System Lag after Windows 10 Upgrade

[degerc]

I have a NUC7i5BNH system, which was running without issue with Windows 8.1.  I recently upgraded to Win10 21H2, and since then have been experiencing system wide lag.  A few of the symptoms:

Task Manager will show 100% CPU, even when the top 10 processes combined are less than 60%

When opening Task Manager, the processes tab will be blank for about 2-3 seconds before displaying information (minimal lag, but consistent with overall issue)

Slow refresh of a window when moving it around the screen.  Can literally watch as the window redraws itself while moving the window (at normal speed) with the mouse.

Programs like Firefox, Chrome run  slowly (like they are running from a platter drive instead of an SSD)

Windows is up2date with patches, and all drivers are up2date as well.  BIOS was recently updated with no issues.

So far, I have swapped out the SSD, and also removed the DSA as I read that could cause high CPU on certain systems.  So far, neither has resolved the issue.

Any suggestions are appreciated

[AlHill]

How were you running Windows 8.1 on a 7th gen processor?

Do a fresh/clean install of W10 and report back.  Of course, back up your data first.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Windows 11 is the new Vista]

[degerc]

@AlHill - The NUC7 was release in 2017, so at the time intel supported Win8, Win8.1, and Win10 on that device.  Per your suggestion, I installed a backup drive and performed a clean install of Win10.  The lag has diminished, however a new symptom has appeared.  I am unable to either install the thunderbolt software, or update the firmware.  This is odd since I can use the thunderbolt port for the second monitor.  Thoughts?

[AlHill]

Windows 10 came out in 2015, before your nuc.  It has always been the rule that Microsoft only supported W10 on 7th gen and later processors.

You can see from this link that your nuc only supported W10.  And, you can get the bios and updates from here:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/95067/intel-nuc-kit-nuc7i5bnh.html

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Windows 11 is the new Vista]

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @degerc 

Following @AlHill post, please find the link to Downloads for Intel® NUC Kit NUC7i5BNH.

Once the BIOS is updated to version 0083 (you may use the express method with BNKBL357.86A.0083.EB.msi file), enter BIOS settings and reset the settings to default (F9 and then F10).

The first driver you have to download and install is the Chipset Device Software and then Intel® Management Engine Consumer Driver. Next restart your NUC.

Before updating the Thunderbolt™ 3 Firmware, you should download and install the Thunderbolt™ 3 DCH Driver . The Thunderbolt device should be connected for those updates. 

Continue to download and install the other drivers.

Leon

[degerc]

@LeonWaksman - I successfully installed the Chipset Device Software, and the Management Engine Consumer Driver.  I then tried to install the Thunderbolt 3 DCH Driver, but it failed.  I attached a screenshot of the installer failure and the error logs.

Based on the driver installation failure, could this be a hardware related issue?  Is there a way to diagnose?

[LeonWaksman]

Hi @degerc 

No, it is not a hardware related issue preventing from you the Thunderbolt Driver installation. This is rather a problem with the driver installer. In order to overcome this problem, before Thunderbolt Driver installation download from Microsoft Store and install the Intel® Thunderbolt™ Control Center. So, this sequence should work (plug in the Thunderbolt Device):

1. Thunderbolt Control Center

2. Thunderbolt DCH Driver.

3. Thunderbolt Firmware.

Leon

[degerc]

@LeonWaksman - I was able to install the Control Center app, and the DCH Driver.  The only issue left is that the firmware fails to install, claiming that an SDK service doesn't exist (I attached the error message, and the two thunderbolt services that are currently installed)

[LeonWaksman]

Well, lets see what Intel has to say about. Except the problem with the Thunderbolt Firmware update, is your NUC performing now correctly (i.e. no leg)?

Leon