Issue with high CPU activity and usage on the desktop.
Issue with high CPU activity and usage on the desktop.
My CPU usage fluctuates randomly between 24-30% whenever I open something. It goes up to 25% when I search on Google, drops back down, and again reaches 27% on Discord within seconds. Even when I access system settings, it behaves the same. This is my first time noticing this. I’m unsure if these BIOS adjustments—like the custom CPU fan curve, Global C-State Control, and Power Supply Idle Control set to Low Current Idle—are causing the spikes. I also undervolted my CPU. I’m not sure if these settings are responsible or if it’s related to mining malware. Please help me understand.
Clear CMOS and check if the problem resolves. If it does, the issue likely stems from your BIOS adjustments.
Why is this a concern?
🤔
I undid all the BIOS adjustments but the system usage keeps increasing. I plan to reset the CMOS and let you know if that resolves the issue.
I’m worried about a mining malware because I accidentally downloaded mods for Dying Light The Beast from a less-known site. After installing them, my Windows flagged it as a threat. I removed the files and didn’t reinstall the OS (this was two weeks ago), so it’s possible my computer is infected. However, my CPU usage was normal until recently, which makes me think it might not be related to those suspicious files.
CMOS cleared but the issue remained unresolved, unfortunately.
Just in case, you can perform an AV scan. Malwarebytes offers a free scanner version, link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/ Personally, I use the paid Malwarebytes Premium to protect my PCs. I've been using it for over four years, and my systems remain malware-free. However, I avoid downloading suspicious mods and stick to Steam Workshop content instead. In general, brief increases in CPU usage when launching programs are typical. Starting a program demands processing power from the CPU, which includes decompressing files, starting processes, and managing data. Additionally, as your CPU ages and background applications run, usage can rise further. My R5 3600 is now six years old and showing signs of wear. For my setup, I haven’t noticed CPU spikes during program launches (Process Explorer helps confirm this). Still, I own a high-performance CPU like the R7 9800X3D. For comparison, NZXT CAM uses about 5.85% of my CPU during operation. Before upgrading to AM5, I used an i5-6600K, which consumed around 23.54% of CPU resources. When a program spikes during startup, it’s usually normal. But if it consistently consumes significant CPU power, it may indicate a problem—possibly related to the software (like NZXT CAM) or other factors. You might also check the Reliability History under Settings to track overall PC stability. The Event Viewer (Windows Logs -> System) can help identify recurring errors. System maintenance steps you can try include: * Disk cleanup – guide: https://forums. * Kernel repair – follow these steps: 1. Open Start. 2. Search for Command Prompt (or cmd.exe), right-click the top result, and select "Run as administrator". 3. Enter the command: SFC /scannow 4. If corruption is found and fixed, repeat the command. 5. If no errors appear, proceed to step #6. * DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth * DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth * DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth Once these are completed, you can run SFC /scannow again to check for issues. Please note: These scans may take a long time and should not be closed or the system restarted during the process.
Hey, thank you for your reply.
I tried all the suggestions you gave, but the issue persisted. I reset the BIOS settings, reinstalled Windows several times, formatted all my drives quickly, updated Windows multiple times, turned off many services, cleared the CMOS, checked the event viewer but no errors appeared, updated my AMD drivers to the latest version, reinstalled chipset drivers, adjusted the AMD Ryzen power plan, and even switched to Windows Balanced. Still nothing worked.
I’m 100% convinced it was advanced malware—possibly a rootkit or similar. Even Malwarebytes, HitmanPro, and Windows Defender couldn’t detect it. I had to flash the BIOS and reset everything to its default state. All drives were completely formatted again, which took about 3 to 4 hours. I used my laptop to install a fresh Windows on a USB drive, then unplugged the Ethernet cable and reinstalled Windows offline. It was a long process, but it was the only solution I found.
I learned my lesson the hard way—I’ll never download random files from the internet again.
Thanks for your time and support; it really means a lot.