What should cpu load be when idling?

[chensonnyy]

What should CPU load be when idling? I have an i7-8700k and it's going up and down from 4%-10%. Though I was installing something at the time.

 

[rgd1101]

it also depend on what speed it is on. did you see what is consuming the cpu resource?

 

[vMax]

Anywhere between 4 and 7% with occasional spikes providing the PC isn't going anything.

 

[quilciri]

That's normal. That range can be considered "Idle" in windows, esp. if you're running your CPU stock (usage based throttling) Any machine running an OS is always running background processes in addition to the kernel and UI.

 

[chensonnyy]

it also depend on what speed it is on. did you see what is consuming the cpu resource?

I had Nexon launcher and google chrome opened, and I had 45 background processes and 86 windows processes according to task manager.

 

[mdd1963]

if no downloads occurring, no WIndows updates occurring, no cloud file syncs happening, no virus cans happening, no browser opened, my 7700K sits at 1%....moving the mouse around spikes that to 2-3%...

 

[quilciri]

if no downloads occurring, no WIndows updates occurring, no cloud file syncs happening, no virus cans happening, no browser opened, my 7700K sits at 1%....moving the mouse around spikes that to 2-3%...

Do you have your CPU overclocked so it's always running at it's maximum speed?

Sitting at 1-3% is very unusual for a processor on usage-governed throttling, it means the power conservation features aren't working properly.

 

[gingerrankin]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from chensonnyy : "how many background processes is normal?"

According to task manager i have 37 background processes and 82 windows processes. Is it normal to have this many? Or is that not much at all

It is normal.