x299 i9-7900x slow responsivnes in windows explorer and other apps

[Lu_GRU]

Hello and welcome,
I do have issue with speed of Windows 10 explorer (and other apps also, but less noticeable) on x299 platform.
I already posted (few months back) this question on MS tech forum but no one could give me solution for issue.

Link to MS tech forum, much more info then in this post, I keep this one minimal, https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/58406d62-b8d2-4191-bdd9-4a9c5538ae5f/windows-10-ex...

Issue:
Windows explorer is slow when opening (and working afterwards) multiple instances, i.e. 10.
Video presenting issue, with strange behaviour depending on CPU load:

CPU at 0%
https://player.vimeo.com/video/256998373

CPU at 60%
https://player.vimeo.com/video/256998460

These videos presents Windows 1511 and 1703 and are recorded after fresh install on Samsung 850 Evo 256 GB SSD. Reason why I did this because my main system is Windows 1709 (Fall Creators Update) that's running on Samsung 860 Pro NVME drive exhibits exactly same behaviour. My other system (i7-4770 MSI GTX 970 on HDD) running same windows version works fine, very fast responsiveness.

I wanted to test if my hard / ssd drives maybe cause this issue, so I did disconnected all of them and kept only one SSD during tests - no correlation. Any correlation that I seen is CPU utilization. This was also reproduced on my main system (Windows 1709 FCU) when running CPU-Z benchmark with 18 threads and invoking | opening by "WinKey+E" explorer response much faster then without CPU-Z. Also CPUZ score is higher when using 18 threads instead of, all by default so in this case, 20 threads.




There is also an issue with slow responsiveness of other application, Open / Save file dialogue is slow, general window painting is also slow, not painting itself but there is a delay that gives an effect of that slowness, i.e. opening notepad++ and I see white window for a fraction of second and then all widgets gets painted. This happens under 1 sec mark but it's annoying.

Surprisingly other application like compilation on gcc / msvc / rendering with blender / cinebench etc. are performing within expected range / speed.

Spec:
CPU: i9-7900X (stock)
Motherboards: Asus X299 Prime Deluxe BIOS: 1004 (1102 - is even slower overall, didn't tried newer BIOS then this one)
Memory: 32GB G.Skill 14CL
GPU: MSI GTX 1080 Ti
Drives: Samsung 960 Pro 2TB NVME (OS), Samsung 850 Evo 256GB (used on video for clean Windows install), Samsung 850 Pro 512GB, bunch of other drives unconnected during test.

What I tried on hardware level:
- replace GTX 1080Ti with GTX970 - same behaviour
- replace CPU with other i9-7900X with 1080Ti - same behaviour (my CPU went for deliding)
- RAM with or without XMP profiles - same behaviour

And here is kicker:
Linux Debian - no issues whatsoever.

Testing with OCCT causes error when testing using linpack or OCCT small data set (at random). When using linpack with 90% memory it passes 1h tests (same for both i9 CPU units). RAM testing is pending will do this probably today or tomorrow. Prime95 / compilation on both windows and linux / cinebench / aida64 practically any other stress test or demanding task passes without BSODS / crashes etc. and output (i.e. application) is correct.

At this point I'm out of idea why this happens any suggestions are more then welcome.
Regards

PS: I also tried:
- Windows power profile "High performance" / "Balanced" - same behaviour
- CPU don't thermal throttle, hits in OCCT 92*C tops, same readings from hwinfo while running prime95

PS2: Question / request for i9-7900X ASUS x299 Prime Deluxe (and other mobos) owners:
Can You runs this batch file (select and save as *.bat and run) and share Your results, does it instantly pops up all these new windows (I want to be sure that this is not "platforms feature")

set DPATH=%UserProfile%\Desktop

FOR /L %%i IN (0,1,10) DO (
call %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %DPATH%
)

[Lu_GRU]

Update:
Tried different boot options, debug, multiple safe mode etc. - issue still persists even in safe mode.

[Lu_GRU]

Done fresh install of Windows 1803 and:
- issue with explorer still persists, but it's a little bit better I would say
- CPU-Z now behaves correctly

At this point I have mixed feeling about motherboard. Seams like there is no other way but just get myself another unit and test it to be sure.

[Silent_Scone]

Hard to say, difficult to suggest things vicariously, but if the issue is occurring straight out of the gate from a fresh install then it sounds like it might be a device connected to the system, perhaps. I doubt exchanging the board will make any difference.

[Lu_GRU]

So far on "windows sluggish" show (so it's easier to read, things that I already tried):

- mounting another CPU (same model, newer batch)
- deliding (disappointing performances, got like -10*C max)
- using one RAM module (have quad channel)
- swapping RAM module to different slots
- using 2nd GPUs (970 & 1080Ti)
- swapping GTX1080Ti into different PCIE slot
- using only 1 SATA SSD drive (normally system has 5 drives, 1xNVME Samsung, 2xSSD Samsung Evo / Pro, 3xHDD - all WD)
- installing up to date OS (Windows 1803 resolves issue with CPU-Z )
- plugging in only keyboard (different one, CM XT, this is spare one not used)

All above make no difference.

In general performance is OK, only responsiveness on Windows Open/Save File Dialogues or Opening multiple windows explorer instances lags.
On Linux opening 10 instances of file manager, in this case Nautilus, works much faster then on Windows (practically instantly)
No thermal throttle detected.
BIOS up to date, this time no impact on lag, it's more or less same as using older BIOS.

Noticed mouse lag when compiling project using MSVC2017 (no to much using earlier msvc versions) on Linux using gcc not mouse lag whatsoever.

No additional apps / re-bloated Windows so only essentials running nothing in task scheduler or autorun / startup etc. (it doesn't matter as same things happens on fresh install).

At this point it's either:
- motherboard issue, one that I got was already opened so someone else was running - probably - it.
- some cable is loose / causes short ?

As You may expect this is important issue for me because I'm stuck with this platform for next 3-4 years.

[Lu_GRU]

Just to be clear when this happens, i.e. when Windows explorer lags whole OS lags, and i.e. attempting to open Task Manager in between each new windows explorer window shows (assuming showing i.e. 10 windows scenario) will result in lag so this is not only related to Explorer application but whole OS.

[Lu_GRU]

While messing around with BIOS settings I stumble upon interesting and very strange behaviour with SATA controller disable / enable.

I'm using dual boot (Debian & Windows 10 on NVME drive) and after choosing / or time out / on grub when windows starts to load it usually took 2 whole circle spins (whole circle spin is when these dots hide and nothing is visible) and then desktop is shown (around 20+sec).

While working on issue at hand I did disabled SATA controller in BIOS and ... boot from GRUB to Windows Desktop was around 3 times faster (2/3 of one whole spin)... And here is strange part. After enabling SATA controller again windows load time was still at this 2/3 of one spin (around 9 sec).

At this point I don't know what's going on. But because this affect only Windows, and with recent "feature improvements" that caused many PC to boot loop etc., I'm betting that it's MS fault at this point. Well after updating to 1803 CPU-Z fixed itself for me so maybe with update 9999 this Windows 10 will be usable ???

[Lu_GRU]

Update on issue:
Enabling / disabling SATA controller did not fixed my issue.

Strange BSO:
Super hot day today, 30*C, and I got BSOD with CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION error. Happened only once on Windows 10P, no load, just browsing web and had few apps in background.
This is the first time from purchase that I did seen this BSOD, cpu temps are at 40*-60*C tops.

[mosti]

I'm having issues with my x299. Running a i9 7920x. Although I am not experiencing lag in windows as you are, I am having some weird perforamance issues in cpu intensive applications such as zbrush and keyshot. My i7-8650U in my surface book is giving me better performance in zbrush and keyshot than my i9.

After countless days of troubleshooting I'm tipping it's either a faulty motherboard of faulty CPU.

As you have stated disabling 2 cores gives you better performance than all cores enabled, I really think your issue is too with the motherboard or cpu. But here is the catch.....you have tried a separate cpu and having same results. So that leaves one component you have yet to rule out after reading all your posts...….your motherboard.

I think you have an issue with the motherboard..

[mosti]

Our of curiosity, what PSU are you using?

[Lu_GRU]

@mosti
Thanks for Your input, what hw do You own? Also x299 Prime Deluxe?

Of course I also tried to disable in BIOS various controllers, i.e. network, wifi, USB (except for 2 port obviously), and SATA (see previous post regarding that one, results are at best puzzling for me).

I will take some time but I will eventually check motherboard, now I'm stuck with incorrectly delidded CPU (mild OC and 105*C on 6 cores, 4 cores have 83*C) and some other issue not to mention busy project at work. It will happen eventually and will report back here.

My PSU is: SeaSonic Prime Titanium 850W, I use wall power meter and max I seen was 600-650W in fur mark, usually it tops at 350 W for my work load (mostly code compilation).