In this article, we’ll explore the recent Nvidia driver bug that has been causing high CPU usage even when no games are running.
Key takeaways:
The Nvidia driver bug was first discovered in version 531.18, which caused high CPU usage after exiting games.
The issue was caused by the Display Container Service, which led to 10% – 15% higher CPU usage after a game was closed.
The issue was noticed through Windows Task Manager, and a few Reddit users thought it was because of Nvidia’s Game Session Telemetry Plugin version 531.18 (NvGSTPlugin.dll).
It’s important to note that not all computer systems were impacted by the Nvidia driver bug. In fact, some users, like Andreas Schilling, attempted to replicate the problem but were unsuccessful.
Schilling tried to recreate the issue on two systems with the latest 531.18 drivers, but he didn’t experience the same problem, as he shared on Twitter.
Several solutions were proposed to solve the issue manually, such as blocking or deleting NvGSTPlugin.dll.
However, the results of these actions were not clear, and it was not advised. Instead, the simplest solution was to switch back to the previous 528.49 WHQL driver, which may not be compatible with some of the latest games but functioned without significant complications.
While Nvidia acknowledged the issue, the company didn’t specify a date for the release of a hotfix or a new version of the driver that fixed the bug.
However, since the problem was quite bothersome, it was probable that Nvidia would release a hotfix sooner rather than later.
Thus, it was recommended to wait a while before switching back to an earlier version of Nvidia’s driver.
Thankfully, Nvidia has now released a hotfix to address the problem. Neowin reported that version 531.18 of the GeForce driver, which was affected, has been updated to version 531.26, and it resolves two issues, including the one that caused high CPU usage.
The hotfix has also fixed the Nvidia Container process, which previously remained active after exiting a game and caused CPU resources to be consumed at a rate of up to 10% or even 15%.
If this process was not manually terminated using Task Manager, the computer could run slowly without any apparent cause.
Nvidia opted to use a hotfix because it could be immediately distributed to users with GeForce graphics cards, rather than waiting for the next version of the graphics driver.
This is a positive development as it means that the issue has been resolved quickly.
The hotfix also resolved another problem related to random crashes, which occurred on some laptops with MX 250 / MX 350 mobile GPUs or GeForce GTX 10 Series.
Both issues were severe, so it’s great to see Nvidia address them promptly.
The Nvidia Container bug slowed down some computer systems, leading some people to suspect malware was causing the issue.
System slowdowns and a lack of responsiveness are symptoms of an infection.
Thankfully, with the bug fixed, gamers can now enjoy uninterrupted gameplay.
Nvidia’s hotfix release is excellent news for those who experienced this bug, as it demonstrates the company’s commitment to resolving issues swiftly and effectively.
