Windows 10: Why is Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation using 90% CPU?

Hi,


I was finishing off some work on my laptop when it started to slow down considerably. I checked Task Manager, as I usually do when something seems to be wrong with my laptop, only to find that my CPU was 100% and my Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation was responsible, fluctuating between 80-95% - It also had a 'very high' power usage. What I had open was Chrome and Discord, though neither of them was taking up nearly enough CPU to be the cause. After looking through a few articles on the internet and 'confirming' it is a Windows program as, after opening the file location, I found it to be located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. I'm not the greatest with technology, and I'm quite apprehensive and concerned as to why this happened, especially to such a large degree. What also worried me was that all examples of this problem I could find on the internet had Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation only taking up a maximum of 50% CPU, whereas mine reached 93.2%.

Below is a screenshot I took of the problem as soon as it started.






Is there any explanation as to what happened, how to fix it next time it happens and how to prevent it from happening again?


Thank you.

:)

 

Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation using high CPU

I already tried
asking this in the HP Forum.

After the October update (version 1809) installed, this process has been using all of my CPU:

Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation

%winDir%\System32\audiodg.exe

I've taken several
troubleshooting steps:

• restarting
• virus scan
• Microsoft
  Safety Scanner
• check for new updates
• check for new drivers
• installing the
  driver again
• running
  DirectX Diagnostic Tool

I tried running the HP
Audio Check one click fix (version 1.0.1.8). It found "One or more audio service isn't running" and fixed them. However, the next time I restart, the process is using 100% of my CPU again. Same thing with the Windows Playing Audio troubleshooter.

There is a
Hotfix for previous versions of Windows, but not Windows 10. There are no conflicts in Device Manager. A YouTube video

() suggests removing all audio drivers and restarting, but that didn't help either.

Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks,

Shane.

 

Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation High CPU

Hi,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community Forums.

I appreciate the efforts taken by you in troubleshooting this issue. The details provided helps us to avoid repeating the steps.

I can understand the situation must be different for you when the Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation doesn't work as it should.

Windows uses the process Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation as its main component of Windows audio engine. It helps Windows in sound enhancement process. Windows Driver Developer uses Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation to insert their Audio effect
to enhance the sound quality.

Please answer these questions to get clarity on this issue:

1. Are you aware of any changes made to the PC prior to this issue?
   
2. Have you installed all the pending updates on the PC?
   
3. Which security software did you use to perform the virus scan on the PC?
   

However, let us follow these methods and check if that helps.

Method 1: Let us now follow these steps to uninstall the audio driver completely.

1. Go to control panel and open device manager. Or press Windows + R key at same time to open Run and type devmgmt.msc.
   
2. Click on “Sound, video and game controllers” in device manager.
   
3. Right click on a sound card and then click on properties.
   
4. Click on the Driver tab.
   
5. Click on the Uninstall Driver button.
   
6. A dialog box will ask you to confirm the action. Check the option
   Delete the driver software for this device. Click on OK.
   
7. Once done, click on View and select Devices by connection on the Device manager.
   
8. Expand ACPI x64 based PC.
   
9. Expand PCI Express Root complex and right-click on Intel Smart Sound technology Audio controller and uninstall the device.
   
10. Make sure to delete the driver if prompted during the uninstall process.
    
11. Once done, click on Action and Scan for hardware changes twice in the device manager.
    
12. Close Device Manager.
    

•Open Settings from the Windows menu.

•Click on Update and Security and check for updates to get the new audio driver for your computer.

Method 2: Sometimes answering or calling on
Skype might be the reason of Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation to use 100% disk. This will happen when you are using the Skype app. To resolve it. You need to reinstall it with the updated version in your Windows 10 PC. You can do that from
the Microsoft Store.

We look forward to your response.

Regards,

Srimadhwa B

Microsoft Community-Moderator

 

Windows audio device graph isolation problem

Hello,

Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation is an official part of Windows and serves as the primary audio engine in Windows 10. It handles the audio enhancement effects provided by Windows. If you are using any enhancements, we suggest that you disable them and
see if the sounds stops. You may disable your enhancements by following the steps below:

• Right-click the Volume icon in the Taskbar.
• Click Sounds.
• From the Sound window, click the Playback tab, then select the device that you suspect is causing the issue.
• Click Properties.
• On the Enhancements tab, click the Disable all enhancements checkbox.
• Click OK.