Windows 11 doesn't detect NPU processor in Core Ultra 5-245k

[BernardP]

I just got myself a system based on TUF GAMING Z890-PRO Wi-FI and Core Ultra 5 245k. Everything is running well, except that Windows can’t detect the NPU, either in Device Manager or Task Manager/Performance.

I don’t see any option in UEFI BIOS to Enable/Disable NPU.

The only possibility I see is to try installing the NPU Driver. Searching the web on this, I have found two opposite answers :

- It is useless to install the NPU Driver if Windows can’t detect the NPU

- Installing the NPU driver will enable the NPU

What should I do ?

[antonyfrn]

For me with my 265k its picked up when ive done a clean install of windows. Have you tried resetting the bios and clearing the cmos? then load into windows to see if its picked up?

Other option would be reseating the CPU booting with  just the iGPU see what happens. Or iGPU only and windows drive fitted flash with latest bios via flashback clean install of windows and go from there.

[BernardP]

Thanks for your reply antonyfrm,

I have just flashed the BIOS to the latest version. I'm already running on the iGPU only.

Can you tell me if you see something, anything, about the NPU in the BIOS? All I see in mine are options for NPU Boost, but nothing about the NPU chip itself. On the other hand, there is a lot in the BIOS about P-Cores and E-Cores, and a few tweaks about the iGPU.

You are telling me that Windows automatically installed the NPU driver on your system. Are you seeing the NPU in Device Manager, as can be seen in the first image on this Intel page?

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000099083/processors/intel-core-ultra-proce....

[inge70]

Try using CPU_Z (current version 2.15).
You might see something there.
According to a Google search, the tool should be able to display at least limited data.
But from what I've gathered from online interpretations, NPUs aren't cores; NPU (Neural Processing Unit) is simply specified with ".. TOPS," not the number of cores. Therefore, I'm assuming that these aren't cores in the same sense as CPU cores.

It seems that this is all handled solely via the Intel AI Boost software and drivers.
Therefore, you probably don't see any NPU cores in the Device Manager, because they're not cores, but neural processing units (however that's implemented in the CPU).
I therefore assume that it's more likely to be found under Software Components or something similar in the Device Manager once you install the Intel driver.
So I would just install the driver and see what happens.

[antonyfrn]

Ive not touched anything in the bios regarding the NPU on my Hero board, im avoiding messing with anything to much in there.

I cannot remember if windows installed the driver automatically as its been a few months since ive done a clean install.

I would try running intel's CPU diagnostic tool

[BernardP · Accepted solution]

I decided to install the NPU Driver from the Asus Support page, by launching the Asussetup.exe file. It was over in a blink, despite a 215 MB unzipped file size.

After that, yes, I can see the NPU in Device Manager and Task manager. See image.

Thanks for your replies.

[antonyfrn]

Just for your own info ASUS dont update the drivers very often (How on earth do they get 215mb 69mb driver...) for a you maybe better looking on places like driver station as intel has released 32.0.100.4023 recently maybe more useful depending on the version of windows 11 your running.

[inge70]

You can also check out @MoKiChU's thread for the latest drivers and firmwares .

Although he's not an Asus employee, he regularly updates the drivers and firmware and makes them available for download. ‌😁

😁

[BernardP]

Thanks for the tip, antonyfrn. I have noticed in the past that motherboard makers will keep releasing BIOSes as long as there are issues to solve, but don't keep updating their Drivers Page for too long.