Steam downloads randomly dropping to 0 MB/s even with SSD

[arronaxx88]

This seems to be a persistent issue on Steam that I've been unable to resolve using advice from older threads.

I've linked an Imgur screenshot [imgur.com] illustrating the problem. Despite capping the downloads at 50 MB/s, they randomly drop to 0. I'm confused by these drops as they don't occur when downloading from platforms like Origin or Epic. Could this be a Steam-specific issue?

Most suggestions in previous discussions attribute this problem to the HDD not keeping pace with the download speed. Surprisingly, the issue persists even when using an SSD.

Here's a short list of attempted troubleshoots that DIDN'T work:

• Cleared download cache on Steam
  
• Prioritized Steam in task manager
  
• Switched to different hard drives (both HDD and second SSD)
  
• Changed download region
  
• Opened Steam as admin

I'm reaching out for any potential solutions you might have. Thank you in advance for your help.

[Iceira]

Could you haver the write behind cache enable, and technicaly you pc has trouble with handle it, do noit i assume it resume then your pc catch up. ( work as instended ) problem is could also be seen as cause more issue then your pc cant keep up, try understand the 2 side of it, but what the poinyt in store so much data then pc get slowed to much. ( there is alot of tech stuff here depend how you explan it.

The graph actual show it at beging also, network buffer up then stop and disk write it, and then it do it again. ( if you get a DC into steam same time then it will not resume. ( as i said many way to see on the problem, its better have a flow then up and down.

Also why other say set limitation on dl speed so you get flow so pc can handle it, ( thats the bad explanations of it.

You need to mbe a master or very skill tech person to understand all them bottlenecks, many are but taht not same as explan it.

( what if disk and pc was more powerrfull then network then you ont see the problem at all. )
its a simple and complicated topic, talk with tech person or support is the only way to know them all.

Even write to a disk that not used by steam matter here.( a slave game disk )
could say write to a disk thats idle and can keep up.

gl with it. ( happy new year )


ps.
and you could have search for this, it has been explaned by many steam user over many years.

[arronaxx88]

Postat inițial de Iceira:

Even write to a disk that not used by steam matter here.( a slave game disk )
could say write to a disk thats idle and can keep up.

That doesnt explain, why this wont happen on other platforms like origin or ESG. Also I tried using idle SSD (as stated in my post), with no success.

[Ettanin]

Steam is very I/O intensive - it downloads encrypted and compressed diff chunks, decrypts them, then decompresses them. Thenafter, Steam stores a backup copy of the file pre-patch before applying the diff (creating another file), then deletes the backup copy.

Download speed is limited by:

* Your storage device's I/O capabilities
* Your CPU
* Your antivirus or other ring 0 kernel driver's (Firewall, device drivers, anti-cheats, ...) I/O efficiency
* Your ISP's peering agreements and infrastructure.

Pick one or multiple.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1082209554

[Satoru]

Postat inițial de arronaxx88:

Postat inițial de Iceira:

Even write to a disk that not used by steam matter here.( a slave game disk )
could say write to a disk thats idle and can keep up.

That doesnt explain, why this wont happen on other platforms like origin or ESG. Also I tried using idle SSD (as stated in my post), with no success.

Its because you are disk IO or CPU limited

Steam is patching the file and it doesn't download stuff while patching becasue that causes IO contention which slows the overall process. YOu don't 'notice' it on other platforms because you likely don't actually use other paltforms that much otehr than to initially download a game, and you'll liekly never see the actual patching process which is basically identical across all platforms as everyone does delta patching

[Iceira]

The other helper already explan you this, they are just not that hard as i am, disk media is still the weakest media in our pc, and why some go RAID. ( to tell ppl your pc is not fast enough or incoming data is to big for you pc to handle. ) both statement is true, i could also say buy a better pc and have right multi disk or Raid in it.

Talk with tech ppl, they know this just like here in the post they helper know this, they just dont say it.

It's like compare a race car with Fomula one car, and you cant,
casual pc build vs Pro multi disk or Raid will boost handle.

We are not defender of what you have or what i have in old pc, you talk with ppl that help ppl with best pc if they can afford it,

Pretty sure Satoru & Ettanin also know best pc build vs just a gaming pc or game pro pc with more disk power to deal with incoming data.

And i also think helper here is getting tired´of so many ste4am user think they have world best gaming pc. ( we just dont tell ppl this )

gl with it.

ps.
just so you get it, Raid was also there in DOS age, thats how we learn it. ( SCSI = Small Computer System Interface ) so this is nothing new.

other steam user also point out huge diffrence in SSD performance, ( alot of tech things here not mention in most steam post )

[Elucidator]

Postat inițial de arronaxx88:

I'm reaching out for any potential solutions you might have. Thank you in advance for your help.

Potentially, a lot of reasons that this happens may be due to Windows 11.

Look in Task Scheduler for telemetry stuff and turn it off
also make sure Windows Defender only runs when you're idling and not doing stuff.
Make Windows Defender scan less often, which can also help.

In Services there are a number of processes that can cause slowdowns.
Search indexing for example: every time the file is written too another process updates it for search, for no reason- SSDs are fast enough; I recommend disabling search indexing lol.

You can see your disk activity drop, which potentially means something else occupies disk usage.
Use a tool that looks at your disk usage outside of Steam, so that you can see what is using your disk and identify the problem causer.

It can also be caused by a slow router or modem though; maybe it just sucks and needed amoment before it could continue sending you the download.

Happy new year by the way

[Lithurge]

Make sure write cache isn't enabled for the SSD.

[Master Assassin]

OK so I just started having this problem after upgrading my internet package last month and couldn't find a fix.

Before I go on to the brief fix which has already been described, I want to point out that I've downloaded games on Epic with no problem, but with Steam I was getting these dips so often that it seemed like my internet upgrade was more like a downgrade. My disk seemingly couldn't keep up with the higher throttle I set on download rates.

Anyway, I have two internal SSD's and both had Write Cache enabled, so I DISABLED them instead and now my download and disk usage is continuously stable.
(device manager > disk drives > [ssd] > right click > properties > policies)

TLDR - Try disabling or enabling Write Cache on the disk drive that you are downloading games on.

[zinedine]

Postat inițial de Master Templar:

OK so I just started having this problem after upgrading my internet package last month and couldn't find a fix.

Before I go on to the brief fix which has already been described, I want to point out that I've downloaded games on Epic with no problem, but with Steam I was getting these dips so often that it seemed like my internet upgrade was more like a downgrade. My disk seemingly couldn't keep up with the higher throttle I set on download rates.

Anyway, I have two internal SSD's and both had Write Cache enabled, so I DISABLED them instead and now my download and disk usage is continuously stable.
(device manager > disk drives > [ssd] > right click > properties > policies)

TLDR - Try disabling or enabling Write Cache on the disk drive that you are downloading games on.

TYSM helped!!!

[mbusby993]

Postat inițial de Master Templar:

OK so I just started having this problem after upgrading my internet package last month and couldn't find a fix.

Before I go on to the brief fix which has already been described, I want to point out that I've downloaded games on Epic with no problem, but with Steam I was getting these dips so often that it seemed like my internet upgrade was more like a downgrade. My disk seemingly couldn't keep up with the higher throttle I set on download rates.

Anyway, I have two internal SSD's and both had Write Cache enabled, so I DISABLED them instead and now my download and disk usage is continuously stable.
(device manager > disk drives > [ssd] > right click > properties > policies)

TLDR - Try disabling or enabling Write Cache on the disk drive that you are downloading games on.

I'm having the EXACT same issues after moving house and getting upgraded Internet compared to the old place and none of the fixes I've read about have helped. 😭 This is insanely frustrating.

[Nick]

Postat inițial de Lithurge:

Make sure write cache isn't enabled for the SSD.

This worked! I had this issue for years and it worked. Thank you

[Dimas]

I had the same issue. I usually install games from Epic Games, EA, and other game stores directly onto my external drive, and everything was stable at 150 Mbps.

I tried disabling the write cache, clearing the download cache, and even reinstalling Steam, but the issue persisted.

Finally, I solved the issue today by installing the games onto my SSD C: drive first, instead of directly onto my external drive. After the download finished, I moved the games to my external drive.

You can give it a try! Good luck!

[Ossu! Ora GOKU!]

I have a same problem. In last 2 weeks, while i downloading a game, after 1 or 2 hours the download speed decresing to kbits. Normally i use max 24mbit/s internet connection and steam performs 22-23 mbit/s but after approximately 20gb downloading the speed falling down to 200-300 kbit/sn. I checked my speed via speedtest but everything normal. It repeated maybe 20 times. Restarting steam app is enough everytime to increase speed again. What can be wrong?

[Sayer09]

Postat inițial de Master Templar:

OK so I just started having this problem after upgrading my internet package last month and couldn't find a fix.

Before I go on to the brief fix which has already been described, I want to point out that I've downloaded games on Epic with no problem, but with Steam I was getting these dips so often that it seemed like my internet upgrade was more like a downgrade. My disk seemingly couldn't keep up with the higher throttle I set on download rates.

Anyway, I have two internal SSD's and both had Write Cache enabled, so I DISABLED them instead and now my download and disk usage is continuously stable.
(device manager > disk drives > [ssd] > right click > properties > policies)

TLDR - Try disabling or enabling Write Cache on the disk drive that you are downloading games on.

I love you!!!!!!!! finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyy solved this!!!!!!!! you just saved me hours upon hours of waitingggggggggg!!!!!!!

[2003 Honda Civic]

Had this issue and that didnt work for me. Found out that my game was on my C drive but my drive was low on space. Even after freeing space steam kept trying to download the files to my D drive(mad slow) and then transfer them to my C drive taking up 100% D disk usage. Went to steam settings and removed my D drive from download locations, cleared cache and restarted the download. Now steadily staying at 50 MB/s with less than 16% disk usage lol.

TLDR: Steam>settings>storage select D drive, select (...) and remove library (this wont delete the games). then go to Settings>Downloads and clear cache. Restart your download/update.