My computer is slow & choppy w/ high CPU usage.

[mmoore_45]

Hello Tom's Hardware. My computer has been acting slow and choppy for the past couple of days. I've opened my task manager and found my CPU to be at 100%. The programs that are taking up the most usage are the following: Application Host Services (32 bit), AV Console (32 bit), Windows Module Installer Worker, all of these seems to be fluctuating with Application Host Services remaining the highest. I'm doing a full scan of my PC right now to check for any virus/malware.

I've gone into my resource monitor and PSANHost.exe is taking up the most average CPU. Could this be the problem?

 

[BadActor]

Check your CPU temp. Thermal throttling has the symptoms you describe.

 

[mmoore_45]

My computer is currently running at 47 degrees celcius.

 

[burdenbound]

Specs?

 

[joex444]

Uninstall Panda anti-virus and see if it improves. It has nothing to do with thermal throttling - you have a program that isn't running correctly and is stuck. It also doesn't matter what CPU you have unless it's a Pentium III from 1997 it should handle an Anti-Virus program.

Thermal throttling makes even less sense because it's the result of high CPU usage, not the cause.

 

[mmoore_45]

Specs?

Current specs
GEForce GTX 970
Driver version 376.09
Inter(R) Core(TM) i5-4690K CPU @ 3.50GHZ
7.93 GB Ram

 

[mmoore_45]

Uninstall Panda anti-virus and see if it improves. It has nothing to do with thermal throttling - you have a program that isn't running correctly and is stuck. It also doesn't matter what CPU you have unless it's a Pentium III from 1997 it should handle an Anti-Virus program.

Thermal throttling makes even less sense because it's the result of high CPU usage, not the cause.

I will try this now.

 

[mmoore_45]

This solution has seemed to work considerably. Can anyone recommend a virus protection program for me other than Panda. I like free antivirus software, however if it means to avoid problems like this I don't mind purchasing one also. Any recommendations?

 

[burdenbound]

This solution has seemed to work considerably. Can anyone recommend a virus protection program for me other than Panda. I like free antivirus software, however if it means to avoid problems like this I don't mind purchasing one also. Any recommendations?

I just use standard windows defender and will run malwarebytes every now and again to check if anything has gotten through.

 

[BadActor]

Uninstall Panda anti-virus and see if it improves. It has nothing to do with thermal throttling - you have a program that isn't running correctly and is stuck. It also doesn't matter what CPU you have unless it's a Pentium III from 1997 it should handle an Anti-Virus program.

Thermal throttling makes even less sense because it's the result of high CPU usage, not the cause.

You are incorrect. When a CPU thermally throttles, even relatively light processes can cause it to max out due to the reduced performance state.

OP, have you tried running in safe mode?

 

[mmoore_45]

Uninstall Panda anti-virus and see if it improves. It has nothing to do with thermal throttling - you have a program that isn't running correctly and is stuck. It also doesn't matter what CPU you have unless it's a Pentium III from 1997 it should handle an Anti-Virus program.

Thermal throttling makes even less sense because it's the result of high CPU usage, not the cause.

You are incorrect. When a CPU thermally throttles, even relatively light processes can cause it to max out due to the reduced performance state.

OP, have you tried running in safe mode?

I have not, I can try this. What should I be looking for in safe mode?

 

[BadActor]

That the usage drops and temps are normal. This would rule out the thermal throttling if they are normal and point to something else, perhaps the AV as mentioned above.