Update:
NVIDIA has released a hotfix driver that solves this issue. You can download it from here.
GeForce graphics driver bug may cause 10%+ CPU usage from NVIDIA Container
NVIDIA is aware of the new issue that has been reported by some players.
NVIDIA RTX 4090 Founders Edition (AI edited), Source: HardwareLuxx
A new graphics driver bug can cause high CPU usage from NVIDIA containers. Gamers have noticed a sudden spike of CPU usage after existing games, that can go even higher than 15%. This issue may not be easily noticeable, and may require checking system data.
The issue has been mentioned by The Verge editor, Tom Warren, whose recommendation is to foll back to the older driver:
if you're noticing high CPU usage from Nvidia's latest drivers (531.18) you're not alone. Seems to be a bug with the latest drivers where Nvidia container uses 10%+ CPU after logon or after closing games. Rolling back to previous drivers will fix
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 6, 2023
The problem is known to the company and has now been added to the known issues. This means that NVIDIA may soon release a new hotfix for their driver or add a patch for this problem with the upcoming Game Ready release. However, given the impact of this bug, the hotfix should probably take a priority.
NVIDIA acknowledges the CPU usage issue, Source: NVIDIA
To determine if you are affected by this problem, simply use Windows Task Manager that and check the Processes tab. It should confirm which app is utilizing the CPU resources. Here is an example from one of the members of the NVIDIA GeForce forums:
NVIDIA Container high CPU usage issue, Source: NVIDIA
The easiest solution right now is to revert to the older driver 528.49 WHQL driver, or simply force close the Container or restart the PC. The root cause of the issue is unknown, however some users recommend removing a special DLL from the driver directory. Of course, we do not recommend tinkering with graphics driver files, but might be something worth trying:
Potential fix to the problem, Source: Reddit
Update: Sean Pelletier (Senior Product Manager for NVIDIA) confirms that a hotfix will be released tomorrow:
FYI – we'll be posting a hotfix driver tomorrow with a fix
— Sean Pelletier (@PellyNV) March 6, 2023
