches around 3.7 it's another CTD. This is completely reproducible on my end. And regardless of any of that, the client shouldn't be hitting that amount of RAM usage in any circumstance, especially for a game that claims the minimum requirement for RAM is 2GB.

I should also note that I'm not getting any Windows "low on memory" messages because my system itself still has plenty of RAM to spare even with eso.exe chewing away at it. It's the 32-bit client reaching its maximum allocation that causes it to crash, as far as I can tell.

..Maybe Zenimax could avoid some of this grief if they'd just make a 64-bit client.

tino.antoninieb17_ESO · August 2014

Since patch i have crashes in every half of hour. Hope that ZOS will soon confirm that thing is on their side and and even sooner start to work on that issue.

Ojustaboo · August 2014

lordrichter wrote: »

While I don't discount the bank crash that @Caroloces is having, or @motty2307 who rolled back video drivers, as being valid crashing problems, I do not think they are the same cause that others might be having in the thread.

I am seeing a pattern in some of the reports where this crash can sneak up on people after a few hours. In other reports, frequently related to Cyrodiil, the crashes happen more frequently. In both cases, I seem to see people reporting lagging, which I interpret to be noticeable stop and go stuttering, which is followed after a while by the crash.

Honestly, this sounds to me like it could be an ever-growing in-memory data table that is frequently referenced. As the table grows, so does the time required to find something in the table. The increased time results in steadily more noticeable stutter. Eventually, the table gets too large to hold in memory and the game crashes. Just a guess, mind you. This is not necessarily a memory leak.

I have not seen a lot of clear 32 bit vs 64 bit revelations....

I guess I might ask how many of us are running 64 bit Windows with more than 4GB of RAM?

win 8.1 64 with 32GB RAM

I don't get as many crashes as some members of my guild and a few times in Cyrodiil, the whole group would CTD at the exact same second.

The Cyrodiil lag is there for my entire guikd/group (eu), doesn't matter if you've just booted your PC and logged in, or if you've managed to play in Cyrodiil for 40 mins without a crash, exactly the same lag.

Other guildies are seeing it in PvE too, everything works in PvE, then you try to use E for something whether talking to an NPC or to go through a door and nothing happens. Then about 10 to 15 secs later it recognises your keystroke and everything works great for another 5 to 10 mins then it does it again.

Or you could be fighting in PvE and you fire a skill off and nothihg happens for 10 to 15 secs (but you can move around fine)

But this PvE lag started for my entire guild after the server move to Germany and it seems to be based on server load I think, as for example I played for about 4 hrs last Friday morning and had zero lag but the closer it came to the evening, as more players logged on, the lag started and got steadily worse.

But the CTD in Cyrodiil only started after the patch, I have had about 2 since beta before the patch, and 5+ a night since.