Issue with Project Rendering Causing System Hang and Memory Usage Spike

Development Rendering
, ,
1

Description:

I am encountering a critical issue with one of my Unreal Engine projects that I cannot resolve despite attempting various troubleshooting steps. When attempting to render a specific sequence within this project, Unreal Engine becomes unresponsive, leading to extreme system resource consumption and rendering the project unusable. I am reaching out to seek assistance in diagnosing and resolving this problem.

Issue Details:

  • Symptoms:
    • When I initiate the rendering process for a particular sequence in my Unreal Engine project, the following symptoms occur:
      • Unreal Engine process goes into “Not Responding” status.
      • RAM usage spikes to 32GB (utilizing all available system RAM).
      • CPU usage reaches 60-75% across all cores.
      • Mouse and system responsiveness become severely impacted.
      • GPU usage remains low, at around 10%.
      • Unreal Engine alternates between “Not Responding” and shader compilation.
  • Project Specificity:
    • This issue is specific to one particular project; rendering other sequences within the same project or rendering sequences in different projects works as intended.

Steps Taken to Troubleshoot:

I have diligently followed several troubleshooting steps in an attempt to resolve this issue:

  1. Project Copy: I created a copy of the problematic project to ensure that the issue is not related to a unique configuration within that project.
  2. Content Inspection: I examined the project’s assets and content for any signs of corruption or improper import. I even disabled assets one by one to pinpoint any problematic content.
  3. Project Settings: I compared project settings, especially those related to rendering and lighting, with other projects that work as intended.
  4. Lighting Complexity: I considered whether the lighting complexity of the problematic sequence might be significantly different from others, causing the issue.
  5. Editor Preferences: I reviewed editor preferences and settings for any unusual or custom configurations that could be contributing to the problem.
  6. Plugin Conflicts: I temporarily disabled third-party plugins and extensions to check for conflicts, but the issue persisted.
  7. Updated Unreal Engine: I ensured that I am using the latest version of Unreal Engine to eliminate potential compatibility issues.
  8. Log Files: I examined Unreal Engine’s log files (located in the project’s “Saved/Logs” folder) for error messages or warnings, but did not find any conclusive information.
  9. Profiling Tools: I used Unreal Engine’s profiling tools, including the “Stat Unit” command, to identify performance bottlenecks but could not pinpoint the issue.
  10. Project Validation: I ran the project through Unreal Engine’s validation tool, which did not report any issues.
  11. Rebuild Lighting: I attempted to rebuild the lighting for the problematic sequence, but this did not resolve the problem.
  12. Editor Mode: I ensured that I was not in any specific editor mode or viewport that might be causing the issue.

Request for Support:

Given the persistence of this issue and the critical impact it has on my workflow, I kindly request support to provide assistance in diagnosing and resolving this problem. If there are any specific logs, diagnostic tools, or additional troubleshooting steps that you recommend, please let me know, and I will provide the requested information promptly.

System Information:

  • Operating System: Windows 11 22h2
  • Unreal Engine Version: UE 5.3
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700x 8/16
  • RAM: 32GB DDR4
  • GPU: RTX2070

Thank you for your assistance.

1 Like