Lag when ALT+Tab out of games?

Hi,

I have a Z96JS and I'm getting massive lag when scrolling while alt+tabbed out of many games. These aren't huge resource eaters, its games like Civ4 and Galactic Civilizations 2. It seems like when you alt+tab out none of the graphics cards resources get given back to Windows - scrolling now is done by the CPU which lags at it a lot. Scrolling down a web page such as this one takes 50-60% of the CPU on my system and is extremely jerky.

I'm not sure if this is an ATI problem, or if its something with these games or what. Shouldn't Windows be able to function at near normal levels if you push the game into the background? CPU usuage goes down to the normal 3-5% of an idle system, it's only the graphics card that seems to be stuck in a loop...

If anyone can look at this with a recent game that would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Cat

 

yes, ALT+TAB will lag you.

 

Just in terms of video lag though?

 

Lag should ONLY be used to describe network latency. Otherwise, you're getting stuttering and such. And yes, you are using quite a few resources with those games, as in most of your video RAM, and a fair bit of system memory as well. When you have to swap the data from the game off to disk, and then back into RAM, you get your "lag", or stuttering. 3D rendering and 2D graphics both use the same video memory, not to mention that you have to switch the graphics chip's mode between 2D and 3D when alt-tabbing out.

 

This type of "lag" (if you can call it that - lag is usually not computer-related, but rather, internet network-related) is a result of your RAM being overloaded. It doesn't really have anything to do with the video card. When you alt-tab, you have to reload a page (your desktop) that your computer hasn't seen for a while, and all the applications.

There are three fixes that I can think of for this. If the first two don't work, do the third if necessary. The third involves money, time, and a screwdriver.

1. Right click on your desktop. Set the resolution of your desktop to the resolution of the game you're playing. For instance, if you're playing a game at 1280x800 resolution, set your desktop resolution to 1280x800 resolution (instead of, say, 1680x1050). The same resolution will reduce load times a little bit, because your RAM will be struggling to go from your low 1280x800 resolution in-game to your high 1680x1050 resolution out of game very quickly. This would also apply if you play games at a higher resolution that the desktop you're currently set at, although this situation is more rare.

2. Increase the computer's virtual memory by taking it directly out of the hard drive. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and then click Properties. Click the Performance tab. Click Virtual Memory, and then click Let me specify my own virtual memory settings. Click the hard disk that you want to use for virtual memory, and then select the minimum and maximum amounts of virtual memory (Microsoft recommends 2x the size of your current RAM - if you have 512 MB, put 1024MB as your virtual memory; if you have 2048 MB of RAM, select 4096MB as your virtual memory, etc.). Click OK, click OK, and then restart your computer.

3. Install new RAM. Obviously, if you already have 2 GB of RAM on your computer, tough luck, unless you plan on spending $500 for 4 GB of RAM.

 

What you're describing shouldn't be happening CCz_Cataphract. I can alt-tab out of Vanguard SoH on my old Athlon XP and browse around just fine with 2GB of RAM. And Vanguard is one of the worst when it comes to resources, it takes over 700MB of RAM when minimized. I have no such issues with my V1Jp either.

Sorry but I have no idea what's causing the problem on your system.

 

Thanks for replying - I apologize, I usually reserve that for network lag but it was the best descriptor I could come up with. It really reminds me of the delays from using Remote Assistance over a network. It isn't really stuttering...well not always...I'm not sure how to describe it outside of it making my computer pretend it has no graphics driver installed (or that its got a 386 era graphics card).

I agree, my suspicion is that the game has reserved the graphics card and possibly all of its RAM and is not allowing me to use it at all, and forcing me to use a sort of hardware emulation through the CPU.

I noticed that there are parts of the game that are more GPU intensive and when I go to one of those points, even if I leave it I still always get video stuttering went ALT+Tabbed outside the game. It's as if the system has reserved that memory or system resources. The CPU goes clear after exiting. I checked, I still have 1 GB of RAM free so I don't think its a Virtual memory problem. I can also (I'll have to confirm) play video ok in full screen. It's like that can take resources for itself from the game...but I'm not sure on this point.

I've never seen this sort of thing with previous systems, and games. I could always alt+tab out and send a message or check for updates to a website without having any problems. I'm playing the game usually at 1680x1050 resolution - both Civ4 and GalCiv2 provide native resizing desktop support for that mode (GalCiv2 call it some Stardock patented mode).

Not sure what the solution is...from your responses it seems like it's only me? Can anyone out there try alt+tabbing out of your favourite newer game and see if this sort of thing happens?

Thanks,
Cat

 

sometimes it happens to me too, what i observe is i have no problems with new games like NFS Carbon (1 have 1 GB Ram) but older games like dos games or ones came up within win 98 time causes problems when i use ALT+TAB.

 

Thanks for replying trooper.

Ya definitely DOS games cause lots of problems, and many won't let you back into Windows or crash on resume. But for Windows games, and especially these new ones...I have no problem for instance with Age of Empires II: Age of Kings, I can Alt+Tab and my system works as usual. But with GalCiv2 and Civ4 I see it happening every time I alt+tab out if I've loaded a game in them.

What type of video card do you have trooper (And anyone else whose seen or not seen this problem)? I'm trying to figure out if this is ATI specific or something anyone might experience.

Thanks,
Cat

 

I know some people and I can look at getting this fixed...but I need some feedback on whether it's an ATI specific problem or not...I don't have anything but ATI cards here...does you have another type, you who are reading this now? If so please try

Thanks,
Cat