Asus memory leaks, please mention this in your next review

[Himeko]

Hi, here's something I'd love for you guys to mention in your next review of an Asus motherboard:

There is a huge memory leak in some of their drivers supplied with their motherboards for the last few years, apparently in at least one of the services used to interface with the Ai Suite and fan controllers.

It's the "Asus COM service", after a few days it runs into several hundred MBs, if not GB. The issue has been around for very long, and Asus completely ignore this. Trying to file a support ticket, after getting aids using their horrible site, when you actually manage to login etc, they either never reply or give some automated answer that's completely unrelated.

So when you guys review one of their next mobos, it would be much appreciated if you raise some awareness of this issue, maybe Asus might not turn a blind eye to this if exposed in a website with such a large coverage and readerbase.

http://dyslexicanaboko.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/asus-com-service-atkexcomsvcexe-memory.html

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?11511-ASUS-Com-Service

http://www.sevenforums.com/overclocking-case-mods/173258-memory-leak-atkexcomsvc.html

The topics on this issue range from several years back up to the present March 2013, this is completely unacceptable from such a high profile mobo maker.

~

Edit June 19th 2013: the service included in Ai Suite III does not have the memory leak issue, but it still remains in the II

 

[coffeejunkee]

Easiest solution: don't use AI Suite. But yeah, it's a bit sad that after all these years motherboard software still sucks.

 

[rgallant]

Easiest solution: don't use AI Suite. But yeah, it's a bit sad that after all these years motherboard software still sucks.

this
-no reason to use AI suite.

 

[Ketchup]

this
-no reason to use AI suite.

Why not? While I have never used the software, I have seen it run, and it does have a nice look, and good functionality (from my limited experience). Considering what they charge for these motherboards, there is no reason for them to have a "memory leak" that many of us haven't seen since Windows 98!

 

[cantholdanymore]

I use AI suite all the time, but never leave my computer on for more than 24-48 hours

 

[Himeko]

Why not? While I have never used the software, I have seen it run, and it does have a nice look, and good functionality (from my limited experience). Considering what they charge for these motherboards, there is no reason for them to have a "memory leak" that many of us haven't seen since Windows 98!

Yep. Current Asus mobo I got was $260, that's quite a premium to have to cope with this crap which you don't see even on cheaper brands.

 

[rgallant]

Why not? While I have never used the software, I have seen it run, and it does have a nice look, and good functionality (from my limited experience). Considering what they charge for these motherboards, there is no reason for them to have a "memory leak" that many of us haven't seen since Windows 98!

-most of the seasoned rog. members suggest removing it if you can.

-I think it also needs a up to date intel me firmware to access the bios correctly , some bios issues can happen with a mismatch [new bios\win8 verse win7], rumor or fact I can't be bothered with a windows interface to the mb bios, to oc, cpu or memory . if I really wanted it I could use the rog. connect to a laptop.

-might look petty ,but does not have any must have functions ,that are worth the bloat and risk of a windows interface to give access to the low level bios functions IMO

-I use coretemp on my g15 ,msi-ab on my g13 ,no need for osd in game or the desktop.
-water temp read out is on a fan controller.

-overclocking is done\saved in the bios.

 

[Ketchup]

-overclocking is done\saved in the bios.

That's the way I do everything on my Gigabyte, and for said functions they (Gigabyte) have some of the most outdated software you will see on a modern computer. But then again, my board was a lot less expensive than the Asus boards being mentioned, and I knew that going in. As long as people know the Asus software has these issues going into the purchase, no huge deal. But speaking for myself, this is the first I have heard of this.

It just strikes me as odd that the best software for tuning a motherboard I have owned was on an old DFI Lanparty. Are good software developers really that hard to come by? Or do they just charge too much!

 

[coffeejunkee]

Yep. Current Asus mobo I got was $260, that's quite a premium to have to cope with this crap which you don't see even on cheaper brands.

I have always considered the bundled software as something of a free extra. It must also be said that all software has bugs, it's just unevitable. What's more important is how they are fixed, and it does take longer than it should. Current AI Suite was introduced with P67 boards, so this memory leak has been here for 2 years now.

I myself experienced many other bugs (having to reload fan profile on every boot, many false error messages). If the AI Suite wasn't a total pita to uninstall I would try it again to see if these bugs had been fixed.

That's the way I do everything on my Gigabyte, and for said functions they (Gigabyte) have some of the most outdated software you will see on a modern computer. But then again, my board was a lot less expensive than the Asus boards being mentioned, and I knew that going in. As long as people know the Asus software has these issues going into the purchase, no huge deal. But speaking for myself, this is the first I have heard of this.

It just strikes me as odd that the best software for tuning a motherboard I have owned was on an old DFI Lanparty. Are good software developers really that hard to come by? Or do they just charge too much!

I think the overclocking software for Gigabyte is really good. Plain simple geek style and it just does what it needs to. Now the AI Suite does look quite good and consistent but it seems to me like a bit overambitious. There are so many modules and gimmicky features implemented that it looks like they forgot to build a solid foundation first. So we have a ton of services running in the background for really simple things, like reading cpu temp.

 

[coffeejunkee]

this
-no reason to use AI suite.

Well, to be fair there are some features only AI Suite offers. These are:

- mylogo (lets you use an image of choice for post screen, not exactly vital but some might like this)
- network icontrol (prioritizes network traffic, gaming over p2p fex, but I heard it just causes extra lag)
- usb 3 boost (enables uasp for faster transfer rates, requires compatible usb 3 device too)
- usb charger+ (lets you recharge faster, not sure if it works on every device and I also wonder about impact on accu life)
- wifi go (turns your pc into extra router/accespoint and lets you control pc with tablet, handy for htpc but obviously you need board with wifi or wifi card)

Also, Windows based overclocking software does mean a lot less rebooting.

 

[rgallant]

there should be a big red warning label on all products which are released with ai suite:

"DO NOT INSTALL / DO NOT USE"

post #7 + 12
-http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?29427-another-annoying-BUG-asus-AI-SUITE-II/page2&highlight=remove+suite.

not saying it's not useful on a benching system or some parts of it , but to put it into a mix of must have programs on my system it's not worth the risk to me.

 

[Himeko]

(Posting this is an image.. the board somehow confuses the text with IMG BB code links and won't let me post)

 

[red454]

I used AI Suite on my Z68 ROG board, and I am using it now on my Z77 Formula board, and no problems on either. I love the Fan Xpert II for my fan control. I just checked and I don't see any memory leaks and I leave mine on (sleep mode at night) for days at a time without a reboot.

I have read all the negative about it, and was a little scared to use it, but I haven't had any real problems. Well, once in a while I do get some odd warnings about voltages or temps being way high or low. After verifying that nothing was wrong, I just ignore the little popup warnings.

 

[Himeko]

I used AI Suite on my Z68 ROG board, and I am using it now on my Z77 Formula board, and no problems on either. I love the Fan Xpert II for my fan control. I just checked and I don't see any memory leaks and I leave mine on (sleep mode at night) for days at a time without a reboot.

I have read all the negative about it, and was a little scared to use it, but I haven't had any real problems. Well, once in a while I do get some odd warnings about voltages or temps being way high or low. After verifying that nothing was wrong, I just ignore the little popup warnings.

Check the atkexComSvc.exe, it's using 582 MB for me now.

 

[red454]

Check the atkexComSvc.exe, it's using 582 MB for me now.

I don't see that one running on my system...

 

[Himeko]

Edit: 612 MB now, 30 MB increase in just 1h.

 

[Himeko]

Lol brilliant answer from support, "uninstall Ai Suite". that's what I want fixed.. what retards, rly I'm done with this bs brand, they were never useful in all the years I owned Asus mobos and required any support from them.

If unistall the Aisuite in your system, please have a check if the memory leak problem will persists.
If still, please update to the lastest version of the bios for a further test:
http://support.asus.com/Download.as...3-win7_8.zip#P8Z68-V-PRO-ASUS-3603-win7_8.zip
Please clear the cmos after the bios update.

Best Regards,

 

[red454]

I checked again - noting in services or processes. How did you get that window to open on post #16?

 

[Himeko]

That's a service installed by the Ai Suite/drivers.

 

[Melina42]

Asus motherboard software is almost a virus, I've learned this after a decade of fighting with their "free" software junk.

Problem is even that if you uninstall it, it leaves registry residue that can continue to mess up your BIOS settings.

Best policy is to never install it in the first place.

Same with their post-release BIOS updates. The rog.asus.com forum is full of people whose motherboards have been messed up by updating the BIOS from stock when shipped.

The hardware's engineered okay, but I have to say their software development must be some sort of Taiwanese volunteer charity organization, where kids get to learn how to program for free....

 

[cantholdanymore]

Wow talk about hate in this thread, maybe because I'm not a power user (whatever that means) I don't see any issues. Yes it has its quirks (like the said over-voltage or over-temperature warnings) but nothing big.

 

[Himeko]

Sucking a few GBs Ram after 2-3 weeks is "nothing big"?

 

[colonelciller]

Wow talk about hate in this thread, maybe because I'm not a power user (whatever that means) I don't see any issues. Yes it has its quirks (like the said over-voltage or over-temperature warnings) but nothing big.

It's totally uncalled for to characterize the comments in this thread as "hate".

Those memory leaks are absurd and completely unacceptable in any product from ANY motherboard manufacturer.

 

[colonelciller]

Asus motherboard software is almost a virus, I've learned this after a decade of fighting with their "free" software junk.

Problem is even that if you uninstall it, it leaves registry residue that can continue to mess up your BIOS settings.

Best policy is to never install it in the first place.

Same with their post-release BIOS updates. The rog.asus.com forum is full of people whose motherboards have been messed up by updating the BIOS from stock when shipped.

The hardware's engineered okay, but I have to say their software development must be some sort of Taiwanese volunteer charity organization, where kids get to learn how to program for free....

What would you recommend people to do who have an ASUS motherboard in the mail that is to go into a new build. This will be my 1st time assembling my own computer... can I get away with not installing software that comes with the ASUS motherboard?

 

[coffeejunkee]

Lol brilliant answer from support, "uninstall Ai Suite". that's what I want fixed.. what retards, rly I'm done with this bs brand, they were never useful in all the years I owned Asus mobos and required any support from them.

They also told you to update bios and try again. Not that it's going to help, but still. It's not like other brands customer support has any clue anyway. If only you got a dollar for every useless reply.

The hardware's engineered okay, but I have to say their software development must be some sort of Taiwanese volunteer charity organization, where kids get to learn how to program for free....

Yes, but the problem is, other brands are not that much better. Either it looks like shit or it works like shit, or both. Guess the first option is still preferable. Intel has some nice utilities but it's not like they never bring out borked bios updates: http://communities.intel.com/thread/33489, http://communities.intel.com/message/163761, http://communities.intel.com/message/163761

Now sure it would be nice if reviews would mention all this but lets face it, most are very superficial and nothing but click magnets. Mentioning every single problem might also cut of future hardware supply. There's a ton of threads about problems with Corsair Link software, to the point where it kills hdd's, but every review calls the software great.