Constant CPU usage from nvlddmkm.sys

richardo

New Member
Messages
3
Hi everyone, I'm having stuttering problems on my workstation:

Windows 8.1 64-bit
ASRock H77M
Intel I5-3470
GeForce GTX 650

When I boot up my computer it runs fine for a while (sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes an hour.)

At some point, the CPU starts running consistently at about 6-7% which is causing performance issues for movies/games. Once it starts,it never goes away until I reboot or uninstall the video driver.

I've used the Windows Performance Toolkit to analyze the issue and looks like nvlddmkm.sys is causing the issue.

What I've tried:


  • Using the latest NVIDIA video driver
  • Rolling back the video driver to the default one used by Windows 8.1
  • Unplugging all USB devices. Also checked to see if there's any IRQ conflicts.
  • I've checked the event viewer to see if anything special happens when the CPU starts racing,
  • When I uninstall the NVIDIA video driver, the CPU goes back to normal.

I'm not sure what to do next. Thanks for any help you can provide
Richard
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Welcome to the forum!

What model of computer exactly? Have you tried the graphics drivers from the manufacturer site? Also see if there are chipset drivers there that may need updated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Hi popeye, it's a custom-built computer:

Windows 8.1 64-bit
ASRock H77M Motherboard
Intel I5-3470 Processor
GeForce GTX 650 Video card

I've updated all of the chipset drivers and have used the manufacturers
(NVIDIA) video card drivers, both new and old.

Thanks,
Richard
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
So is this a new build and has it always done this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
It's an updated video card. The computer was running fine before. It looks like something with the video card driver is causing issues.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Well, 6-7% CPU usage is really not high, not sure if that is your real problem. What do temps look like and does GPU-Z show the new card being used?

Is there any BIOS setting that may affect it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
The timescales involved sounds like overheating of the CPU or GPU, so check your CPU & GPU temperatures. Possibly a CPU/GPU package/heatsink/fan problem.

I use CPUID HWMonitor for temperatures, you may already have something suitable installed.

Insufficient PSU capacity to power the new Graphics Card....

Maybe, maybe not the cause(s) but at least it may eliminate a possible hardware factor.
 

My Computer

Hi everyone,

I know i'm necroing this thread but it's still one of the first results that pops up on google :))

I also had constant 5-10 cpu usage from nvlddmkm.sys. Turns out, in my case, the problem was caused by MSI Afterburner monitoring clock speed frequencies and gpu usage. If you have your clock speeds and voltages set the way you want them and you finished testing for system stability, you can go to settings\monitoring and increase the hardware polling period (the first setting) from 1000ms to 60000ms to reduce the cpu usage to normal. This basically reduces the usage by 60 times but if you want to keep cpu usage to a minimum, you can keep afterburner closed and run it only while you are gaming.

If you dont have msi afterburner installed, the usage could still be related to any gpu tweaking utility or monitoring software.

Hope this helps somebody :)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Hi everyone,

I know i'm necroing this thread but it's still one of the first results that pops up on google :))

I also had constant 5-10 cpu usage from nvlddmkm.sys. Turns out, in my case, the problem was caused by MSI Afterburner monitoring clock speed frequencies and gpu usage. If you have your clock speeds and voltages set the way you want them and you finished testing for system stability, you can go to settings\monitoring and increase the hardware polling period (the first setting) from 1000ms to 60000ms to reduce the cpu usage to normal. This basically reduces the usage by 60 times but if you want to keep cpu usage to a minimum, you can keep afterburner closed and run it only while you are gaming.

If you dont have msi afterburner installed, the usage could still be related to any gpu tweaking utility or monitoring software.

Hope this helps somebody :)
DUDE THIS WAS THE PROBLEM!! THANK U SM
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MSI PS63
Hi everyone,

I know i'm necroing this thread but it's still one of the first results that pops up on google :))

I also had constant 5-10 cpu usage from nvlddmkm.sys. Turns out, in my case, the problem was caused by MSI Afterburner monitoring clock speed frequencies and gpu usage. If you have your clock speeds and voltages set the way you want them and you finished testing for system stability, you can go to settings\monitoring and increase the hardware polling period (the first setting) from 1000ms to 60000ms to reduce the cpu usage to normal. This basically reduces the usage by 60 times but if you want to keep cpu usage to a minimum, you can keep afterburner closed and run it only while you are gaming.

If you dont have msi afterburner installed, the usage could still be related to any gpu tweaking utility or monitoring software.

Hope this helps somebody :)
BRO!

I registered here just to say you rock ;)


In my case it was openhardwaremonitor
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win10 win11 ubuntu 22.04
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell xps15
    CPU
    I7 11850h
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