KB2670838 Windows Update Diminishes DX11 Performance For Windows Users

I stumbled upon this while trying to investigate a loss of 2k points while benching, although it doesn't affect the benching program I was using, 3DMark Vantage, it does affect games and programs that use DX11. I did see significantly diminished performance in Batman: AC, DX11 enabled, before removing this update:

680 sli low score 3DMark

For reference:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...nware-m18x-benchmark-thread-part-2-a-389.html

Update number:

KB2670838

 

Thanks for the link. So here is another FANTASTIC example why to disable Windows Update and only install specific updates manually when you need something fixed or updated, and then only those updates that apply to fixing something that needs fixed. Leaving automatic updates turned on, it's not a matter of IF but WHEN your system will end up screwed up because of it.

 

Yeah I am doing that now, this one slipped under the radar, wasn't aware of its effects. How do you know whether or not an update is necessary or not? I wish I had more info to go on, I will be hesitant to update from here on.

 

Only if you plan to run IE 10 or later. I use Google Chrome and don't use IE for anything except when I am required to by Microsoft to access something on their web site, so staying on IE 8 has worked fine for me.

http://www.winbeta.org/news/botched-update-kb2670838-windows-7-resulting-bsod-microsoft-working-fix

http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1...8-causing-bluescreens-on-some-configurations/

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/281495-kb2670838-platform-update.html

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...b2670838/62e4aafb-e73e-4610-83ec-8629a60777be

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...80070bc9/3515e154-456b-47ac-bbf8-36c2e9952801

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebo...re/KB-2670838-win-7-causes-crash/td-p/2443123

It has been reported that the update breaks Firefox browser, too... https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/951957

 

When exactly did this update roll out guys?

 

Here are the details. A platform update is available for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

For some it actually hinders rather than enhances performance. It also broke AVI file playback capabilities with Windows Media Player on my system, and I see others complaining of the same on the web.

After having Automatic Windows Updates do things that have caused me problems in the last 6 to 9 months, I take the approach if my M18x works great, I simply don't need the update. I am not interested in most of the security updates. I'm not worried about a hacker gaining remote access or a web site running malicious code and turning my M18x into a DOS zombie. If everything is working correctly, I don't install any C++ or .NET updates, but I do install the latest full versions. I don't install any of the hardware drivers Microsoft makes available. I don't use IE, Bing toolbar, search providers, Microsoft suggested sites, special Windows Desktop Search bloatware... Which leaves pretty much nothing. I don't install any of the Microsoft Office Updates. Last time I checked, there were about 140 updates on my ignore list. I do check for updates manually and read the detailed information available for "Critical Updates" to decide if I agree that they are critical. I have installed some of them, but I often don't view them as critical.

 

Nuts! Is there a way to removed the update? For me, the update roll out on 2/26/13

 

Yes, you can remove it using Windows Updates in the Control Panel. If it did not screw anything up for you, might not be something to burn any calories on. As I mentioned, it broke AVI playback on my system. Once I uninstalled it, WMP plays AVI files again. I installed this manually on purpose. Based on the description it sounded like something I wanted. I was wrong, LOL.

Windows Updates are only bad when they mess stuff up. I just got sick of stuff getting messed up for me and having to waste my time troubleshooting and fixing things. So, I decided to put a stop to it by taking control of everything that happens. I went for years without any issues with automatic updates. It has only become a problem for me over the last 6 to 9 months. Other than this one, it was only a few C++ and .NET updates that messed me up, but the only way to take full control of the process is to disable it completely and check for updates manually.

Read all the fine print, not the summary. Be very leery of any update that says it cannot be removed once installed.

 

Thanks Mr.Fox Yeah, I also turned of the automatic updates as well. Not wroth the headaches.

 

I installed this update on a fresh win7 install and have not had any issues yet. AVI files work fine and gaming performance is the same with my 680M sli but I will keep you guys updated if anything changes. Possible they removed a prior update which conflicted with this one, since I did a fresh reformat I possibly avoided that conflict.

 

I always turn off windows updates. Too much dirt too often. My system runs so beautifully with the crud not on there.

 

It might work fine on that environment. At least we have info about the issue now. Thx for sharing vulcan78

 

Love your avatar TBone!

Yeah I felt that it would be criminal to not share this with the Alienware community, maybe we should re-post in the Alienware General forum so owners of other systems that may also be playing games that utilize DX11 are aware of the issue.

 

I can just move the thread there. Thanks, vulcan78. Good idea.

 

This piece of garbage somehow got installed on my system again. How that happened in spite of Windows Updates being disabled is a mystery. It made my system run terribly (very low benchmark FPS in 3DMark), but everything became fine again after uninstalling it.

 

It's a pre-req for IE10+, so if for some reason you went to update Internet Explorer, it would install with it.

Thanks for the reminder, though. Removed!

 

Hmm, this update was pre-installed on my new system...Still there...I guess I should remove it with all the problems listed. Already on IE10.

 

I am still running IE9. Chrome is my browser of choice and I rarely ever launch IE, so I have no reason to install IE10 at this time. I am not sure how it ended up installed on my system, but the important thing is that it's gone now.

I have Windows Updates disabled. Below is the full list of Micro$oft Updates installed on my system.

 

You seem like a security conscientious person, so I'm rather surprised that you don't cherry-pick the Security Bulletins like I do. Do you isolate your gaming laptop from your network typically, or do you run higher level security software than the typical free AVG/Avast/Avira?

Perhaps the question belongs in it's own thread, but it is Windows Update related.

 

In the past I was ridiculously security conscious. To an extent I am still very security conscious, but less now than I used to be. I don't embrace security by applying everything that Micro$oft thinks is important. I actually regard many of Micro$oft's Updates as a security threat as far as my system functionality is concerned. I'm not willing to compromise performance or stability for the sake of security.

I use Vipre Internet Security Suite (not free) and have my router firewall enabled. I am also careful about the web sites that I visit. Drive-by downloads caught me by surprise more than once in years past. All of my games are now Origin and Steam based, but I vividly remember the good old days of risking it all for that precious No-CD or trainer hack so I did not have to feed disks into my system to play games that I paid for. Those are known malicious web sites that are almost guaranteed to mess things up.

I typically do cherry-pick the security bulletins as you do. I haven't applied any yet because I recently did a clean OS install and I am waiting for Win8.1 RTM to be released in a couple of weeks. I have for a while been running a dual-boot setup with one OS fully secured and the other OS for gaming and benching with nothing, and will be setting that up again when 8.1 is released. Right now I am running with almost nothing and I really enjoy how much better an unpatched "insecure" system functions...

I don't get too worked up about malware infection or data security. I have a pristine drive image that I have used to nix the nasties when they show up (and, like it or not, they eventually do make a guest appearance even when you are careful). All of my files with critical personal information are placed on detached storage devices that I connect when I have need. There isn't much worth stealing as far as personal data is concerned. I do use long and complex passwords to minimize the risk of unauthorized online account access.

 

Hmm, this is not good... Never saw this thread before, thanks for bumping it. I'll see if this is installed on my 17 later. :thumbsup: I hate IE. I use FireFox or Chrome for everything.

 

I don't think you will need to be concerned about it with Windows 8. AFAIK it only affects Windows 7 users.

 

Ah, I see. Good news, I suppose. I still like Win7 over Win8, but games are reportedly performing better on Win8. I guess it's a necessary evil of sorts.

 

I uninstalled the update and for some odd reason... It made me unable to install IE 9. Although I don't use it... any suggestions?

 

The "update" you are referring to... is that KB2670838? If so, install KB2670838, install IE9, and then uninstall KB2670838. Maybe that will work. I know it is bundled with IE10 and you cannot run IE10 without it.

 

It didn't, however, what worked was just installing IE 11. Oh well regardless of the update that is mentioned in the post I suffer no degraded performance.