Game runs perfectly smoothly but all other background apps will freeze?

Thanks for getting back with this information.

There can be many reasons for such an issue. It can be memory usage, hard drive or SSD performance, computer and system compatibility, and more.

Sometimes, corrupted files can also cause such an issue. You can use SFC.

You can run SFC Scan by following these steps:

1). On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R key at the same time to invoke the Run box.

2). Type cmd and press Shift+Ctrl+Enter together on your keyboard to open Command Prompt in the administrator mode.

Note: Do NOT click OK or just press the Enter key as that won’t allow you to open Command Prompt in the administrator mode.

3). Type sfc /scannow (or copy-paste) and press Enter. Then wait for the verification is 100% complete.

4). Restart your computer

Hey Brandon!

My name is Ravi, an independent advisor and expert user. I am happy to help you. :)

Could you please tell me if it happens with only one game or all games?

If it happens when you play any game, there might be an issue with GPU drivers. Removing the graphics driver, downloading it from your computer's manufacturer's site, and reinstalling drivers should fix the issue.

Sometimes, an older driver version is more stable. You can try a few different versions to check which suits the best.

Feel free to get in touch again if you have any additional questions.

Cheers,

Ravi

Hello, all things check out. Drivers all up to date, nothing is out of date, absolutely nothing.
Monitor refresh rate is set at 60 hz which is the max allowed for my monitor.

My CPU temp is at a consistent 35 F and GPU is at 65 F.

My RAM usage is only 30% when running both the game and background app.

Game setting is at high, though there has been no difference in lowering the quality. Background apps simply will still freeze when tabbed out to it.

And this applies to all games, anything that I play will affect the background apps overall.

With the high-end hardware specifications you mentioned, your system should indeed be capable of running games smoothly while having background applications running concurrently. However, the issue you described—freezing when running a game alongside background apps like YouTube—can be caused by various factors. Here are some troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the problem:

1. Drivers: Ensure that your graphics card (GeForce 3080 TI) drivers are up to date. Outdated or incompatible drivers can lead to performance issues and freezing. Visit NVIDIA's official website to download and install the latest drivers for your GPU.
2. Monitor Refresh Rate: Check your monitor's refresh rate settings. Make sure that it's set to the appropriate refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz, 144Hz) both in Windows display settings and within the game. Mismatched refresh rates can lead to display issues.
3. Overheating: Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures using software like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor while running games and background applications. Overheating can lead to system freezes. Ensure that your cooling system is working correctly and that your components are not running too hot.
4. RAM Usage: Monitor your system's RAM usage when running games and background apps. 64GB of RAM should be more than sufficient for multitasking, but it's possible that a particular app or game is consuming an excessive amount of memory. Close unnecessary background applications to free up RAM.
5. Background Apps: Some background applications, especially those using a lot of system resources, can interfere with game performance. Check your task manager for resource-intensive background apps and consider closing them while gaming.
6. Power Supply: Your 850W power supply should be adequate for your system, but if there are any issues with power delivery or fluctuations, it can lead to instability. Make sure all power connections are secure, and consider testing with another power supply if available.
7. Game Settings: Check your in-game settings, particularly those related to graphics and performance optimization. Lowering graphics settings can reduce the strain on your GPU, potentially reducing the likelihood of freezing.
8. Background Processes: Review and disable any non-essential startup processes and background services. Some applications run background processes that can impact system performance.
9. Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date with the latest updates and patches. Outdated OS files can lead to compatibility issues.
10. Background App Management: In Windows, check the background app management settings. You can control which apps are allowed to run in the background, which can help optimize system resources.
11. Testing Individual Apps: Test different combinations of games and background applications to identify if a specific app or game is causing the freezing issue. This can help narrow down the problem.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, it may be helpful to reach out to technical support from NVIDIA or the game developer for further assistance. Additionally, considering the complexity of your system, consulting with a professional technician might be a good option to diagnose and resolve the problem.