CPU Usage - Windows Driver Foundation
 

Hello,

I have purchased following product:
-> https://i-tec.cz/en/produkt/u3hdmidvidock-2/

I am using this on my Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (i7 processor). I have only 2 monitors connected on Docking USB Station (over USB 3.0 port). When I am browsing and doing basic stuff, following process is causing high CPU Usage:
-> Windows Driver Foundation

This process is only there when I connect Docking station to my Surface. I have read a lot about this issue, and I have done everything like advised on DisplayLink website and forum, but it is still consuming 20-40% CPU when I am browsing or reading PDF files. I think that this is not normal. My surface is up-to date with all Windows updates and also drivers are the latest.

DisplayLink Manager Version: 9.0.1809.0
Windows 10 64bit Pro (Version 1809 / 17763.292)


Please give me info, what I can do, so I will have better performance on my Surface with Docking (2 Monitors).

Hi, I do have same issue with my D3100 docking station.
Just on moving mouse I'm getting higher CPU usage, and I'm getting my CPU fan start spinning. While doing just basic things, browsing, reading documents, working in MS Office. I'm using two monitors also.
When my laptop is not connected to the D3100, no issues.

My configuration is:
1. Laptop HP Pavillion 17"
2. Intel i7 - 6700HQ
3. Windows 10 x64 1809, release date November 13.2018
4. Dell D3100 docking station
5. DisplayLink 9.0.1809.0
6. Connected via USB 3 port

Thanks

I still have the same issues, even with the latest version of DisplayLink. Is there any solution on this?

I got another laptop with previous Windows 10 v1703 and I could see that Windows Driver Foundation CPU usage is ramping up from time to time, when there is activity with the mouse or keyboard, but no CPU fan increase. This has been verified on HP ZBook 15 G3 laptops.

At the same time, my HP Pavillion AB067 is having the same CPU usage on Windows Driver Foundation, but CPU fan is almost constantly on. When there is no activity with the mouse CPU fan goes off. I can't distinguish is it only a mouse or processes in general.

I'll have to reinstall Windows and downgrade to 1803 and then to 1703 versions to see if this will make any difference in CPU and fan usage.

OK, I did couple of tests...

1.Installed Windows 10 v1809 and DisplayLink 9.1 M1
Latest Windows 10 v1809 updates. All drivers updated, all Microsoft store apps updated.
Result: Often high Windows Driver Foundation triggers CPU fan to spin all the time

2.Installed Windows 10 v1803 and DisplayLink 9.1 M1
Windows 10 v1803 updates. All drivers updated, all Microsoft store apps updated.
Result: Often high Windows Driver Foundation triggers CPU fan to spin all the time

3.Installed Windows 10 v1709 and DisplayLink 9.1 M1
Windows 10 v1709 disabled updates. All drivers updated, all Microsoft store apps updated.
Result: Windows Driver Foundation normal CPU usage, CPU fan starts spinning in high demands only.

4.Installed Windows 10 v1703 and DisplayLink 9.1 M1
Windows 10 v1703 disabled updates. All drivers updated, all Microsoft store apps updated.
Result: Windows Driver Foundation normal CPU usage, CPU fan starts spinning in high demands only.

CONCLUSION:
DisplayLink drivers are not compatible with latest Windows 1803/1809 or any newer releases.
If you use any of the previous releases without latest updates, DisplayLink will work just fine.

DisplayLink Engineers should initiate dialog with Microsoft engineers to resolve this issue.

Our Windows machines are vulnerable due to missing updates but right now for me it is more important to reduce CPU fan speed and noise than to have latest and greatest Windows updated versions.

Another test:
1. Windows 10 1709 with DisplayLink 8.5.3459.0 is working just fine.
2. Windows 10 1809 with DisplayLink 8.5.3459.0 has issues with WUDFHost and CPU and CPU fan usage.

After two days of testing several releases of Windows and DisplayLink drivers, it is obvious that DisplayLink is not compatible with any Windows releases after 1709.

Hello,
I have same problem with DisplayLink (High CPU and GPU usage). Attached zip file contains more information about my setup (created by DisplayLink Windows Support Tool 1.0.1.31).

Hello,

I have created a case to look into that.

It is wrong to claim you are less secure. Security updates and feature updates on Windows 10 are separate. Both Windows 10 v1803 and v1809 are still in support. The most recent Windows 10 v1903 is only starting to deploy now.

Regards,
Alban
Ref 30130

Any update on this case? I have been struggling to resolve these issues as well. Subscribing...Thanks!

I've left Windows Update running, and I got Windows 1703 updated to 1803 version automatically by Windows Update.
Therefore WUDFHost start utilizing CPU fan again. I've decided to install DisplayLink USB Graphics Software for Windows ALPHA 9.2 Alpha just to verify whats going on.
This time again same issue.

I have attached ZIP file from Diagnostic tool.

Alban,

Any new information you can share from case 30130?

Thanks,
Kevin

Hello Kevin, stvlada,

We have sourced a machine identical to stvlada.
From what we can see, the CPU usage is not high, nor is it significantly different than on the previous version of Windows 10. The difference in CPU load is marginal. The results observed in our labs are in line with screenshots received from stvlada.
What has visibly changed is that Microsoft added a label in Task Manager, and that label says high... but nothing else is running, and computing any pixel and encoding them does cost some resource, whatever the connection mode and whether you can see it in Task Manager or not. On my machine, yesterday I saw Task Manager as High on that label at with 4% CPU, leading us to believe that that label shows relative power, not absolute power.

The problem we see is the fan change, despite the lack of significant change of CPU load between these versions of Windows 10.
The fan is supposed to be controlled by temperature. Temperature tends to come from computing load, from total power usage (not relative to other apps).
We don't yet understand why the fan behaves very differently, when the load is similar. It suggests there's something else.

The next step is for us to consult with Microsoft for advice on profiling what triggers the fan: is there a load invisible in Task Manager, is the marginal CPU difference really warrant that fan impact, is there another component counted in that power label, or something else...

Kind regards,
Alban

Alban, thank you for your feedback and through explanation. It would be nice to figure out what triggers the fan spinning.
If internet browsers are used, like Chrome, it is obvious that WUDFHost will starts kicking into the load/heat and fan will be triggered. Those symptoms are usually not there when laptop is not connected to the dock station.

When we can expect to get an answer from Microsoft and more details on investigation from their end?

Thought id Quickly jump in

Im using a displaylink d3100 via usb3.0 also and experiencing same sort of issues here.

CPU usage high and Win Driver foundation at it in the background.

The setup iam running is a 7700hq / gtx1060. I do majority cad work and the display link is used as an output for my third monitor.

On bootup it is fine temps are low and normal, however within 10-15 mins of use it gets higher and higher, somewhere between 10-15c more than usual, including on the GTX also. I also look at power draw and its very significant. Now before we go any further, this is a fresh up to date 1903 install hours old.


Ive been using this since 1709 and the temperatures and cpu multiplier rates were never this bad once the drivers are updated or the dock is being used.

Ive been pulling my hair out, tried old drivers, new drivers but nothing. While im using the dock i hit temperatures of 75+ while doing simple autocad saves.

Without the dock plugged in or installed temps drop 30-15 degrees.

So.. Any news? I dont want to get rid of it, its only 11 months old.

Also to add, the laptop is liquid metal cooled and undervolted, before we go down the “your laptop may be at fault route”

Same problem here.
After few minutes it is not possible to work with the docking station anymore.

Hoping someone gets back to us. I’m habkng to not use it anymore

Alright guys,

So Ive been playing with the said 'workaround' for couple daysd and my temps are back to normal.

My initial finding is that the D3100 clocks the GPU to base speeds, so In my case it would clock it to 1404mhz without having to need to, as I checked use the load is virtually 0 on desktop and even using programs.

Yes the GPU will power all displays end of the day however theres no need for it to stay cranked all the time, generally what ive noticed once clocked up 1405mhz it starts to bring cpu temps up also (as expected).

SO!... Ive been using this tool called nvidia inspector. Link: https://pcgamesbeat.blogspot.com/201...-gpus.html?m=1

Basically I turn it on, turn on muti-display function as described and i just pushed a threshold to 20/20%. And all of a sudden, boom normal temperatures.

Basically what it does is it downclocks the gpu as it normally should (no need for gpu to stay clocked all the way when not doing work. (obviously it should vary).

I have tested it for the past 3 days to make sure it is good and I can still make use of it when it needs to be used at higher power states / function.

This is NOT a fix, this is a workaround if you have a nvidia gpu.

Ive dropped temperatures by 17-30 degrees on both cpu and gpu.

Hope they fix it so we dont have to run this particular thing but for now it allows me to still use this dock.

Any questions id be glad to help, If you guys need I can make a video and upload it explaining more.

I’ll test what you have described but please can you check the download link of the tool, it looks unavailable?

My apologies, link again is here:

https://pcgamesbeat.blogspot.com/201...-gpus.html?m=1

I had a similar issue but could narrow it down to when a USB-C dock was connected. If I connected the dock the CPU Usage and fan noise would increase after a minute or 2. If I disconnected the dock the CPU usage and fan noise would return to normal. Changing a BIOS setting fixed the issue for me.

This is the page that ran through the BIOS setting to change
http://itwalkthroughs.com/knowledge-...ock-connected/

I have the same issue
 

Dell Ultrabook on a dell 3100 dock, just browsing the internet, cpu really high.
Sometimes when using resource intensive applications I can't even type...
Windows 10 18362
Latest Displaylink drivers...

I have the same issue with HP ProBook 440 G6 and HP USB-C Universal Dock... Is that problem was already fixed?

no, still sucks :mad:

Ehhh it's really annoying when your cursor freezes, jumps or disappears... The worst is when sometimes you can't even type anything... grrrrr :mad:

Same issues here: unable to watch a simple youtube vidéo when plugged on the Hub...

Asus UX31A on a dell 3100 dock, just browsing the internet, cpu really high, unable to watch a simple youtube vidéo...
Sometimes when using resource intensive applications I can't even type...
Really really CPU demanding "Window Driver Foundation ..." when plugged on the Hub


Windows 10 18363.657
Latest Displaylink drivers...

I know this feeling!!! I have the same with my HP. The question when it will be fixed....?

Hi there,

no change to report here?

No, it's been over one year now. I think there will never be a solution. DisplayLink don't care.
Does anybody know a good alternative to DisplayLink?

Two Monitors + LENOVO Dock Pro
 

I was troubleshooting this issue for a while.
At home we have two laptops Lenvo (some i5 corpo crap) and ASUS Zenbook (one of top).
We use both with LENOVO Dock Pro (via USB-C cable).

My GF noticed that when she is using her corpo laptop she has really high CPU load and noisy fan. Time to time her mouse froze and whole system was hanging. As it is 10+ yrs in IT for me, I was bit surprised to see SSD/i5 Intel hanging on Office Apps + Chrome.

Sooo... I compared it with our ASUS. Both ot those machines run Windows 1909 (corpo) and 2004 (Asus). Both are time to time used with LENOVO Dock Pro. We have two external monitors connected to Dock.

As long we were using Asus, with 8 cores, CPU load was marginal and we could not even hear FAN.
With Lenovo and its 4 core CPU, just after few minutes of usage, FAN and CPU goes crazy.

The test I did was just simple moving mouse cursor between two external monitors:
ASUS: up to 10% CPU on task: Windows Driver Foundation (Display Link)
Lenovo: up to 20% CPU on Windows Driver Foundation task.

Same tests with running YT video in background. Both in Chrome and showing same video. Moving really fast cursor between monitors.
ASUS: up to 15% CPU on thread: Windows Driver Foundation (Display Link)
Lenovo: up to 25% CPU on Windows Driver Foundation task.

If you add Chrome CPU util, it ends up:
ASUS: Up to 35% summary CPU load.
Lenovo: up to 65% CPU summary load (where 25% is Windows Driver Foundation).

[See attached screen]

Out of tests:
My GF running: MS Teams, Outlook, Chrome and few other apps:
CPU between 80-100% avg, almost whole time.

We connected only 1 external screen via HDMI:
CPU load: up 50% in avg. CPU load.

So question:
Do we really should use Dock with USB-C + Display Link?

Now she (My GF) is happy using two monitors via HDMI and Display Port interfaces, CPU utilization is low and FAN rarely hits top speeds.

"Better is enemy of good"
RuDy

High CPU usage
 

Greetings,

I have the Plugable UD6950H dock which requires DisplayLink.

DisplayLink Driver version 9.2.2420.0
WIndows 10 Home
Version 2004
OS Build 19041.508
Date: 20200723

This issue does not occur before 08/20/2020.

My CPU usage is between 30-60% constantly while I have the DisplayLink running. Windows Foundation processes seem to be common in thread.

Is there a fix for this?

hey wolfrhogan,

What's your system setup/specs?

I used to have the issue, but after deep troubleshooting I found out that the issue was being caused by glitches -- more or less -- in the software being run while connected.

High CPU usage
 

I have same problem. Definitely the Display link driver and Windows 10 home 1903 and I can't get the next version of Windows because I have Conexant audio driver that is a known issue. Wish it was listed that Display link is a known issue.

I have the same problem. I use Dell D3100 USB 3.0 docking station and 3 display (3 x Philips 24 FullHd). I have cpu usage about 30-40% by Windows Driver Foudation process.
OS: Windows 10 Pro 20H2.
My computer: HP Elitbook 8570w - cpu i7-3720QM

it's been YEARS
 

2018, 2019, 2020, 2021... how many YEARS until this gets fixed?! Would a class action lawsuit help speed things up?

Same on Windows and Linux
 

I see this is still not fixed. I just updated the driver on Linux and it still has high cpu load.
Even when the monitor is doing nothing, just displaying a still image, I already have 16%. Just moving the mouse on the monitor increases the load to 40-60%.
Watching Youtube increases it beyond 100% and the fan turns on.

I have a Lenovo with Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8565U CPU @ 1.80GHz and 16 GB RAM with an USB-C Lenovo Docking Station

This is the same on Linux AND Windows! Just under Linux watching Youtube on anything connected to the Displaylink device sometimes freezes the Screen and I have to restart.
When I watch Youtube on the build in screen, I don't get 100% CPU nor a running fan.

Why is this so bad?

Going to give this a bump.

The high CPU usage still exists. The only reason why I can "tolerate" it is that my computer's hardware is just that powerful and I don't notice a degrade in performance.

Here's my setup/specs

Ryzen 9 5900HX with Radeon Graphics

Nvidia GeForce 3070 dedicated GPU

32 GB RAM.

The display link dock is the plugable UD 6950Z - connected via USB 3.2 type C.

I have the power management set to not turn off the connection.

The USB selective suspend setting is set to disabled and the USB 3 Link Power Management is set to off.

I don't really notice anything but a brief performance drop and I have to believe that this due to the integrated GPU with the CPU spiking usage.

I'm running Windows 10 Home version 21H2 but it was also happening on 21H1 and earlier.

I bought an ICY BOX USB 3.0 & USB-C Docking Station a week ago and ever since I started using it with 2 monitors I'm getting 100% CPU usage all the time. My Lenovo is 1 year old, 16GB memory, I'm getting 34GB to see if makes any difference otherwise I'll return the docking station.

This problem started for me about a month ago, I have 3 laptops that all share the same dock with a KM switch. Until late last week only 1 laptop was having this issue and now all 3 are.

I haven't been able to narrow down the issue to a specific Windows update but that's the avenue I'm currently looking into.

Ok, so this has really become and issue and a personal mission to find either a solution or at the very least something that's a contributor.

After doing some additional searches I came across some other folks that were having issues with hardware acceleration in Chrome. The more tabs they had open the quicker the issue would manifest itself. So I decided to see if that could be replicated and for the most part yes, having a couple Chrome tabs open certainly caused the issue to happen less often, but even with all Chrome processes stopped the performance was still high on this process.

The next thing I noticed was that my Intel Iris Graphics would top out at 100% and then my displays would crash. This lead me to another thread where a Displaylink Vendor posted April 2021 that Version 30.X of the Intel Iris Drivers were having issues with their hardware and they recommended rolling back that driver.

I did that this morning and so far I have been 45+ minutes without issue. I'll continue to monitor and see if it returns but hopefully this will help other folks.