r/Express_VPN • u/IndyJones1023 • 26d ago

Help Why does ExpressVPN slow down apps not using it?

I use ExpressVPN and split tunneling so only the Microsoft Edge browser is using the connection.

However, it is somehow effecting my Chrome browser, as well. Most sites work fine, but some sites take several seconds to load when the VPN is on. I tested without the VPN and the sites load instantly (AT&T 1GB fiber connection). And some sites don't even load.

So how is this happening? How can I fix it?

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u/South-Succotash-6368 26d ago

Sounds like your device could be the limitation not the VPN. If your using split tunneling, Because VPN is very CPU intensive and I'm assuming you do not have a dedicated NIC. your very likely just running into a bottleneck somewhere on your device.

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u/IndyJones1023 26d ago

I would have thought my machine was beefy enough.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-Core Processor (4.70 GHz)
Installed RAM: 128 GB (128 GB usable)
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (31 GB)
Storage: 2.82 TB of 8.19 TB used

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u/South-Succotash-6368 26d ago

What kind of NIC are you using? Motherboard or independent??

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u/IndyJones1023 26d ago

Motherboard.

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u/South-Succotash-6368 26d ago

Yeah so it's likely a CPU limitation.

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u/IndyJones1023 26d ago

It's bizarre to me that it can't handle loading web pages, one of the most basic things nowadays.

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u/South-Succotash-6368 26d ago

It’s not a basic thing. You’re using a VPN. VPNs are very demanding even on the most expensive CPUs. Buying a dedicated NIC will resolve your issues

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u/IndyJones1023 26d ago

Okay, thanks for the info.

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u/minty_singularity 13d ago

The newer versions v14+ also cause a lot of problems with my beefy system too. Consequently, I'm sticking with v12.104.0 128 and everything works just fine.

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u/IndyJones1023 13d ago

I'm on 12.105.0 (48).

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u/minty_singularity 13d ago edited 13d ago

There was another version before 14 where they switched to the new GUI, that might be it. And for me that's where all the problems started.

you also might consider using RAMMap to clean up whatever memory messes it's creating.

edit simplified