The device isn't utilizing every processor core.
The device isn't utilizing every processor core.
Your setup might be a bit confusing. The Intel website lists the i3-8100 as having four cores, but your Task Manager shows only one core. This discrepancy could mean the CPU is not fully utilizing its capabilities or there’s an issue with the driver or BIOS. Additionally, the performance issues you’re experiencing—slow multitasking and heavy CPU usage—suggest the processor might be struggling under load. Consider checking the CPU health, updating drivers, or testing with a different workload to confirm.
You can turn off processor cores in the BIOS settings and also via Windows' msconfig tool under the Boot section for advanced options. Explore both places carefully to confirm no unintended changes occurred.
Reduce your concerns by taking these steps. Open Windows key + R, type msconfig, press Enter. Go to the boot tab, choose advanced options, uncheck "Number processors," then click OK. Click Apply and OK. Restart when prompted. If this doesn’t help, it should resolve the issue on its own. The task manager often hides core details because of boot processes.