How to Lessen CPU Usage
When a computer is at idle, the CPU utilization should be between 0% to 2%. If it is significantly above that level, it can be assumed that a background process is utilizing more CPU power than necessary. Locating and terminating the process will bring the CPU usage down to normal levels and make the computer run both faster and cooler. No specific tools or utilities are needed for this task, and it only takes a few minutes to perform.
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Instructions
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1
Launch the Task Manager, which is used to monitor various aspects of system performance. Press "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" to bring it up, or right-click on the taskbar and choose "Task Manager" from the list.
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Click on the Performance tab to view the current CPU usage. Watch the graph for a moment to get an idea of how much CPU is being utilized. If the graph shows little or no CPU utilization, then nothing more can be done. If, however, the Task Manager shows a significant level of processor utilization, the computer will benefit from closing the parasitic tasks.
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3
Select the Processes tab at the top of the window. A list will be brought up that shows each running background task, and how much CPU power it is currently using. Scroll through the list, and find any processes that are consuming a significant amount of power. Click on the task, then select "End Process" to terminate it. Repeat this step on any other process that is using a lot of power.
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Tips & Warnings
If the problem reappears after the computer is restarted, you will have to figure out what program the process belongs to and either uninstall it or set it not to start automatically with the computer.
