High CPU usage in idle, starting with Matlab 2014b

Hello there,

I did Windows updates yesterday and now my CPU won't go below 15% load when I open Matlab 2014b or later (tried 2012a, 2014a, 2014b and 2015b). Matlab version 2014a and 2012a do not have this issue. It's a constant load in idle, no help window just plain starting screen, nothing loaded.

It also seems to trigger other programs to increase CPU usage. The issue disappears as soon as I close Matlab.

I tried disabling Java in the help browser as suggested in this answer but this did not help.

I have included Screenshots comparing CPU usage in idle of Matlab 2014a and 2014b.

R2014b:

R2014a:

System specs: Windows 7 - 64 Bit Core i7-5600U 12 GB RAM Intel integrated HD 5500 graphics

Answer 1

[Friedrich Welck]

Hi,

I have narrowed the issue down to one update. I used system recovery to return my system to the pre-update state. Then I installed all updates one at a time, rebooted and checked the Matlab CPU load. Turns out the update for the integrated Intel graphics causes this slow down. Apparently it doesn't go together well with Matlab 2014b and higher. I heard there was a graphics engine update. That might be the explanation for this behavior.

The name of the conflicting update is

Intel Corporation - Graphics Adapter WDDM1.1, Graphics Adapter WDDM1.2, Graphics Adapter WDDM1.3 - Intel® HD Grpahics 5500

Release Date 02. June 2016, size 86.4 MB

I have restored the system to a point before the installation of this update, but I'd like to update my graphics drivers without having to worry about these conflicts.

So far only MATLAB has started to trigger a lot of CPU load after the update. All other programs only use high percentages of CPU time if Matlab is running. Closing Matlab will result in all other processes to stop using excessive CPU time in idle.

CPU load before update with Matlab 2015b running:

CPU load after update with Matlab 2015b running:

CPU load after update and after closing Matlab 2015b:

This current fix is not a solution to me. If there is a solution to update my drivers and Matlab not hogging the CPU, please let me know.

Kind regards, Friedrich

[user]

Many thanks to Friedrich Welck for the right way.

Fix: http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_plots/resolving-low-level-graphics-issues.html

Software OpenGL — Start MATLAB from the command prompt on your system using the command matlab -softwareopengl. This command works only Windows and Linux systems. Macintosh systems do not support software OpenGL.

Answer 2

[user]

Many thanks to Friedrich Welck for the right way.

Fix: http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_plots/resolving-low-level-graphics-issues.html

Software OpenGL — Start MATLAB from the command prompt on your system using the command matlab -softwareopengl. This command works only Windows and Linux systems. Macintosh systems do not support software OpenGL.

Answer 3

[Huldar Hlynsson]

I have an intel graphics driver and updating that did the trick for me

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center/home.html