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    Realtek Background process high cpu usage

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by niko2021, Jul 13, 2011.

  1. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    Fellow m14x owners, I was fiddling around with my system settings, when I noticed that a process/program called rtkNGUI64.exe is eating up at least 24% of my processor and is why my fan keeps kicking on and off. It's from the realtek audio driver. Other dell users are having this issue
    XPS15 L502X: Realtek HD Audio Manager eats 13% of CPU - Laptop Audio Forum - Laptop - Dell Community
    It's probably the reason why many users complain about idle fan noise.
    I disabled realtek in the msconfig start up menu, but the sound wasn't too good after, solved the problem though. Any thoughts? I might try a reinstall of the driver/check for a newer driver from realtek and dell. Or just leave it unchecked at start up.

    FIXED: Reinstall Realtek from dell, it will greatly reduce cpu usage, ram usage, and fan usage.
     
  2. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

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    It's funny you mention this because I was sitting at my desk today surfing the web and the fan was on a lot. I think this might be why.
     
  3. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    Wonderful, let's find a fix that doesn't involve not using the realtek hd audio at all. Though if i have to stop running it I will. It made somewhat of a different to me. Probably what's ruining my battery life. It's always at least running 24%.
     
  4. Aneap

    Aneap Notebook Geek

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    If anyone has the soundblaster driver instead, can they check if it's hogging as much resource as the realtek?
     
  5. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    Did a reinstall from the dell site and everything seems to work now. No usage from realtek at all, and it's launched at start up. everyone should do this now, i cant even hear my fans at idle anymore!!! I can hear outside again lol. And that's what was eating up my ram. At 6 gigs of ram, i had over 35 percent at start up, now its at 24 woot
     
  6. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

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    I opened process manager and looked at why my idle CPU was so high. Apparently the western digital backup utility goes crazy when it's idle killing battery like a .
     
  7. Aneap

    Aneap Notebook Geek

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    Did you reinstall just the realtek driver?
     
  8. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

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    yeah, I just reinstalled it, well i uninstalled it first, then installed the new one from the dell site.
     
  9. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    Hmmm, weird, mine is at 0% all of the idling time, accept for when I try playing music or videos.
     
  10. magikfx

    magikfx Newbie

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    I believe there is a new driver on realtek's website that was just posted a few days ago. I installed it earlier and it seems to be working fine.