How to Stop IAStorDataSvc from Using Too Much CPU in Windows 10

If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, you may have noticed that a process called ‘IAStorDataSvc’ is using up a significant amount of your computer’s resources. This can be quite frustrating, especially since Windows 10 is supposed to be more resource-efficient. But fear not, I’m here to help you understand what IAStorDataSvc is, what it does, and how to solve the high CPU usage problem.

IAStorDataSvc is part of Intel’s Rapid Storage Technology. It’s a driver that was installed during the Windows 10 upgrade, and sometimes it doesn’t work well with your hardware. You can find the executable file for IAStorDataSvc at C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology/IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe, assuming your Windows is installed on the C: drive.

This driver is meant to provide fast access to files and RAID (if you use it) on your computer.

Stopping IAStorDataSvc from Using Too Much CPU in Windows 10

There are a couple of things we can do to resolve the high CPU usage issue caused by IAStorDataSvc. First, let’s stop the service to see if it affects performance. Then, we can either update the driver or remove it completely. But remember, only remove it if you don’t rely on RAID; otherwise, update the driver instead.

1. Type ‘services.msc’ into the search box in Windows (Cortana).
2. Find ‘Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology’ in the list, right-click on it, and select “Stop”.
3. Use your computer for a while to check if there’s any negative impact on performance.

If you have a solid-state drive (SSD) or relatively new hardware, you’ll likely see no performance impact other than IAStorDataSvc no longer hogging resources. In that case, you can either update or remove the driver. If you use RAID, you’ll probably need to update the driver instead of removing it, unless you have other drivers to rely on.

Updating Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology Drivers

First, let’s uninstall the old drivers and then update them.

1. Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ into the search box in Windows (Cortana).
2. Select ‘Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology’ from the list and click on “Uninstall”.
3. Go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest Intel drivers, or check Intel’s website if you can’t find storage drivers specific to your motherboard.
4. Download and install the drivers.
5. Restart your computer and test it again.

Testing IAStorDataSvc after updating may take some time – it could be an hour or two, or just a few minutes. There’s no consistent pattern. To keep an eye on it, open Task Manager or Resource Manager on your desktop and periodically check the CPU usage. Or, if you notice your computer slowing down, check what’s using up the resources.

Removing Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology Drivers

For most non-RAID users, you don’t actually need these drivers. Windows does a good job of handling storage on its own, so these drivers are unnecessary. If you’ve disabled the service and haven’t noticed any performance impact, it’s safe to uninstall the driver. The fewer drivers you have, the less chance of things going wrong.

1. Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ into the search box in Windows (Cortana).
2. Select ‘Intel ® Rapid Storage Technology’ from the list and click on “Uninstall”.

You don’t need to restart your computer unless you want to compare performance with a clean boot.

You don’t need to restart your computer unless you want to compare performance with a clean boot.