Very heavy CPU and memory load. How to reduce CPU load: main causes and methods of solving problems

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One of the most common reasons why a computer slows down is because the processor is loaded, sometimes by incomprehensible applications and processes.

Not long ago, on a friend’s computer I had to deal with “incomprehensible” CPU load, which sometimes reached 100%, although no programs were open that could load it like that (by the way, the processor was quite modern Intel inside Core i3). The problem was solved by reinstalling the system and installing new drivers (but more on that later...).

Actually, I decided that similar problem quite popular and will be of interest to a wide range of users. In the article I will give recommendations that will help you figure out why the processor is loaded and how to reduce the load on it. So…

To find out what percentage of the processor is loaded, open the Windows task manager.

Buttons: Ctrl+Shift+Esc (or Ctrl+Alt+Del).

By the way, very often the problem arises as follows: you worked, for example, in Adobe Photoshop, then closed the program, but it remained in the processes (or this happens all the time with some games). As a result, they “eat” resources, and not small ones. Because of this, the computer starts to slow down. Therefore, very often the first recommendation in such cases is to restart the PC (since in this case such applications will be closed), or go to the task manager and remove such a process.

Important! Special attention pay attention to suspicious processes: those that heavily load the processor (more than 20%, and you have never seen such a process before). There was an article not long ago about suspicious processes in more detail:

When setting up one of the computers, I encountered an incomprehensible CPU load - there is a load, but there are no processes! The screenshot below shows what it looks like in the task manager.

On the one hand, it’s surprising: the “Display processes of all users” checkbox is turned on, there is nothing among the processes, and the PC load jumps by 16-30%!

To see all processes that load the PC - run free utility Process Explorer . Next, sort all processes by load (CPU column) and see if there are any suspicious “elements” there (the task manager does not show some processes, unlike Process Explorer).

In my case, the culprit turned out to be system interrupts and DPCs. By the way, I will say that sometimes fixing the PC load associated with them is quite a troublesome and complicated task (besides, sometimes they can load the processor not only by 30%, but by 100%!).

The fact is that the CPU is loaded due to them in several cases: problems with drivers; viruses; HDD does not work in DMA mode, but in PIO mode; problems with peripheral equipment (for example, printer, scanner, network cards, flash and HDD storage devices, etc.).

1. Problems with drivers

The most common reason CPU load system interrupts. I recommend doing the following: boot your PC into safe mode and see if there is a load on the processor: if there is none, the reason is very high in the drivers! In general, the simplest and quick way in this case, it is to reinstall the Windows system and then install one driver at a time and see if the CPU load appears (as soon as it appears, you have found the culprit).

Most often, network cards are to blame here + universal drivers from Microsoft, which are installed immediately when you install Windows (sorry for the tautology). I recommend downloading and updating all drivers from the official website of your laptop/computer manufacturer.

— Windows installation 7 from a flash drive

- update and search for driver

2. Viruses

I think it’s not worth spreading too much, which could be due to viruses: deleting files and folders from the disk, theft personal information, CPU load, various advertising banners on top of the desktop, etc.

I won’t say anything new here - install a modern antivirus on your PC:

Plus, sometimes check your computer with third-party programs (which look for adware, mailware, etc. advertising modules): more about them here.

3. Mode work hard disk

Mode HDD operation It can also affect the loading and performance of the PC. In general, if the hard drive is not operating in DMA mode, but in PIO mode, you will immediately notice it with terrible “brakes”!

How can I check this? To avoid repetition, see the article: 3__HDD_-_PIODMA

4. Problems with peripheral equipment

Disconnect everything from your laptop or PC, leave the bare minimum (mouse, keyboard, monitor). I also recommend paying attention to the device manager to see if there is any installed devices with yellow or red icons (this means either there are no drivers or they are not working correctly).

How to open device manager? The easiest way is to open the panel Windows management and drive into search bar the word "dispatcher". See screenshot below.

3. Question No. 3 - can the processor load be caused by overheating and dust?!

The reason why the processor may be overloaded and the computer will start to slow down may be due to overheating. Typically, characteristic signs of overheating are:

increased hum of the cooler: the number of revolutions per minute increases because of this the noise from it becomes stronger. If you have a laptop: then by passing your hand next to the left side (usually there is a hot air outlet on laptops) you will be able to notice how much air is being blown out and how hot it is. Sometimes the hand doesn’t tolerate it (this is not good)!
braking and slowdown of the computer (laptop);
refusal to boot with errors indicating failures in the cooling system, etc.

You can find out the processor temperature using special. programs (more details about them here: .

For example, in the AIDA 64 program, to view the processor temperature, you need to open the “Computer / Sensor” tab.

How do you know which temperature is critical for your processor and which is normal?

The easiest way is to look at the manufacturer’s website; this information is always indicated there. It is quite difficult to give general figures for different models processors.

In general, on average, if the processor operating temperature is not higher than 40 degrees. Ts. - everything is fine. Above 50g. C. - may indicate problems in the cooling system (for example, an abundance of dust). However, for some processor models this temperature is the normal operating temperature. This especially applies to laptops, where limited space makes it difficult to organize good system cooling. By the way, on laptops and 70 gr. Ts. - maybe normal temperature under load.

More details about CPU temperature:

Cleaning from dust: when, how and how many times?

In general, it is advisable to clean your computer or laptop from dust 1-2 times a year (although a lot depends on your room, some have more dust, some have less...). Once every 3-4 years it is advisable to replace the thermal paste. Both operations are not complicated and can be performed independently.

To avoid repetition, I will provide a couple of links below...

How to clean your computer from dust and replace thermal paste:

In Windows 7, the most important process in the OS is Svchost.exe. Very often, PC users with Windows 7 encounter a problem when this process heavily loads the processor. The load on processor cores can reach from 50 to 100 percent. Svchost.exe is host process responsible for starting group services from dynamic libraries DDL. That is, the system, using this host process, starts a group of services without creating unnecessary processes. This approach reduces the load on the processor and RAM. If the system slows down and Svchost.exe heavily loads the processor, this means that the OS is not working properly. This behavior of the system can be caused by malware, as well as problems in the OS itself. To deal with this problem, in this article we will look at all the ways to solve the problem with high CPU load caused by the Svchost.exe process.

First steps to solve the problem with the Svchost.exe process

If you have a situation where the host process Svchost.exe is heavily loading the processor, then you should not immediately think that it is a virus. In addition to the virus, the OS itself may be the culprit of this problem. Below we will look list of problems, and methods to correct them:

Restoring normal processor operation using an antivirus

If the methods described above did not help, then most likely your Windows 7 infected with a virus. Typically, infection with a virus occurs from the outside. That is, via the Internet or via external storage data. If you have good antivirus, then most likely the virus will not pass. But there are times when antivirus programs do not see new versions of viruses and skip them. If your computer is infected, then the host process Svchost.exe will load the processor up to 100 percent, and in the user name you will see not the system names “LOCAL” and “NETWORK SERVICE”, but a completely different name.

To get rid of a virus in the system, you need run full check computer in Windows 7 to search for malware. Below we will look at an example of running a full scan of your computer using Comodo antivirus Internet Security. Also, before running any antivirus to check the OS, update it antivirus database. Let's move on and launch the antivirus Comodo Internet Security.

In the main antivirus window, go to the bottom tab “ Scanning", which will open a menu from which you can select scanning options.

In our case, you need to select the item “ Full scan" This option will scan the entire hard drive, identify malicious programs and neutralize them. Below is the Comodo Internet Security scan window.

In others antivirus programs The principle of launching a full PC scan is as similar as possible to what was discussed. Therefore, if you have a problem with the Svchost.exe host process, then feel free to run a full PC scan.

For this example, we chose for a reason Comodo antivirus Internet Security. This antivirus has a built-in module called KillSwitch(this module is currently included in free set utilities COMODO Cleaning Essentials, which you can download).

This module is a task manager that has advanced functionality. For example, KillSwitch can stop the process tree and revert the changes made after that.

Also a feature of KillSwitch is checking running processes for trust. That is, if the process is untrusted, KillSwitch will find it and indicate this in the third column " Grade" This feature of the KillSwitch module will help you quickly identify problems related to Svchost.exe and CPU usage.

It is also worth mentioning when a virus infects the antivirus itself or reliably disguises itself from it, as a result of which it is not seen installed antivirus. In this situation, the user will come to the aid boot disk. This disk is a portable Linux-based operating system that boots from it. After downloading from this disk, the user will be able to run a PC scan directly from the downloaded operating system.

Such a scan should find and neutralize viruses that cause Svchost.exe to load processor cores. Most known viruses The ones that load the CPU with Svchost.exe are:

« Virus.Win32.Hidrag.d" - is a virus written in C++. Once in the system, he replaces Svchost.exe. After that, it looks for files with the extension “*exe” and infects them. The virus is harmless; it does not harm the system and does not steal information. But constant infection of files with the “*exe” extension greatly loads the processor.
« Net-Worm.Win32.Welchia.a" - this virus is Internet worm that loads the processor through Internet attacks.
« Trojan-Clicker.Win32.Delf.cn» - a primitive Trojan that registers in the system new process Svchost.exe to open a specific page in the browser, thereby loading the system.
« Trojan.Carberp» - a dangerous Trojan that also disguises itself as Svchost.exe. The main purpose of this virus is search and theft of information from large retail chains.

High CPU usage due to Windows Update

On computers running Windows 7, there is often a situation where the Svchost.exe process loads the processor and memory because of the update center. To check what exactly the update center is loading up the memory and processor, you need to go to “ Task Manager"and using Svchost.exe go to the services that are in this moment he controls. An example of such a transition is shown in the image below.

After such a transition, a window with services should open, where the service “ wuauserv».

It is this service responsible for downloading and installing updates by seven. Fixing this problem is quite simple.

In the Task Manager Services window, you can completely stop “wuauserv” or disable checking for updates in the Control Panel.

But disabling the “wuauserv” service is an ugly way out of this situation.

When this service is disabled, the security of the OS as a whole is compromised, since installation of updates through the update center will be disabled.

You can solve this problem by installing updates manually. In order not to download dozens of updates from the website www.microsoft.com and then take a long time to install them, it is best to use a set of updates UpdatePack7R2. The developer of this set is " simplex", who is also known by this nickname and is a moderator on the www.oszone.net forum. You can download this set from the website http://update7.simplix.info. Currently posted on the website latest version numbered 12/17/15. After downloading the set, you can begin installing updates. To do this, let's run the installer.

In the window that appears, click the Install button. After this, the update installation process will begin.

This process can take quite a long time and depends on the amount already installed updates. Update this way offline the Windows way 7 is possible constantly, since the author of the project is constantly releasing new sets. You can also restart the update center after the update installation is complete. The memory and CPU usage issue should go away this time as these updates contain a fix.

Conclusion

In this article, we covered quite extensively the problem associated with high CPU usage due to the Svchost.exe process. Based on this, our readers will certainly be able to solve this problem and ensure normal work computer.

Video on the topic

Increased load on the central processor causes slowdowns in the system - applications take longer to open, data processing time increases, and freezes may occur. To get rid of this, you need to check the load on the main components of the computer (primarily the CPU) and reduce it until the system works normally again.

The central processor is loaded with open heavy programs: modern games, professional graphics and video editors, server programs. After finishing working with heavy programs, be sure to close them rather than minimize them, thereby saving your computer resources. Some programs may work even after being closed. background. In this case, they will have to be closed through "Task Manager".

If you don't have any enabled third party programs, but goes to the processor high load, then there may be several options:

Viruses. There are many viruses that do not cause significant harm to the system, but at the same time heavily load it, making regular work difficult;
“Clogged” registry. Over time, OS work accumulates various bugs And junk files, which in large quantities can create a significant load on PC components;
Programs in "Startup". Some software can be added to this section and loaded without the user’s knowledge along with Windows (the greatest load on the CPU occurs precisely during system startup);
Accumulated dust in the system unit. It does not load the CPU by itself, but can cause overheating, which reduces the quality and stability of work central processor.

Also try not to install programs that are not suitable for your computer. system requirements. Such software may work and launch relatively normally, but at the same time it has maximum load on the CPU, which over time greatly reduces the stability and quality of work.

Method 1: Cleaning Task Manager

First of all, look at which processes take up the most resources from your computer, and if possible, disable them. The same should be done with programs that are loaded along with the operating system.

Do not disable system processes and services (they have special designation, which distinguishes them from others) if you do not know what function they perform. It is recommended to disable only user processes. You can disable a system process/service only if you are sure that this will not lead to a system reboot or black/blue screens of death.

Disconnection instructions unnecessary components looks like that:

Also via "Task Manager" needs to be cleaned "Startup". You can do it like this:

Method 2: Cleaning the Registry

To clear the registry from broken files, you just need to download special software, for example, . The program has both paid and free versions, completely Russified and easy to use.

Method 3: Virus Removal

Small viruses that load the processor, masquerading as various system services, are very easy to remove using almost any high-quality antivirus program.

Let's look at cleaning your computer from viruses using an antivirus as an example:

Method 4: Clean your PC from dust and replace thermal paste

Dust itself does not load the processor in any way, but it can become clogged with the cooling system, which will quickly cause overheating of the CPU cores and affect the quality and stability of the computer. To clean, you will need a dry cloth, preferably special wipes for cleaning PC components, cotton swabs and a low-power vacuum cleaner.

Cleaning instructions system unit from dust it looks like this:

Quite often, situations occur when users, noticing that their computers are slowing down, to put it mildly, open the task manager and see an interesting picture there. The processor is 100% loaded, although no “heavy” applications are running. The full load of the processor is unknown and is the reason for the PC to slow down and freeze.

In this article we will give several practical advice regarding the solution to this problem.

Reasons why the processor may be 100% loaded

Now we will list the most probable reasons The processor is almost completely loaded with no running programs or games at first glance.

Background work system processes installation and downloading of operating system updates, as well as its maintenance;
Viral activity;
Physical obsolescence of the processor.

Now about each in more detail.

Running background system processes

The Windows 7 operating system, like any other, is updated periodically. This process in most cases, it happens hidden from the user and the service is responsible for it.

svchost loads the processor

It is also possible that the OS will be periodically checked for threats using built-in security tools.

It doesn't really matter which one system service loads the processor. Something else is important. That it usually lasts no more than a couple of hours. Therefore, the first thing to do when detecting increased activity and processor load is to simply leave the computer for a few hours to give it the opportunity to do all its “maintenance business.”

Viral activity and viruses - miners

The second very common reason why a computer without visible programs loads its processor 100%, it’s unclear what it is malware. For example, the so-called virus miner is now very popular. It gets onto your computer most often when downloading and installing something from the Internet. And the essence of its work is simple - when it hits your computer, special algorithms are launched to mine bitcoins on your computer and send the results via the Internet to a specific address. In this way, attackers make money on your computer, thereby leaving you with a slow computer, since its processor is 100% loaded. At the same time, they are disguised as the names of system processes!

Therefore, if, after several hours of inactivity, your computer has not reduced the processor load, we advise you, and it is better to use several different updated antiviruses.

Obsolescence of the computer and processor in particular

There is also a situation in which the computer is simply outdated and its processor simply cannot cope with the background system tasks of maintaining and protecting the operating system. But this is only possible on really old processors 10 or more years old with 1 core.

Conclusion

As you can see possible options not so much. And the method to fix the problem with CPU usage at 100 percent is as follows:

We check the processor to make sure it is not too old;
We leave the computer turned on and connected to the Internet for several hours;
We check it for viruses;
You can also open the task manager, sort processes by CPU load and read about the process that uses the most CPU on the Internet;
As a last resort, if all else fails, reinstall Windows and immediately .

High CPU usage may indicate the presence of various problems. If a program is using up all of the processor's memory, there is a high chance that it is not working correctly. CPU usage may also indicate the presence of a virus or adware, which should be dealt with quickly. It may also mean that your computer is not able to do what you want it to do, which means it needs an upgrade.

Steps

Windows

Press the key combination. Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. This is a utility that monitors all processes and programs that are currently running on the computer.

Click on the "CPU" column. This way you will sort processes by CPU load.

Pay attention to the "Image Name" column. This name will allow you to later find the process and determine how to prevent it. high load.
- In Windows 8 OS instead system name process you will see the full name of the program. This moment greatly simplifies the task of recognizing the program.
Select the problematic program and click on the button.End the process. You will be asked to confirm the completion of the process.
- In Windows 8, this button is called End task.
- Forcibly terminating the program will cause all unsaved work in the program will be lost. Besides, force termination process may cause your computer to stop working until the next reboot.
- You should not forcefully terminate the System Idle process. If this process is hogging your CPU, know that it's not actually using it. When the System Idle process is using almost all of the CPU, it means that your computer now has a lot of free processing power.
- If you are unable to force quit a program, click here to learn other more advanced methods.
Decide what to do with the problematic program. Search the Internet for the name closed program. This will help you understand what the process is used for and what you should do to prevent it from loading the processor to 100%. There are only a few ways to solve the problem full load processor due to specific program:

Check Power Options (laptops only). If you are working on a laptop and are not connected to power, your laptop may automatically slow down to save battery power. Changing power settings can increase your laptop's processing capabilities, but will also require you to charge the battery more frequently.
- Open Control Panel and select Power Options. If you don't see this option, click Hardware and Sound and then select Power Options.
- Click on the "Show additional schemes" option to expand the list.
- Select "High Performance". Now you will have access to the full processing power of your laptop's processor.
Upgrade your computer if you have problems with most programs. If your CPU is constantly running at 100% and no program is to blame, you may need to consider upgrading your computer.
- You can find instructions on the Internet for enlarging available memory processor using a flash drive.
- Click here for instructions on how to increase your RAM. Increasing the amount of RAM will help make your processor's workload easier.
- Click here for instructions on upgrading your processor.
Mac
1. Launch Activity Monitor. You will find this utility in the Utilities folder, which is located in the Applications folder. You can go directly to this folder by clicking on the “Go” menu and selecting the “Utilities” folder.
  - The Activity Monitor app displays all the processes that are currently running on your Mac.
2. Click on the "CPU" column. This way you will sort processes by percentage of CPU utilization.
3. Find the processes that are using the most CPU. Typically, you should only see one program that is near maximum CPU usage (99-100%), but it is possible that multiple programs are causing the problem. various programs, each of which takes up to 50%.
  - Many games and graphic editor occupy 100% of the processor memory. This is normal, since nothing else should be running on the computer while these programs are running.

Very heavy CPU and memory load. How to reduce CPU load: main causes and methods of solving problems

3. Question No. 3 - can the processor load be caused by overheating and dust?!

First steps to solve the problem with the Svchost.exe process

Restoring normal processor operation using an antivirus

High CPU usage due to Windows Update

Other ways to solve the problem with CPU load due to Svchost.exe

Conclusion

Video on the topic

Method 1: Cleaning Task Manager

Method 2: Cleaning the Registry

Method 3: Virus Removal

Method 4: Clean your PC from dust and replace thermal paste

Reasons why the processor may be 100% loaded

Running background system processes

Viral activity and viruses - miners

Obsolescence of the computer and processor in particular

Conclusion

Steps

Windows

Mac

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