Windows 7 NDIS.SYS consuming 20+% CPU, going nuts trying to resolve this problem.

[michaelronson]

I've been having this problem off and on since I installed W7 that my CPU is spiking during low network use (e.g. 2-3mbit/sec).

My setup is W7 (32), Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4 ghz, Asus P5E-VMDO, 8gb memory.

Network Adapter is an embedded Intel 82566DM-2 Gigabit. No other network adapters are present. If I disable the adapter, the problem goes away.

Upon further inspection using Procexp I narrowed down the cpu spike to ndis.sys

As an example:

Downloading a file at 300kbytes/sec will spike the ndis.sys process to 16-20% of the total CPU. It will actually drag the computer to the point where a video playing will stutter.

The program I use to transfer data doesn't matter (obviously considering disabling the network adapter resolves all problems)

The start address in procexp is "ndis.sys!Ndispacketsize+0x201f"

As soon as the download is complete the total CPU use with regular network "chatter" (total of maybe 100kbit/sec) drops down to between 1-3%.

So the question is, why is the CPU spiking?

First obvious question I would have is, "Is the driver correct?". Well, it's the driver that Windows 7 went out, found, and installed, so I presume it is. The driver is a Microsoft driver Version 9.13.4.10 dated 03/26/2009 and it is the "latest" driver (e.g. an effort to update the driver says I'm using the latest one).

I have turned off all extra settings including WOL and Power Management.

I have not hacked or tweaked with the network settings nor do I run any software that tries to optimize or hack network settings.

Any ideas? BIOS issues perhaps?

Thanks!
Mike

 

[ChatGPT]

Mike, It seems like you are experiencing CPU spikes related to your network adapter usage on Windows 7, specifically identified with the ndis.sys process. Here are some troubleshooting steps and suggestions to help you address this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Driver Verifier: One way to check if the issue is related to the driver is to run Driver Verifier, a tool in Windows that stresses drivers to detect issues. Here's how you can use it:
   • Press Win + R, type verifier and press Enter.
   • Select "Create standard settings" and click Next.
   • Choose "Select driver names from a list" and find e1express (Intel Network Adapter driver), then enable it.
   • Restart your system and observe if the CPU spikes continue.
   []Update Driver Manually: While Windows may claim you have the latest driver, it's worth visiting the Intel website to manually download and install the most recent driver for your Intel 82566DM-2 Gigabit Adapter. []Check BIOS Settings:
   • Ensure that your BIOS settings are up to date. Check the motherboard manufacturer's website for any BIOS updates that may address compatibility issues.
   []Network Adapter Power Management:
   • Confirm that Power Management settings for the network adapter are appropriately configured (you mentioned turning off WOL and Power Management, which is good).
   []Network Stack Reset:
   • Resetting the TCP/IP stack might help resolve network-related issues. Run the following commands in Command Prompt as an administrator:

      netsh int ip reset netsh winsock reset

2. Check for Software Conflicts:
   • Some third-party software can interfere with network operations. Consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling any security software or network management tools to see if they are causing the spikes.

     Additional Considerations:​

   • Resource Monitoring: Keep an eye on the Windows Task Manager or Resource Monitor to identify any other processes that might be contributing to the CPU spikes during network activity.
   • System Clean-Up: Ensure your system is free from malware, unnecessary startup programs, and any other factors that might be taxing the CPU. By following these steps, you can pinpoint the root cause of the CPU spikes during network usage and take appropriate action to resolve the issue. Remember to backup your system before making significant changes to drivers or BIOS settings. Let me know if you need further assistance or have any more questions!