PC unusable after Windows update (GPU usage through the roof with random processes)

Hi, TerryDieckmann

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Thank you for your reply!

Regarding your current problem, I understand that you are on the right track to solve it, and I look forward to your follow-up feedback.

As for your new problem, this may be because your independent graphics card is not properly responsible for the computing work, so most of the rendering work is assigned to the CPU, resulting in low GPU usage, which causes the hardware overheating to trigger protection and cause the computer to freeze.

Generally speaking, in an ideal game running data, the CPU and GPU usage rates should be higher than 60%, which means that each hardware is doing its job and the game will run smoothly.

It is recommended that you check the health of your hardware and update the graphics card driver. Because for games like Warzone, the hardware requirements are relatively high.

If the problem still occurs, you can contact the game official.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

After a day of working with the PC, I can unfortunately only report that the problem has not been solved... Apps such as Settings or Microsoft Text Input Application can also suddenly use a huge amount of GPU. So it really is completely random which ones cause problems.

I did the "clean" Windows installation via Windows itself (so no separate USB stick). Now I read on forums that this causes 9 times out of 10 more problems than not reinstalling it this way. I'm now going to create a Windows Installation Media to completely reinstall it with a separate USB stick. I'm going to install it on another drive too.

Tomorrow I can borrow another graphics card (GTX 1060) from someone and see if that solves the problem. I still think it's a software related problem, but who knows (I'm currently using a GTX 1080).

If the above doesn't work, I'll try the "clean boot" solution.

Just before writing this post, I tried to play a game of Warzone, but again with performance related issues which I didn't have before.

For example, for 10 minutes in the game I don't have any problems, but then completely out of nowhere everything starts to lag/freeze and sometimes even crash the entire game. I have the task manager open next to me, but I don't see anything strange in these cases, not even a peaking GPU.

What I find very strange is that when I play the game with good frame rates, etc., my entire PC uses 1% GPU. How is that possible?

Hi, TerryDieckmann

Thank you for your reply!

We understand that most of your problems have been solved after reinstalling Windows 10, but some programs such as Chrome still occupy part of the GPU.

Generally speaking, it is normal for the browser to use part of the GPU when watching videos, because the browser needs to use the GPU to make the video playback task smoother.

As for the phenomenon that Client Server Runtime Process and Desktop Window Manager occupy the GPU, it is generally normal. If you want to reduce the usage rate, you can try the following solutions:

1. Right-click on the desktop Display Settings Graphics Settings Graphics Performance Preferences Delete everything

Win+r Input: msconfig Open System Configuration

Click the "Services" tab, check "Hide all Microsoft services", and then click Disable all (If you have enabled the fingerprint recognition function, please do not turn off the related services)

Click the "Startup" tab, click "Open Task Manager", then disable all startup items and confirm

Restart the device.

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track.

If there is any progress, you are welcome to contact us at any time.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Thank you for your quick and comprehensive response.

I have now reinstalled my GPU drivers again. I have turned off GPU/Hardware acceleration in Windows, Chrome and Steam without any positive difference.

For example, while playing Apex Legends (or any other game), the GPU usage is abnormally high (on average above 90%). Sometimes this goes towards 98% and then everything lags. When I quit the game, another process starts using the freed resources, mainly the processes like Client Server Runtime Process and Desktop Window Manager (and sometimes even "Start"). These simply use an unacceptable amount of GPU. These processes are sometimes literally at 100%.

UPDATE:
I reinstalled Windows 10 out of necessity. I will let you know if this solves the problem.

UPDATE 2:

Problem solved for the most part. Most applications are running as they should again. The strange thing is that Chrome still uses 25% GPU when I watch a YouTube video. When I turn off hardware acceleration in Chrome, Client Server Runtime Process and Desktop Window Manager suddenly use the 25%...?????

Hi, TerryDieckmann

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

We understand that you are experiencing high GPU usage after updating Windows, and as a Windows user myself, I can empathize with you. From the information you provided, you listed Google Chrome and Steam's WebHelper process, both of which use hardware acceleration, and I noticed that the problem still exists after you uninstalled the update, as well as there is no other third-party software on your computer that interferes with the problem, and from your task manager, the GPU is highly occupied in these programs. The GPU is highly occupied in these programs, so the problem is still related to the hardware acceleration program in the browser.We suggest that you turn off hardware acceleration in Chrome settings, then go to Steam - Settings - Interface, find "Enable GPU-accelerated rendering in Web View" and turn it off.In addition, regarding the 0x80070643 code error, may I ask under what circumstances are you experiencing this code error?If you are encountering this issue while updating KB5034441.This is due to the fact that your WinRE partition is less than 250MB, you need to resize this partition manually, you can refer to the instructions in the link below to do so:KB5034441: Windows Recovery Environment update for Windows 10, version 21H2 and 22H2: January 9, 2024 - Microsoft SupportYou are welcome to contact us at any time if there is any progress.

Best Regards

Nicholas.Z - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist