I've been dealing with a frustrating issue on my PC where the CPU usage skyrockets to 100% even when I have no applications running. Just two days ago, everything was fine, and I could play games at high FPS. Now, even Google Chrome is using around 25% of my CPU and consuming 1,600 MB of memory. I've tried various fixes like cleaning out the internal dust and ensuring everything is up to date, but nothing seems to work. I'm really at a loss here—any suggestions?
5 Answers
We'll need more details to help you. Could you share your PC specs and let us know what application is consuming the most CPU? Also, check how hot your components are running.
First thing you should do is check the temperatures of your components. Overheating can cause throttling which can impact performance. Don't forget to inspect the fans, thermal paste application, and overall airflow in your case—regular dusting can help a lot!
If it’s still hitting 100% CPU usage, try booting into Safe Mode or using a live USB with Linux. If the issue persists there, you might have a hardware problem. Also, think about when you last cleaned your PC—dust and cache files can significantly affect performance!
Open up Task Manager and sort the processes by CPU usage. This will help you identify which application or service is hogging all the resources. That should be your first step!
There’s a chance that malware might be running in the background, especially if you recently clicked on something sketchy. Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Task Manager, and start shutting down programs you don’t recognize. Also, don’t forget to check your startup processes—it's crucial. If all else fails, consider running a malware scan with something like Malwarebytes.
Right? That’s the best way to get to the bottom of it! Until you find the culprit, you won’t know what’s really going on.