Nvidia confirmed today that it's working to fix a driver issue causing high CPU usage and blue screens of death (BSODs) on Windows systems.
The buggy driver isthe GeForce Game Ready 531.18 WHQL driver released on February 28th that introducedsupport for RTX Video Super Resolution.
This comes after customers have been complaining for dayson the company's forums and on social mediathat the Nvidia Game Session Telemetry Plugin (NvGSTPlugin.dll) loaded by theNvidia Display Container service leads to CPU spikes of 10% or moreon Windows systems after closing games or rendering apps.
In the Nvidia forum thread asking for feedback on this driver version, users are also reporting experiencing constant blue screens on up-to-date Windows installations and that reverting to an older driver version fixes the BSOD problems.
"After performing a "clean installation" of this latest driver on a Lenovo P17running fully upgraded Windows 11 with an NVIDIA RTX A5000,I then encountered three hard kernel crashes (BSOD), as well as two game crashes (Hogwarts Legacy) in the three days I ran this release," one user said.
"I had none of these issues prior to this release, and after reverting back to the previous release, I have yet to reencounter any of the issues again; it appears this driver release is the clear culprit (please advise if I can provide any diagnostics that would help resolve this)."
Bug fix coming tomorrow
Nvidia already has added this to its list of open issues for this driver version which says that"higher CPU usage from NVIDIA Container might be observed after exiting a game."
GeForce Game Ready Drivers SPM Sean Pelletiersays a fix is in the works and will be releasedas soon as tomorrow in the form of ahotfix driver.
Until the issuegets addressed, users can kill the NVIDIA Container process via the Windows task manager to get rid of the general OS lagginess.
If you are also experiencing Windows BSODs, game crashes,reduced in-game performance,and, in some cases, games not launching,you should roll backto your older driver.
To do that, you have to go through this procedure on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices:
- Click the Start button
- Search for and open "Device Manager"
- Double-click on Display Adapters
- Double-click on your NVIDIA GPU
- Select the Driver Tab
- Click on Roll Back Driver
FAQs
Install the Older NVIDIA Driver. It is said that NVIDIA Container high CPU usage issue is caused by the NVIDIA's latest driver. If you have installed the latest NVIDIA driver, you can try uninstalling the latest one first and then reinstall the older NVIDIA driver.
How do I fix high CPU usage Nvidia? ›
Install the Older NVIDIA Driver. It is said that NVIDIA Container high CPU usage issue is caused by the NVIDIA's latest driver. If you have installed the latest NVIDIA driver, you can try uninstalling the latest one first and then reinstall the older NVIDIA driver.
Do Nvidia drivers cause CPU usage bug? ›
As it turns out, Nvidia's Display Container Service causes 10% - 15% higher CPU usage after a game is closed, which can be observed in Windows Task Manager. Some Reddit users believe the bug was caused by Nvidia's Game Session Telemetry Plugin version 531.18 (NvGSTPlugin. dll).
Is Nvidia releases fix for GeForce driver causing CPU spikes? ›
User feedback revealed the bug would increase processor usage anywhere between 10% to 15%. While it's not a system-breaking issue, NVIDIA's hotfix has restored things to normal by eliminating the CPU usage bug. Surprisingly, the problem didn't impact every GeForce system.
Can a graphics driver cause BSOD? ›
This BSOD is caused either by a bad graphics driver or by a bad graphics card. The way to tell is to first download the three most recent driver versions for your card from the Nvidia driver website. Also download DDU (the Display Driver Uninstaller).
Why does my CPU spike to 100% usage? ›
If your CPU use temporarily spikes to 90% or 100%, that's normal if you're doing intensive tasks like high-end gaming or graphic design. So long as your CPU calms down after you're done, there's nothing to worry about.
Is 100% CPU usage bad while gaming? ›
CPUs are designed to run safely at 100% CPU utilization. However, these situations can also impact the performance of high-intensity games and applications. Learning how to fix high CPU usage can resolve some of the most common problems.
Why is my CPU usage so high without doing anything? ›
This can happen as a result of issues with software on your computer: For example, you may have forgotten to update key software programs on your device, or you may even have malware on your computer that you are unaware of. Additionally, high CPU usage can also happen as a result of hardware issues.
Why is my CPU taking 100 usage instead of GPU? ›
Why does the CPU use 100% utilization while GPU uses very little, like 5%? When, for example, a CPU has higher utilization than the GPU, it means that the system is experiencing bottleneck. Bottleneck refers to a component that limits the potential of other hardware due to differences in their maximum capabilities.
Why is my Nvidia container CPU usage 100%? ›
Short term fix is to open the task manager and end the NVIDIA Container task and it will return to normal usage.
Jump to Section
- Perform Physical Checks and PC Maintenance. Cleaning Dust from Desktop PCs. Check all Wires and Connections.
- Perform a Clean Install of a Stable NVIDIA Driver. Downloading and Installing the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) Application. ...
- Use Driver Support to Manage Your GPU Drivers and Avoid Problems.
There are several possible causes for this problem, such as overheating, outdated drivers, background processes, power settings, etc. Here are some steps you can try to troubleshoot the issue: - Check the temperature of your CPU and GPU using a monitoring software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner.
What controls FPS CPU or GPU? ›
The graphics card and CPU are the most significant contributing factors to a game's frame rate or FPS performance. The computer's CPU sends instructions from programs to the graphics card. The graphics card (GPU) will then process the instructions received, render the image, and send it to the monitor for display.
Can high CPU usage cause BSOD? ›
While high CPU usage alone is unlikely to cause a BSOD, it can be a contributing factor when combined with other issues like overheating or software conflicts. A faulty CPU, on the other hand, is a more direct cause of a BSOD. Understanding these nuances can help you troubleshoot and prevent future BSODs effectively.
How to check if GPU is causing BSOD? ›
This could be anything from your motherboard, CPU, GPU, power supply, or cooling system. To check your hardware, you can use a tool like Windows Performance Monitor or HWMonitor. These tools will show you the performance and temperature of your hardware components and alert you of any issues.
Why am I suddenly getting BSOD? ›
What is the main cause of BSOD? It can be anything from hardware issue to a virus, overheating and a bigger malware exposure. Get your computer check in case of BSOD.
How do I reduce CPU usage on my GPU? ›
One effective way to reduce GPU usage is by lowering the graphical settings in games and other graphics-intensive applications. These settings include options such as resolution, texture quality, shadow quality, anti-aliasing, and other visual effects.
Why is my CPU being utilized more than my GPU? ›
When, for example, a CPU has higher utilization than the GPU, it means that the system is experiencing bottleneck. Bottleneck refers to a component that limits the potential of other hardware due to differences in their maximum capabilities.
Why is my CPU usage so high when I'm not doing anything? ›
This can happen as a result of issues with software on your computer: For example, you may have forgotten to update key software programs on your device, or you may even have malware on your computer that you are unaware of. Additionally, high CPU usage can also happen as a result of hardware issues.
