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Question

Audio/Video playback issue

Mar 20, 2016 6:31AM PDT

This is a problem that has plagued my laptop for some time now, but Im just now able to devote some time to trying to solve it.

Here goes. My computer has developed a problem with severe lag after its been running for a more than a few hours. The thing is, this lag only occurs whole something is being downloaded. The issue becomes worse the longer the computer runs. If I reboot the computer, the problem goes away, but only for a few hours, then the whole process starts again. Here is a video showing what this issue looks like while trying to play a video on youtube:
https://youtu.be/SsUCJsD0TVs
If I wait around and let the whole video load beforehand, it will play fine, but the video demonstrates what happens when you play the video while it is still loading.

At times, when the issue becomes serious enough, the screen will go black and my display drivers start to malfunction.

Heres what I have tried:
Downloading the latest drivers for my video card
Rolling back the drivers on my video card.
Replacing the memory modules (One of them had stopped working. Adding two new ones did not solve the problem)

As I said, this only happens when downloading, and only after the computer has been running for a few hours. Any ideas as to what could be causing this? Faulty gpu? Failing hard disk?

Thank you

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I don't see which Windows and no mention of canned air.
Mar 20, 2016 8:20AM PDT

The missing details mean I'll use what you did reveal.

The fine for hours is a typical sign it's a machine that needs the usual canned air cleaning.

There's also some ISPs that slow down after a few hours of heavy use but only you may know your ISP and if they do that.

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Audio/Video playback issue
Mar 20, 2016 1:52PM PDT

Hi, and thanks or the reply.
To clarify, I am running Windows 7 Home Premium
8gb DD3 1600 mhz ram (2 x 4gb)
Core i7 2630QM cpu
Nvidia GeForce GT 540M

Have not tried canned air
I doubt its the ISP since I dont have this issue on my other computers
Have not run memtest. Might actually run that later tonite.

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Those parts
Mar 20, 2016 2:00PM PDT

Are now years old. If you haven't been doing the canned air then it's time to start.

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Answer
Canned air
Mar 20, 2016 9:30AM PDT

Just to expand a little.
Get a can of compressed air give the innards and vents a cleaning.
Do this once a week for a month.

Ram.
Since you had some kind of issue in this area it might be a good idea to grab a copy of memtest86 and let it fly for 4hrs......no errors allowed.