If a process is still using too much CPU, old or suboptimal drivers may be at fault. Drivers are programs that control particular devices connected to your motherboard. Updating your drivers may eliminate compatibility issues or bugs that cause increased CPU usage.
High CPU usage is typically caused by running too many apps at once or using a very high-intensity app, but there are many other things that can cause it as well. Keep your apps and systems updated, and only use the programs you need to prevent high CPU usage from happening.
The first thing you should know is the causes of 100% COU usage on Windows 11. Here are the main reasons: Too many apps are running at the same time. The situation will be serious if you are playing high-end games and running processor-hungry apps simultaneously.
Regularly running maintenance tasks such as disk cleanup, disk defragmentation, and error checking can help improve the performance of a computer and lower CPU usage. This is done by removing unnecessary files and other data that may be used by malware and organizing data on the hard drive.
If you are currently not running any additional programs, your CPU usage should be anywhere between 1% and 10% just through Windows processes alone. Anything higher than that on an idle PC means that something might be wrong.
A temperature of 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit) is considered high for a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Most CPUs have a maximum operating temperature of around 85-95 degrees Celsius (185-203 degrees Fahrenheit) before thermal throttling or damage may occur.
Tasks or programs running in the background can consume many system resources, which causes issues like high CPU but low GPU, startup crashing/lagging/not loading, etc. In this case, simply close all the unnecessary tasks and programs running in the background.
So, what's the best CPU usage for gaming? Ultimately, it all depends on the type of game you're playing. For less demanding games, 30 to 50 percent is a good ballpark.
Your computer can run at 100% CPU usage as long as the temperature remains under control. Overheating as a result of full usage can be damaging to your computer, but it can still run for a good 3-4 hours.
Windows 11 allows apps to run in the background, which is convenient, but it can lead to excessive CPU usage.
CPU and RAM support
Similarly, Windows 11 Home only supports up to 64 CPU cores, while Windows 11 Pro can have up to 128.
But specifically on Windows 11, you may experience high temperatures after upgrading or installing a Windows update. The telltale sign of an overheating system is when the CPU starts to idle at 60-70° C. If you noticed a spike in CPU temperature after installing an update, it might be a case of a bad Windows update.
To disable Windows 11 background apps, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click the menu button next to the app and select “Advanced options,” and then select “Never” from the “Let this app run in the background” setting under the “Background apps permissions.”
Computer overheating is usually caused by multiple factors. Dust, if left to build up over time, can block the fans and cause the CPU or GPU to overheat. Too many applications running at once can cause the fans to go into overdrive, and if this happens too many times, the fans might stop working.
Choose “Hardware and Sound -> Power Options -> Change Plan Setting -> Change Advanced Power Settings.” Expand “Processor power management” and “Maximum processor state.” Change the percentages to 80 or 90. Then, see how your CPU temperature changes after a few days. Try to stay as close to 100 as possible.