Abrupt increase in % Processor Time (viewed under Processor Information) in Performance Monitor is slowing the PC down . Help

Question

Hi, I need some dire help as this issue is happening regularly with my laptop, irrespective of the Windows 10 version. Sometimes once in a while, my PC gets totally slow, apps load very slower than usual, games load after 10x the normal time with a fraction of the normal FPS, even opening File Explorer takes a ton of time and dragging it around feels sluggish and lagging. I have noticed that when this happens, the % Processor Time (viewed under Processor Information) in Performance Monitor abruptly fluctuates between around 10 and 60, which is usually less than 7 in idle state in normal non problematic days. Nothing like updating or restarting fixes this. I have never found a direct fix to this but rolling back Windows to a previous restore point solves the issue for a few weeks or months until it happens again. One time updating Windows had solved it, but it doesn't work anymore, restoring is the only fix I've found. Can anyone please help me with this or is anyone else facing it too?? I don't want to be restoring my OS every month. BTW I use a Ryzen 5 4600H on 8 gigs of RAM

Answer 1

What Is "System Interrupts"?

System interrupts appears as a Windows process in your Task Manager, but it's not really a process. Rather, it's a kind of representative that reports the CPU usage of all interrupts that happen on a lower system level.

*** READ THE WHOLE TEXT BEFORE REREADING THE STEPS!

• Unplug or Disable All External Devices:

USB hardware is a common culprit. You can either unplug your external USB devices or---while you're in the Device Manager (see below)---disable USB Root Hubs, i.e. blocking external hardware from interrupting the CPU.

In the Device Manager, find the entry Universal Serial Bus controllers and disable any USB Root Hub entry you can find.

Note: If you're using an external keyboard or a USB (Bluetooth) mouse, they might stop functioning. Be sure to have an alternative method of re-enabling the device.

• Check Hardware Drivers:

Update your computer's drivers to see if this solves the issue.

• Disable Internal Devices

Rather than randomly updating drivers, start with disabling individual device drivers to find the culprit. If you already identified potential offenders, disable those first.

Go to the Start Menu, search for and open the Device Manager (also found in the Control Panel), expand the peripherals listed below, right-click a device, and select Disable.

Do this for one device at a time, check the CPU usage of system interrupts or re-run DPC Latency Checker, then right-click the device and select Enable before moving on to the next device.

These devices are the most likely culprits:

Network adapters

Internal modems

Internal sound devices

Any add-on cards, like a TV tuner card, ISDN or DSL adapters, or modems

If none of these are to blame, you can proceed with disabling (and re-enabling) other non-essential drivers.

Never disable any drivers necessary to run your system, including anything listed under Computer, Processors, and System device.

Also, don't try to disable the display adapters, the disk drive that runs your system, IDE controllers, your keyboard or mouse (unless you have an alternative input device, such as a touchpad), or your monitor.

Perform the procedures carefully and see if it helps you, ok?

We know that this problem is difficult to solve due to numerous causative reasons, so I wish you good luck in checking, ok?

Answer 2

It's a hybrid one. I have got a 256 gigs SSD which has the OS along with some other of my data. I also have a 1TB HDD.

Answer 3

Is your data storage HDD or SSD?

Answer 4

Hi Mario,

Thank you very much for the response!! I tried the procedures you have mentioned but sadly the issue is still persistent. Hey but here's something I forgot to mention: I have noticed that when this issue happens, "System Interrupts" turns up in the task manager consuming more than 10% to 15% CPU usage, not all the time continuously though, but every often. I feel this could very much might be the cause as I have never seen it in task manager in normal non problematic days. So the two observations I have made regarding the system vitals when this issue occurs is:

1. "System Interrupts" turns up in the task manager consuming a more than 10% to 15% CPU usage
2. % Processor Time (viewed under Processor Information in System Summary) in Performance Monitor abruptly fluctuates between around 10 and 80.

I have attached screenshots of those observations, please have a look.

Please let me know if you have any other advice or suggestion.

Thanks!!

!!

Answer 5

Hi, I'm Mario, and I'd be happy to help with your issue.

We are sorry about what happened.

I believe it is a problem with the windows services that are running at startup.

Do the procedures below and test later to see if the slowness remains:

==================

Initialization clean:

1. Press the Windows + R keys, type MSConfig and click Ok.
2. On the Services tab, click Hide Microsoft Services.
3. Click Disable All.
4. On the Program Startup tab, click Open Task Manager.
5. Disable all applications, one at a time.
6. Apply the changes and restart the equipment.

Note: This process will not affect the operation of your applications, they will just not start with the operating system. Later, you can activate them again.

==================

test it to see if it will solve the issue, ok?

Any questions I am at your disposal!

Kind Regards,

Mario B.