What is CPU usage, and how to fix high CPU usage | Digital Trends

If you’re not satisfied with the way your PC or laptop is performing, it’s time to do some troubleshooting, and the processor is one of the most important components to check. High CPU usage is often the cause of bad performance. Your computer may be affected by this problem if you’re experiencing long loading times, crashes, or freezes.

When you’re not running many applications, your CPU usage should be low, and in an ideal scenario, everything should run smoothly. However, if you open a CPU-intensive program you may notice that the response times increase as your CPU usage goes up. Remember that depending on your processor, it could be that your computer is just utilizing the resources available to it in an efficient manner under heavy workloads. High-end CPUs are able to handle all manner of multitasking, but budget processors may not be able to run multiple resource-heavy programs at once.

If a while has passed since you last restarted your computer, save all your work and reboot. After the restart, launch the programs you’ve previously had open and check if your CPU usage is now back to normal. Pick the program with the highest CPU usage and click End Task in the bottom right corner. Start it back up and check whether your CPU usage has improved. Try to close all the programs you don’t currently need — if the program or background process that consumes the most CPU power is unknown to you, write down its name and give it a quick Google search. It could be a virus that you need to get rid of.

Update your drivers Your CPU can take quite a beating if you’re using old drivers or unoptimized software. Sometimes, fixing high CPU usage may be as easy as simply updating your drivers. Following the Task Manager, update your most CPU-heavy software to the latest version and see whether that will do the trick.

If you haven’t given your PC a good clean for a while, it might be the time to do so. This process will usually require the use of compressed air. You can pick up a can of compressed air on Amazon and from many other stores. Reinstall Windows This option should be treated as a last resort. If all the other steps failed and you still cannot pinpoint the reason why your CPU usage is so high, giving your Windows a clean install may be the solution to your problems.

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

How to fix a dead pixel on your monitor or smartphone | Digital TrendsWhether it's a stuck pixel or a dead one, there are a few tricks you can try. Follow these steps and get your monitor or screen back to pristine condition.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Critical Mac Update Fixes Safari Bug That Leaks User Data | Digital TrendsA critical bug has been discovered in Safari that could leak user personal data. The good news is a fix is fast on its way. Here’s what you need to know.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Joshua Jackson to star in Fatal Attraction series on Paramount+ | Digital TrendsParamount+ has lined up The Affair star Joshua Jackson to headline the upcoming reimagining of the classic 1980s thriller Fatal Attraction as a TV series.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation ... for now | Digital TrendsMicrosoft confirmed that it will honor Activision Blizzard's agreements and keep Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles.
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »

Intel to unveil next big move in chip manufacturing today | Digital TrendsIntel will make a big announcement regarding its chip manufacturing. Will this help blunt the current chip shortage?
Source: DigitalTrends - 🏆 95. / 65 Read more »