Windows 10: High CPU Usage at Idle

Hey guys, recently my W10 PC seems to be using a fair bit of CPU. I noticed this because my Battlefield 1 fps appeared to have dropped. First thing I did was roll back my nvidia drivers to the previous version, but then I noticed my cpu usage. I seem to be using 35-45% cpu usage at idle. I've never seen it go below 35% (In safe mode its around 2-3%).

Things i've tried:
- Sfc scannow at boot (it found & fixed a few things)
- chkdsk /f at boot
- Stuff from here: Windows 10 High CPU Usage Fixes
- Superantispyware scan

Hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction!
Thanks!









:)

 

Windows 10 100% Disk Problem on Task Manager

"However I believe 100% disk usage on task manager is not normal. "

It's definitely not normal. When your system is idle (not working on anything), the CPU usage should be 1% or less.

Now sometimes there is background work that happens -- there's thousands of things the computer does on-schedule. So sometimes it's not going to be completely idle. I explain what those things are in my post about High CPU Usage in Windows 10:
PSA: Windows 10 High CPU Usage

But outside of those things (or when those things are done working), the CPU should go back down. If not, that page will show you how to tell what background process is hogging the CPU and

 

Windows 10 eating laptop battery

Might also be because Windows 10 really slams the CPU for the first several days or weeks after install until it begins "idling" properly. Here's why: PSA: Windows
10 High CPU Usage

 

Hi, wsappax is related to Store apps (universal apps).

I'm wondering why explorer is using so much CPU time.

System and Compressed memory should normally be using negligible CPU time.

Presumably Defender (Antimalware) is active 'cos of other activity.

2-3% CPU use in Safe Mode is high... can you post a screenshot of your task manager in Safe Mode?

wsappax:
If you expand the selection, one, two or even three Windows services are listed: Windows Store Service (WSService), Client License Service (ClipSVC) and AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC).

AppX Deployment Service (AppXSVC)
Provides infrastructure support for deploying Store applications. This service is started on demand and if disabled Store applications will not be deployed to the system, and may not function properly.

Client License Service (ClipSVC)
Provides infrastructure support for the Microsoft Store. This service is started on demand and if disabled applications bought using Windows Store will not behave correctly.

Windows Store Service (WSService)
Provides infrastructure support for Windows Store. This service is started on demand and if disabled applications bought using Windows Store will not behave correctly.

====================================
You have 0 internet activity, so this is nothing to do with app updates.
A quick search on wsappx and CPU use does not suggest an immediate solution. I've found nothing on this forum on wsappx.

Have you recently installed any new apps since this became apparent?
Do you have a system restore point created before this started, or a disk image you can revert to?
(We strongly and repeatedly recommend disk imaging e.g. Macrium reflect (free) + its boot medium + external storage).

Can you try a clean boot, then post a screenshot of your task manager?

 

Well thats annoying. I just spent some time typing out a nice response, submitted it, aaaand I cant see it here anywhere.

Thanks for the reply dalchina, i appreciate it.

Heres a screenshot from safemode:





As for wsappax, I checked before and after a reboot, it's only comprised of ClipSVC.

I havent installed anything notable recently (been having exams for the past 3 weeks and havent had much time, hence why i didnt notice this isssue until now). I do make images every day with EASEUS and the latest one i have is from the 12th (they auto-delete after 2 weeks).

I do have a system restore point from the 10th, so i'll try that now and report back.

 

Ok, Safe Mode looks fine, of course. Great you're using disk imaging. Leaves us wondering what's triggered this..

 

Right that system restore messed my computer up a bit (broken a few apps here and there, nothing too unsurprising). But, CPU usage is still at 35%+, so no change there. I might try restoring to an image from the 11th tonight, but I'm not confident that'll do anything.

Not too sure how to proceed now :/

Edit: Oooo, forgot I had an image from the 10th of october. So i might try that as well.

The effort of having to set everything up again though.... Might just do a clean install instead.

 

Might as well try a clean boot as I suggested...
Clean Boot - Perform in Windows 10 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts - Windows 10 Forums
(first part)

And you could try this troubleshooter
Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter - Run in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Even ghacks (Martin Brinkmann) states that for now there seems no solution for high CPU use for wsappx...*Huh
- and trying to find out what clipsvc is seems shrouded in mystery- something to do with licensing.

 

Oh damn that worked.

CPU is now chilling below 5% when im not doing anything.

And here I was ready to format C:/

Right, so that means one of the processes is doing it? Is there an easy step to go on from here?

Or is it potentially one of the startup apps doing it? Maybe go through opening them and see what happens...

Can i just leave my computer on selective startup now? Or is that not advised?

(Sorry for all the questions, part of me still thinks i should probably clean install Windows 10, but maybe now i dont have to do that immediately, i can put that off for a few weeks)

 

Ok, so long as that's consistent, you have a base from which to work.

You can..
- enable programs one by one until you identify the cause
or
- go for a binary chop approach and enable half and see what happens, and work forward or back from there.

 

You also might want to take a look at Dynamic frequency scaling (also known as CPU throttling). Under Windows 10, the CPU is throttled back to 5% when the computer is idle and then gradually goes back up depending on work load. Perhaps the minimum and maximum percentages have been somehow altered from their defaults of 5% to 100%. Or on the Advanced Settings Tab, it might be set to High performance.

To check, follow this path: Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.

Open the pull-down box and select "Balanced". On the list below, expand Processor power management > Minimum processor state.





Click on the word "Setting" and enter your desired percentage. The default is 5%. Note that if "High performance" is selected, the percentage is bumped up to 100%. This may be why your CPU is running fast. You can now retest using CPU-Z.

 

Cheers for the tip mint waxed, im sure thatll be helpful to the next person who stumbles accross this thread *Smile

Mine was on 5% though so all good.

Thanks again dalchina, i've gone through and re-enabled all the apps and processes I need, and everything is still fine. Maybe in the future i'll go back and find out which one exactly was causing the problem (if i do i'll report back here for sure). But for now it's all good!

 

Ok..that's good- you know something to try next time..

 

I've read your post again and my reply did not address your actual problem. I guess I had some kind of brain fog at the time. My apologizes for sending you on a wild goose chase. Glad your idle was at the 5% default.

 

No problem *Smile

It was still a good suggestion!