Surface Book2 high GPU usage of dwm.exe and crss.exe | Screen is throttling when GPU usage is increased for these processes!

Question

Dear Microsoft Community,

I am using Surface Book 2 approximately for 2 years and i am keeping Windows and firmwares or drivers up to date (in a reccomended way as always!), here is my system information of today :

Surface Book2 System Information

Windows Version

Nvidia GPU(dedicated GPU) driver version 

Intel HD 620(Integrated GPU) driver version

and i've choosen SurfaceBook2_Win10_18362_20.012.20538.0.msi to be installed as a firmware & driver installation from this url below :

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=56261 

Additionally, currently NO WINDOWS UPDATE IS AVAILABLE FOR ME FOR NOW IN WINDOWS UPDATE PAGE :


Even that, i am struggling with an issue about my GPU-0(Intel HD Graphics 620) usage for processes dwm.exe(Desktop Window Manager) and crss.exe(Client Server Runtime Process), sometimes my computer unexpectedly increases GPU-0 usage for these processes high and i am struggling with performance (it happens most of the time when there is a notification fired from an application like Skype For Business, Steam conversation or normal Google Chrome browsing)

What i've done :

1- I've read lots of entries!!!! As this is a problem that surface notebooks are having! (Very good Microsoft of handling for a premium product like Surface Book2!!!!)

2- Set priority for "dwm.exe" to "Low" (helped a little bit, but did not solve the problem)

3- Tried to set prioritiy for "crss.exe" (Not possible, system does not let you to do it)

4- (Had in my mind to set "dwm.exe" and "crss.exe" to dedicated GPU) -> Did not do that, as i did not know if it is suggested or not.

5- Tried to do this blog post to set Intel graphic usage for "Maximum Performance"

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-max-intel-hd-graphics-surface-pro-4

Not working after you set registry of CsEnabled -> 0, because "Intel(R) Graphics Settings Option" is not visible in options of Power Settings.

Some symptoms i might share, if it is related :

• Currently, even i did not install any driver from Nvidia offical website (using the one which is installed from windows repository), i can not access "Nvidia Control Panel", even in Windows search or Control Panel option for "Hardware and Sound" option.

Answer 1

Hi OğuzÖzcan1,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Community.

Please try these steps first on your Surface Book 2:

1: Run Surface Diagnostic Toolkit

2: Disable/Re-enable dGPU

                                      Boot device to UEFI screen, please check this page on How to get to UEFI settings

                                      In the UEFI screen, go to Devices and look for the dGPU option. Disable and re-enable it after 10 seconds

                                      Choose Exit after and Restart Now

3: Run System File Checker Tool

4: Scan for virus, spyware or other malware

                                     Use Windows Defender and run a scan on the device

                                     Open Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus and threat protection

If this answer your question, we highly encourage you to inform our Community by clicking on Yes or marking my post as an answer. This will help other members who may have the same issue as you. Otherwise, don't hesitate to update us so we can further assist you.

Kind Regards,

Marrion Y.

Answer 2

Hello @Marrion_Y

I've tried steps you've provided one by one, and make this step by using :

4: Scan for virus, spyware or other malware

                                     Use Windows Defender and run a scan on the device

                                     Open Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus and threat protection

1- Quick Scan option

2- Windows Defender Offline Scan

None of them found any vulnerability in my computer, currently started full scan as well, it is not finished but i am pretty confident that it will not show any "critical" result because i always keep my computer safe and make correct installations.

But it still increases these processes usage sometimes heavily, as i've repeated mostly when i've screen shared with persons via Skype For Business or someone wrote me and there is a notification popping up for Skype for Business or any kind of other tools for communication.

Additionally, i can not access Nvidia Control Panel and problem persists after your steps of suggestion.

Answer 3

Here is the result of full system scan, no threats found :

Answer 4

Hello again,

I think my problem is related to that post here :

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/surface-book-2-cpu-throttle/a583e82f-7484-4156-86c1-af59d9caaea9

As i watched, my CPU is throttled to 0.4 Ghz, but none of the solutions worked for my case right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!