CPU usage suddenly very high and inconsistent (Win7)

[Canadiancookie]

Here's what it looks like with just these 2 windows open - https://i.imgur.com/rXT3W9b.png

Here it is with chrome - https://i.imgur.com/bdUwsW3.png

Temperature seems fine as well - https://i.imgur.com/UVli0Um.png

I ran a full scan with Malwarebytes and superantispyware in safe mode with no results. However, running the pc in safe mode does seem to reduce cpu levels to normal amounts.

This is the very first time something like this happened to me before; help would be much appreciated.

 

[asoroka]

I suspect that you are seeing svchost.exe periodically spike.

This is generic executable that runs a dll to do something on your system.

To get an idea of what dlls are being run. Use this from cmd prompt.

tasklist /svc /fi "IMAGENAME eq svchost.exe

here you can match to your performance display by PID.

If you then still need more detail on the dll, you need to search in the services manager for that service (by name)

 

[Canadiancookie]

I suspect that you are seeing svchost.exe periodically spike.

This is generic executable that runs a dll to do something on your system.

To get an idea of what dlls are being run. Use this from cmd prompt.

tasklist /svc /fi "IMAGENAME eq svchost.exe

here you can match to your performance display by PID.

If you then still need more detail on the dll, you need to search in the services manager for that service (by name)

Sorry for taking a while to reply. PC still runs like garbage, and svchost may be part of it, but today my cpu usage is spiking with a bunch of other programs, from icue to chrome to WmiPrvSE.

Here's the svchosts: https://i.imgur.com/kXBCGFn.png

 

[asoroka]

ok so have a look at this article.

https://www.howtogeek.com/332838/what-is-the-wmi-provider-host-wmiprvse.exe-and-why-is-it-using-so-much-cpu/

Also these should be background processes that don't prevent you from doing any work.

Are you saying you notice the performance hit when you want to do something.

 

[Canadiancookie]

ok so have a look at this article.

https://www.howtogeek.com/332838/what-is-the-wmi-provider-host-wmiprvse.exe-and-why-is-it-using-so-much-cpu/

Also these should be background processes that don't prevent you from doing any work.

Are you saying you notice the performance hit when you want to do something.

I don't see "WMI-Activity" here in the app and service logs/microsoft/windows directory: https://i.imgur.com/EsmOc9M.png

However, I did find another oddity; it turns out I can run games perfectly fine with normal cpu usage. In fact, I can keep games running in the background and browse chrome and it runs far better than it would without the game running.

I've also noticed that programs sometimes hog far more processes than they need, causing the computer to lag; chrome's cpu usage spikes to around 40% when opening or switching tabs, for example. They are set to the normal priority, as usual.

 

[asoroka]

what happens if you use a different browser?

You probably should be thinking of an upgrade to your OS and CPU.

Have you recently updated any of these software components? I am not sure if Win7 is getting any patches these days, but it could be that a new patch or update now behaves differently.

Most people will now be on Win10 and that is where most developers will be testing.

I really can't help you much more. If a process takes too many resources then you need to identify it and try to analyse what it is doing. Then see if it is designed behavior or something that is due to a configuration option.

 

[Canadiancookie]

what happens if you use a different browser?

You probably should be thinking of an upgrade to your OS and CPU.

Have you recently updated any of these software components? I am not sure if Win7 is getting any patches these days, but it could be that a new patch or update now behaves differently.

Most people will now be on Win10 and that is where most developers will be testing.

I really can't help you much more. If a process takes too many resources then you need to identify it and try to analyse what it is doing. Then see if it is designed behavior or something that is due to a configuration option.

The spikes are unrelated to chrome, it seems. This problem has affected me very suddenly and I don't think any updates came along to create the problems.

Thanks for the help regardless, though.