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Nvidia Drivers Never Work Properly

Hoodie_B
By Hoodie_B
in Graphics Cards
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Go to solution Solved by DoctorNick,
7 minutes ago, Hoodie_B said:

Hello all,

 

I've been having an issue for the past few months now with Nvidia drivers and it's been driving me crazy. Whenever I try to update drivers from Geforce Experience, it downloads and installs, and then I reboot my computer. However, after I restart my computer, my GPU immediately shoots up to 95%-100% utilization just by running Wallpaper Engine. If I try to run a game, I will average an insanely low FPS value and the GPU utilization will remain very high. I usually get around 200fps in CS2, but after I updated my drivers the other days I'd get around 20fps. It does this for all my other games too. This has happened every time I try to update Nvidia Drivers and I always end up spending an hour or so trying to rollback and fix the drivers, which is why I typically don't even bother with driver updates, but I would also like to try and solve this problem so I can run the latest games with the best possible performance. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

These are my machine's specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700X

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING, 12G-P5-4865-KL

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C16 1.35V Desktop Memory

Motherboard: MSI MPG x570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi

Monitor 1: LG 34uc79g (DP connection)

Monitor 2: Dell up2516d (HDMI connection)

Display driver uninstaller? Try running DDU in safe mode (you can choose this when starting the program).

After restart, go to options in DDU. Check prevent downloads of drivers from windows update.

Run Clean and restart. After restart. Install Nvidia drivers again

Posted

Hello all,

 

I've been having an issue for the past few months now with Nvidia drivers and it's been driving me crazy. Whenever I try to update drivers from Geforce Experience, it downloads and installs, and then I reboot my computer. However, after I restart my computer, my GPU immediately shoots up to 95%-100% utilization just by running Wallpaper Engine. If I try to run a game, I will average an insanely low FPS value and the GPU utilization will remain very high. I usually get around 200fps in CS2, but after I updated my drivers the other days I'd get around 20fps. It does this for all my other games too. This has happened every time I try to update Nvidia Drivers and I always end up spending an hour or so trying to rollback and fix the drivers, which is why I typically don't even bother with driver updates, but I would also like to try and solve this problem so I can run the latest games with the best possible performance. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

These are my machine's specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700X

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING, 12G-P5-4865-KL

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C16 1.35V Desktop Memory

Motherboard: MSI MPG x570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi

Monitor 1: LG 34uc79g (DP connection)

Monitor 2: Dell up2516d (HDMI connection)

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Posted
1 minute ago, Hoodie_B said:

Hello all,

 

I've been having an issue for the past few months now with Nvidia drivers and it's been driving me crazy. Whenever I try to update drivers from Geforce Experience, it downloads and installs, and then I reboot my computer. However, after I restart my computer, my GPU immediately shoots up to 95%-100% utilization just by running Wallpaper Engine. If I try to run a game, I will average an insanely low FPS value and the GPU utilization will remain very high. I usually get around 200fps in CS2, but after I updated my drivers the other days I'd get around 20fps. It does this for all my other games too. This has happened every time I try to update Nvidia Drivers and I always end up spending an hour or so trying to rollback and fix the drivers, which is why I typically don't even bother with driver updates, but I would also like to try and solve this problem so I can run the latest games with the best possible performance. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

These are my machine's specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700X

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING, 12G-P5-4865-KL

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C16 1.35V Desktop Memory

Motherboard: MSI MPG x570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi

Monitor 1: LG 34uc79g (DP connection)

Monitor 2: Dell up2516d (HDMI connection)

You probably need to use DDU to uninstall all graphic drivers on your machine and then install the latest drivers from Nvidia's website. If that didn't work you could try reinstalling windows from scratch with a new windows installation media (on a USB stick).

I might be experienced, but I'm human and I do make mistakes. Trust but Verify! I edit my messages after sending them alot, please refresh before posting your reply. Please try to be clear and specific, you'll get a better answer. Please remember to mark solutions once you have the information you need. Expand this signature for common PC building advice, a short bio and a list of my components.

 

Common build advice:

1) Buy the cheapest (well reviewed) motherboard that has the features you need. Paying more typically only gets you features you won’t use. 2) only get as much RAM as you need, getting more won’t (typically) make your PC faster. 3) While I recommend getting an NVMe drive, you don’t need to splurge for an expensive drive with DRam cache, DRamless drives are fine for gamers. 4) paying for looks is fine, just don’t break the bank. 5) Tower coolers are usually good enough, unless you go top tier Intel or plan on OCing. 6) OCing is a dead meme, you probably shouldn’t bother. 7) "Bottlenecks" rarely matter and "Future-proofing" is a myth. 8) AIOs don't noticeably improve performance past 240mm and don't improve at all past 360mm. 9) RTFM.

 

Useful Websites:

https://www.productchart.com - helps compare monitors, https://uk.pcpartpicker.com - makes designing a PC easier.

 

Bio:

He/Him - I'm a PhD student working in the fields of reinforcement learning and traffic control. PCs are one of my hobbies and I've built many PCs and performed upgrades on a few laptops (for myself, friends and family). My personal computers include 4 windows (10/11) machines and a TrueNAS server (and I'm looking to move to dual booting Linux Mint on my main machine in future). Aside from computers, I also dabble in modding/homebrew retro consoles, support Southampton FC, and enjoy Scuba Diving and Skiing.

Fun Facts

1) When I was 3 years old my favourite toy was a scientific calculator. 2) My father is a British Champion ploughman in the Vintage Hydraulic Class. 3) On Speedrun.com, I'm the world record holder for the Dream Bobsleigh event on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2010.

 

My Favourite Games: World of Tanks, Runescape, Subnautica, Metroid (Fusion and Dread), Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Original and Reignited Trilogy), Crash Bash, Mario Kart Wii, Balatro

 

My Computers: Primary: My main gaming rig - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/NByp3C Second: Hosts Discord bots as well as a Minecraft and Ark server, and also serves as a reinforcement learning sand box - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/cc9K7P NAS: TrueNAS Scale NAS hosting SMB shares, DDNS updater, pi-hole, and a Jellyfin server - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/m37w3C Foldatron: My folding@home and BOINC rig (partially donated to me by Folding Team Leader GOTSpectrum) - Mobile: Mini-ITX gaming rig for when I'm away from home -

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7 minutes ago, Hoodie_B said:

Hello all,

 

I've been having an issue for the past few months now with Nvidia drivers and it's been driving me crazy. Whenever I try to update drivers from Geforce Experience, it downloads and installs, and then I reboot my computer. However, after I restart my computer, my GPU immediately shoots up to 95%-100% utilization just by running Wallpaper Engine. If I try to run a game, I will average an insanely low FPS value and the GPU utilization will remain very high. I usually get around 200fps in CS2, but after I updated my drivers the other days I'd get around 20fps. It does this for all my other games too. This has happened every time I try to update Nvidia Drivers and I always end up spending an hour or so trying to rollback and fix the drivers, which is why I typically don't even bother with driver updates, but I would also like to try and solve this problem so I can run the latest games with the best possible performance. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

These are my machine's specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700X

GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 12GB XC3 ULTRA GAMING, 12G-P5-4865-KL

RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RT 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C16 1.35V Desktop Memory

Motherboard: MSI MPG x570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi

Monitor 1: LG 34uc79g (DP connection)

Monitor 2: Dell up2516d (HDMI connection)

Display driver uninstaller? Try running DDU in safe mode (you can choose this when starting the program).

After restart, go to options in DDU. Check prevent downloads of drivers from windows update.

Run Clean and restart. After restart. Install Nvidia drivers again

Gaming PC:

CPU: Ryzen 5800X3D | Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 Elite V2 | RAM: Crucial 2x16gb, 3200  JEDEC. | PSU: EVGA SuperNova 750 G3 | Monitor: LG 27GL850-B , Samsung C27HG70 | 
GPU: Asus Prime RTX 5070ti OC| Sound: Odac + Fiio E09K | Case: Fractal Design R6 TG Blackout |Storage: Kingston Renegade 2TB and Corsair MP510 960gb | Cooling: CPU: Alphacool ST30 420mm rad, Alphacool CPU and GPU Core LT and Core blocks, D5 pump and res combo 

 

Linux PC:

CPU: Ryzen 7700| Motherboard: Asus A620M-CSM | RAM: Crucial Pro 2x48gb, 5600  JEDEC. | PSU: Corsair CX750 | Monitor: LG 27GL850-B , Samsung C27HG70 | 
GPU: MSI Gaming X RTX 3090 | Case: Lian Li Dan Cases A3-mATX black |Storage: SN7100 2TB + Samsung 860 EVO 512gb | Cooling: CPU: Thermalright Peerless Assassin Mini Fan(s): Noctua 1x NF-A14x25 Chromax

 

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Alright thanks, I'll try using DDU and see if the problem is multiple driver installs overlapping each other. Where do I go to install the software though? I tried searching for it but I got a few different websites with download pages and I want to make sure I download the right one. Or is it a Windows app?

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47 minutes ago, Hoodie_B said:

Alright thanks, I'll try using DDU and see if the problem is multiple driver installs overlapping each other. Where do I go to install the software though? I tried searching for it but I got a few different websites with download pages and I want to make sure I download the right one. Or is it a Windows app?

DDU is in the Useful Software Megathread here on the LTT Forum:

Quote

Display Driver Uninstaller -- https://www.wagnardsoft.com/

I might be experienced, but I'm human and I do make mistakes. Trust but Verify! I edit my messages after sending them alot, please refresh before posting your reply. Please try to be clear and specific, you'll get a better answer. Please remember to mark solutions once you have the information you need. Expand this signature for common PC building advice, a short bio and a list of my components.

 

Common build advice:

1) Buy the cheapest (well reviewed) motherboard that has the features you need. Paying more typically only gets you features you won’t use. 2) only get as much RAM as you need, getting more won’t (typically) make your PC faster. 3) While I recommend getting an NVMe drive, you don’t need to splurge for an expensive drive with DRam cache, DRamless drives are fine for gamers. 4) paying for looks is fine, just don’t break the bank. 5) Tower coolers are usually good enough, unless you go top tier Intel or plan on OCing. 6) OCing is a dead meme, you probably shouldn’t bother. 7) "Bottlenecks" rarely matter and "Future-proofing" is a myth. 8) AIOs don't noticeably improve performance past 240mm and don't improve at all past 360mm. 9) RTFM.

 

Useful Websites:

https://www.productchart.com - helps compare monitors, https://uk.pcpartpicker.com - makes designing a PC easier.

 

Bio:

He/Him - I'm a PhD student working in the fields of reinforcement learning and traffic control. PCs are one of my hobbies and I've built many PCs and performed upgrades on a few laptops (for myself, friends and family). My personal computers include 4 windows (10/11) machines and a TrueNAS server (and I'm looking to move to dual booting Linux Mint on my main machine in future). Aside from computers, I also dabble in modding/homebrew retro consoles, support Southampton FC, and enjoy Scuba Diving and Skiing.

Fun Facts

1) When I was 3 years old my favourite toy was a scientific calculator. 2) My father is a British Champion ploughman in the Vintage Hydraulic Class. 3) On Speedrun.com, I'm the world record holder for the Dream Bobsleigh event on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2010.

 

My Favourite Games: World of Tanks, Runescape, Subnautica, Metroid (Fusion and Dread), Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Original and Reignited Trilogy), Crash Bash, Mario Kart Wii, Balatro

 

My Computers: Primary: My main gaming rig - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/NByp3C Second: Hosts Discord bots as well as a Minecraft and Ark server, and also serves as a reinforcement learning sand box - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/cc9K7P NAS: TrueNAS Scale NAS hosting SMB shares, DDNS updater, pi-hole, and a Jellyfin server - https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/will0hlep/saved/m37w3C Foldatron: My folding@home and BOINC rig (partially donated to me by Folding Team Leader GOTSpectrum) - Mobile: Mini-ITX gaming rig for when I'm away from home -

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Thanks everyone, I used DDU in safe mode to clean the drivers and prevent Windows from installing new drivers and I reinstalled my previous Nvidia drivers and it seems to be working fine now. Just hope I won't have to do this for every driver update in the future but I'll be sure to reach out here again if I need more help. Hope everyone has a great day!

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2 hours ago, Hoodie_B said:

Thanks everyone, I used DDU in safe mode to clean the drivers and prevent Windows from installing new drivers and I reinstalled my previous Nvidia drivers and it seems to be working fine now. Just hope I won't have to do this for every driver update in the future but I'll be sure to reach out here again if I need more help. Hope everyone has a great day!

don't update drivers through geforce experience, update them manually from nvidia website. 

 

geforce experience is pretty trash,  would actually recommend to not use any of its "features".

 

you still need to install it though if you want to record/ stream, otherwise no, you don't need it at all. 

The direction tells you... the direction. 

-Scott Manley, 2021

 

 

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Final update:

So I turned my pc on this morning and still had the same issue, then I noticed with the Nvidia overlay my GPU clock speed was stuck at ~200mhz no matter what. So I went into the Nvidia Control Panel and realized it switched its power setting from high performance to normal. I switched it back and it seems to be running fine now. Also had to change the power settings in the EVGA software from 30% to 100% power. Not sure how but I guess the drivers are messing with the GPU settings and reverting them to the default state. Anyway, hope this helps if anyone else runs into a similar issue.

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