downloading files eat whole RAM - computer hangs up

Hello,

My configuration is:
Win 8.1
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK
Intel Core i7-4790K 4GHz BOX
RAM 8 GB
Virtual Memory - Windows Managed

When I download big files from the Internet, they seems to remain in RAM and occupy it all the time. When I download about 8 GB of files, like the size of whole RAM, Task Manager shows up to 99% RAM usage. Closing of all programs does not help, it still shows 99% memory usage with no application running. Even logging out does not help, I must restart system. The problem occurs always, regardless of the downloading application. It happens with Flashget, with Mozilla/DownloadThemAll/direct Chrome downloading. Leaving computer overnight with downloading causes hang-up because of lack of memory. I've never had id with XP and Win7. I have no idea what can it be.

Welcome to the forum!

I've never heard of a browser using RAM to cache downloads, they are normally cached to the drive. Not sure what you have going on, will try to research. Sure you don't have a virus or malware?

I'm almost sure, I have Avast and I don't install everything from the Internet. It happens also with FlasGet, not only browsers.

Avast seem to produce many problems to Windows 8.1 users from what I've gathered so far.
Please try to remove it temporary, reboot system, and see if that makes any difference.

Note: built in Windows defender will auto-enable itself once you remove Avast, Windows update will be required to update Windows defender.

Edit:
Just in case it wont let you or something here is: Avast Uninstall Utility

Post a screenshot of Task Manager Performance tab showing memory information when the problem occurs.

This is the screenshot. With all apps closed it is still 95%

I asked for the Performance tab showing memory information.

The only issue I have with 2GB-5GB file downloads, such as Linux .iso, is the bandwidth, sometimes faster but usually slower than I like. The best guess I have is the download is being held in RAM until finished and a security scan run on it before saving to the HDD but that scan never runs or never finishes. My suggestion would be to disable security temporarily for the downloads and see what happens.

Are we talking shady downloads? I've done 2-3GB game files, nothing like 6-8 though, and never had them held in RAM.

I uninstalled Avast but id didn't help.

Adjust virtual memory perhaps---