Question Computer using 100% CPU usage and I don't know why.

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

As stated in the title, my computer is running games at 100% usage, games such as Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch and Borderlands, the weird part is that I upgraded my computer some time last year and everything was fine until recently when everything started running really poorly. and I don't know if it's related or not because i'm not well versed in the way of computers but when I look in Task Manager the GPU usage is at 100% constantly.

Computer Specs:
Windows 10 pro
Intel i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz 2.81GHz (6 CPUs)
Installed memory (RAM) 8.00 GB DDR4
64-bit Operating System, x64 based processor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960

 

[TerryLaze]

Run one of the games in window mode and keep core temp running in a corner and check what clocks you get,the only reason you could have had good FPS and now you get bad FPS is if the CPU now runs slower,if you are somewhere with a heat wave going on you should check your cooling.

 

[PuperHacker]

Sounds like throttling. Monitor your temps while gaming.
Also, confirm that the task taking most of the usage is the game, just so we know it's not some background process/virus.

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Sounds like throttling. Monitor your temps while gaming.
Also, confirm that the task taking most of the usage is the game, just so we know it's not some background process/virus.

It's definitely the game as when i'm outside of the games it doesn't go up to 100%

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Run one of the games in window mode and keep core temp running in a corner and check what clocks you get,the only reason you could have had good FPS and now you get bad FPS is if the CPU now runs slower,if you are somewhere with a heat wave going on you should check your cooling.

How would I check the temp while running the game?

 

[sizzling]

Heat is one possibility, another is something else is hogging cpu resources such as a program running in the background or a virus. If you have task manager open and the game can you see other applications using a significant % of cpu resources. What is your cpu usage when just at Windows desktop with nothing else open?

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Heat is one possibility, another is something else is hogging cpu resources such as a program running in the background or a virus. If you have task manager open and the game can you see other applications using a significant % of cpu resources. What is your cpu usage when just at Windows desktop with nothing else open?

Around like 5-10% cpu usage with nothing open

 

[PuperHacker]

Download core temp, and leave it open in the background. Play your game for ~10 minutes and report back with the maximum temperature it recorded.

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Download core temp, and leave it open in the background. Play your game for ~10 minutes and report back with the maximum temperature it recorded.

Will do, i'll reply with an answer soon

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Will do, i'll reply with an answer soon

It hasn't hit 100 yet, I knew this sort of thing would happen, I have a problem and can't prove it.

 

[PuperHacker]

It hasn't hit 100 yet, I knew this sort of thing would happen, I have a problem and can't prove it.

You really should not be waiting until it does... anything greater than 90 suggests a need for maintenance.

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

You really should not be waiting until it does... anything greater than 90 suggests a need for maintenance.

I just don't know what's happening, it'll hit a random 100 and turn to crap and I can't do anything about it when it happens.

 

[PuperHacker]

I just don't know what's happening, it'll hit a random 100 and turn to crap and I can't do anything about it when it happens.

Such a spike suggests overheating. What cooler do you have? Also, please make sure that there is no dust in the computer...

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Such a spike suggests overheating. What cooler do you have? Also, please make sure that there is no dust in the computer...

There isn't very much dust in the chassis at all, i'll check what cooler I have right now, sorry if i'm wasting your time...

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

Such a spike suggests overheating. What cooler do you have? Also, please make sure that there is no dust in the computer...

I can't figure out what type of cooler I have but I know that my PC is 28*c

 

[PuperHacker]

I can't figure out what type of cooler I have but I know that my PC is 28*c

In any case, you may want to reapply your thermal paste, or get a new cooler.
Thing is, even the stock cooler should be fine... are you sure it is mounted correctly on the mobo?

 

[JustSomeCluelessGuy]

In any case, you may want to reapply your thermal paste, or get a new cooler.
Thing is, even the stock cooler should be fine... are you sure it is mounted correctly on the mobo?

I'm almost 100% sure it is, I might just take it apart some time and check the paste / that it's mounted properly, thank you for the help, I genuinely really appreciate it

 

[Redneck5439]

Heat is definitely a concern and you will want to check the thermal paste and your cooling. If you are on stock cooling I would suggest a cheap aftermarket cooler, really anything is better than stock Intel coolers, but something like a Cryorig M9 Plus for Intel would ensure you will never have to worry about CPU temps again. It may also be a good idea to upgrade your case cooling with a couple additional case fans. People tend to only worry about their CPU and ignore the internal temps the motherboard, RAM, and GPU is under, but additional case cooling will help keep everything cooler.

I would also recommend downloading and running Malwarebytes. A virus, spyware, or malware can hide pretty effectively and be very hard to troubleshoot if it is sophisticated enough. Most times when you find malware, spyware, addware and the like you never even know you had it. I have seen such "viruses" do some very interesting things to computer performance in the past and in the case of Malwarebytes you can usually have the root issue solved in less than 15 minutes on average.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

I think everyone has been confused. He is talking about his cpu not hitting 100 percent usage, not talking about the cpu temp rising to 100.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

I just don't know what's happening, it'll hit a random 100 and turn to crap and I can't do anything about it when it happens.

use Windows Resource Monitor and look at CPU, Disk, Network, etc.. and sort by most resources used, see what is causing it.