Windows 10: Desktop Windows Manager High GPU Usage (3D)

I started having this issue about 2 weeks ago after I installed a video game. While watching videos, playing games, or having any sort of movement on screen would cause the Desktop Windows Manager GPU usage to jump to about ~35-40% usage on the 3D engine, in my case, on BOTH 1080TIs. with that kind of usage, I am seeing a massive FPS loss in games and even worse, lag on windows desktop when doing day to day tasks. Prior to two weeks ago, the Desktop Windows Manager would have a 1-3% usage across the board.


Through some testing, I discovered that the one of the new games I installed required the Microsoft 2013 Redistributable x64 and x86; I think it was .Net. This seem to cause the issue. I tested the installation on my laptop (my laptop did not have this issue prior) which has a 4k screen and Nvidia GPU and it started to experience the same problem. I believe that there is an incompatibility with the older .Net engine and high dps screens; the Desktop Windows Manger is a sort of fallback probably as a way to maintain compatibility. When the screen are set to 1080p, the Desktop Windows Manger's GPU usage is far less noticeable.


Unfortunately, uninstalling it and the game did not revert the issue though it did cause some weird behavior in the windows desktop. I still have not solved the issue. Somehow I literally at the point where only do one task at a time on my pc. Given that it seem to be caused by one set of redistributables and they are Microsoft's, can something can be done about this for the future? Is there something else I missed? This problem only started in the last two weeks and the only change in that time was the installation of Star Wars Fallen Order and its dependency on 2013 Redistributable.


I am probably going to re-install the OS soon if I cannot find a fix.


Some stuff I have tried:

1. Virus and Malware scans, they came up no hits

2. Re-installed the graphics driver

3. Ensured that the GPUs are NOT in a power saving mode.

4. Lowering the priority of the Windows Desktop Manager in the task manager

5. Lowering screen resolution to 1080p which masted the issue however is not an acceptable solution


Extra info:

OS: Windows 10 Pro, build 1909

CPU: i7 hex-core @ 3.8GHz,

GPU(s): x2 EVGA 1080Ti OC

Screens: x2 Acer Predator x27 (4k @ 144hz)

:)

 

Desktop Window Manager(DWM.exe) using high GPU

Hi Hasnat,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft community Forums.

In Windows, desktop composition is performed by Desktop Windows Manager. The way applications display pixels on the screen, it is managed by DWM. When desktop composition is enabled, individual windows no longer draw directly to the screen or primary
display device as they did in previous versions of Windows. Instead, their drawing is redirected to off-screen surfaces in video memory, which are then rendered into a desktop image and presented on the display.

The GPU (NVidia) usage of 35-40% by games is absolutely normal, however at the same time Desktop Windows Manager is using the high percentage of Intel GPU, which isn’t normal and it might be the cause of the low FPS.

I suggest to refer to the suggestions given by Reymichael Ros, dated March 2, 2018 on

Desktop Windows Manager (dwm.exe) load GPU too much.

If the above step doesn’t work, you may try setting the NVidia card to maximum performance and disable Intel graphics adapter to see if it works.

• Right click on desktop and select NVidia Control Panel from the context menu.
  
• Now on the left hand pane expand 3D settings.
  
• Click on Manage 3D settings.
  
• Under Preferred graphics processor, select
  High-performance NVidia processor.
  
• Click on Apply.
  

Before disabling the Intel graphics adapter, I would recommend to create a system restore point. Please refer to the article:
Create a system restore point.

• Press Windows key + R. This will open
  Run. Alternatively, you can go to Start and search for
  Run.
  
• In Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc and hit enter.
  
• Expand Display adapters.
  
• Now right click on the Intel Graphics drivers and click on
  Disable.
  
• Click on OK.
  
• Reboot the computer and check the frame rate.
  

In case disabling Intel graphics adapter does not work, I would suggest to uninstall the Intel graphics drivers completely and install the latest drivers from the Intel support site.

• Press Windows key + R. This will open
  Run. Alternatively, you can go to Start and search for
  Run.
  
• In Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc and hit enter.
  
• Expand Display adapters.
  
• Now right click on the Intel Graphics drivers and click on
  Uninstall.
  
• Check the checkbox to delete the drivers from the computer and reboot the computer.
  
• Download and install latest drivers from
  
  Downloads for Intel HD Graphics 630.
  

If none of the above methods works, I would encourage you to provide your feedback and suggestions using the Windows 10 Feedback Hub app, so that the Windows developer team has direct access to it.

Send feedback to Microsoft with Feedback Hub

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Peer Samie

Microsoft Community-Moderator

 

Desktop Windows Manager (dwm.exe) load GPU too much.

Hi Artur,

In order to help you with the issue about the Desktop Windows Manager (dwm.exe), kindly refer to the troubleshooting suggestions posted by Julie Ram dated January 16, 2018. Click the link below to access her posted troubleshooting steps which have been helpful
to several Community members. This may also be the solution that you are looking for to resolve the issue at hand.

Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) using high usage gpu?


Let us know the result for us to help you further.

Regards.

 

Cripplingly High GPU in Windows 10

Dave, the two processes apparently hogging all the GPU were desktop windows manager and client server runtime process.

However, when I list them now, after numerous reboots and reinstalls, no apps show up as consuming GPU, yet GPU is at 80-100%. I think this is because the apps are only consuming the 3D component of the GPU and not the others - copy, decode, processing or
shared memory usage?

I've spent some time on Google and it seems to be a fairly common symptom but none of the suggested solutions are effective.

It doesn't seem to be linked to any significant changes, I even tried uninstalling the most recent windows updates.

Any thoughts?