What can cause computer lag when downloading?

[Jazman2k]

I suddenly ran into this problem I have never encountered before in my life.

Downloading anything from steam, GOG Galaxy, Origin etc. causes my computer to lag very badly.

Just few weeks ago my computer was running fine, and I've been able to play games even while downloading.

Now my computer lags so badly, I cannot even surf on the web at the same time. Mouse cursor lags, scrolling pages lags, everything stutters and lags.

CPU usage is normal, between 1-10%
Ram usage is normal: between 3-4gb
Disk usage is normal.
Checked SSD for errors, none found.
Optimized the disk. No help.
Scanned for viruses. Nothing found.

I have free space about 300 gigabytes on my SSD.

I have never had issues like this. Only thing I've done lately is:

-Install new W10 Home Update
-Install new steam update
-Install Epic Launcher and Kingdom Come game (could this be the cause?)
-Downloaded some subtitles for a TV show

Yesterday I installed Epic Launcher and downloaded Kingdom Come and while downloading I had no problems. Today I launched steam and started to download a game and noticed this massive lag.

I checked with other software and unfortunately GOG and others cause problems too when downloading.

What could cause this?

[Cathulhu]

Mainly I/O processing.

[mtono]

i would do a clean install of windows and reset the modem before.

[LiMpY]

See if you have an earlier system restore available.

[L37]

SSD model? Are your games and OS on the same SSD?
Some of them become extremely slow when you write certain amount of data fast.

[_I_]

slow cpu, ram, hdd

unstable oc, temps, throttling

[Junto 888]

Check the drive that you installed to is not full? Also new Win 10 update may have fudged stuff?

[Jazman2k]

Originally posted by L37:

SSD model? Are your games and OS on the same SSD?
Some of them become extremely slow when you write certain amount of data fast.

It's not Steam related. I just tested with speedtest and even that causes my computer to lag. So it has something to do with the network data.

There was some new drivers available for network card, so I updated those but no help.

I think the cause has to be the new windows update, since just last week my computer was running perfectly.

Also did memtest. ssd test, everything is OK. So it is not faulty hardware.

I am using a laptop, Legion Y540. Every driver is up to date.

[Jazman2k]

Originally posted by _I_:

slow cpu, ram, hdd

unstable oc, temps, throttling

No. Because this started just few days ago.

[Jazman2k]

Originally posted by teh_germ:

i would do a clean install of windows and reset the modem before.

Cannot do. And I doubt that will solve anything. Clean install has never solved anything for me.
Also, I have tons of music software on my computer and it takes me almost 3 days to get everything operational again. I am not too keen on doing that.

My computer performance is the same, but for some reason any network data is making my computer sluggish.

[mtono]

maybe buy a cheap network pci(-e) card!?
:-/

[Jazman2k]

Originally posted by teh_germ:

maybe buy a cheap network pci(-e) card!?
:-/

No, since this worked fine just few days ago. I sent a support ticked to Lenovo. Although I know what they are going to say. "re-install windows!"

My network speed is fine, everything is fine except when I start downloading my computer turns into a slideshow.

It has to be about the windows update...frustrating.

[Jazman2k]

I am doing a test and now I am downloading Alan Wake as I type this. So far, no problems. I wonder if that driver update helped. Most annoying problem I have ever encountered so far in my life with computers.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by Jazman2k:

Originally posted by teh_germ:

i would do a clean install of windows and reset the modem before.

Cannot do. And I doubt that will solve anything. Clean install has never solved anything for me.
Also, I have tons of music software on my computer and it takes me almost 3 days to get everything operational again. I am not too keen on doing that.

My computer performance is the same, but for some reason any network data is making my computer sluggish.

It would only take a few hours at most if you would do it right and have multiple drives

The os drive should be setup so it can be wiped at a moments notice. Everything you need should be on other drives.

All this back and forth yet I see nothing about your specs. Post a cpuz validation

[Jazman2k]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Originally posted by Jazman2k:

Cannot do. And I doubt that will solve anything. Clean install has never solved anything for me.
Also, I have tons of music software on my computer and it takes me almost 3 days to get everything operational again. I am not too keen on doing that.

My computer performance is the same, but for some reason any network data is making my computer sluggish.

It would only take a few hours at most if you would do it right and have multiple drives

The os drive should be setup so it can be wiped at a moments notice. Everything you need should be on other drives.

All this back and forth yet I see nothing about your specs. Post a cpuz validation

I don't have other drive yet on my laptop. I am planning getting one, but music software has to be installed on C drive. Even the developer suggests that everything should be on the default location to make sure everything works fine and installing to other locations is not supported.

You have to transfer licenses and stuff...it's really painful to re-install everything.
Luckily, things are evolving in music software. Maybe someday they work like steam. But currenly it's a mess., I have 4 different softwares just for licence handling. 4 different copy-protections running at the same time (each dev has it's own). I wish it would be just that simple as my steam games.

But my specs are fine, if you need them, here.

i5 9300H
16gb DDR4 Ram
RTX 2060 6gb
1tb M.2 Samsung SSD
Model: Lenovo Y540

I did some updates of chipset drivers etc. from device manager. I hope those help. But all SSD NVMe drivers etc are up-to-date.

I did some download testing and it did not cause any stuttering, but gotta keep my fingers crossed.

[mtono]

Originally posted by Jazman2k:

Originally posted by teh_germ:

maybe buy a cheap network pci(-e) card!?
:-/

No, since this worked fine just few days ago. I sent a support ticked to Lenovo. Although I know what they are going to say. "re-install windows!"

My network speed is fine, everything is fine except when I start downloading my computer turns into a slideshow.

It has to be about the windows update...frustrating.

i have no troubles with the windows update...!?