Solving problems with unreasonable CPU load. Why is the CPU busy and how can I reduce CPU usage? The processor loads up to 100, what should I do?

One of the many annoyances that Windows users have to deal with is CPU usage at 100 percent. With such a high load, the operating system responds extremely slowly to commands and working with it becomes at least uncomfortable. There are not many problems that lead to such behavior, and the methods for solving them are quite simple.

The most likely reason why the CPU is running at 100% is because programs are running in the background. Quite often you can encounter a situation where a resource-intensive application that the user was working with is not completely unloaded from memory. To some extent, this can be considered a type of “freezing.” The difference is that a frozen program does not allow its “window” to be closed and does not respond to commands. In this case, the “window” closes, but the process remains in RAM. The computer considers such a program to be running and continues to allocate computing resources for it. As a result, the processor is loaded at 100 percent while there is visually no running tasks.

Windows 7 Task Manager

So, let's see what to do in Windows 7 when faced with such a problem. Microsoft gives us a full-fledged OS process management tool. To use it, just call the context menu on the taskbar.

Select the item marked in the screenshot to launch the dispatcher.

Open the “View” item in the top menu and go to the marked position.

To quickly identify the “culprit”, check off the indicated items. Now our dispatcher is ready for use. The window parameters are remembered, so next time no additional settings will be required.

We enable sorting by the “CPU” column, which displays the load percentage. The “culprit” is immediately visible. In this case, it is an archiving program that consumes half of the system resources. Select the process and click the button circled in the screenshot to forcefully terminate its activity.

Confirm your actions, and the resource-consuming program stops working. This is a simple way to quickly reduce CPU usage in Windows 7.

Windows 10 Task Manager

In the latest version of the OS, Microsoft has expanded the capabilities of the task manager. A useful tool has been added to it, by working with which you can reduce CPU usage in Windows 10.

We use the designated “Startup” tab to bring order to applications that start with the operating system and reduce CPU load. For some users, in this place you can find a real “zoo” of programs. At the same time, more than half of the automatically launched software is not used in the future. For example, let's disable the OneDrive service. Few people store information in it, and the system defines its influence as high. In this way, you can reduce CPU usage in Windows 10 on a permanent basis. A disabled service will not start at startup and will consume computing resources.

System infection

High CPU usage may be a direct result of the system being damaged by a malicious product. Only a ransomware virus makes itself known immediately. The most interesting representatives of this “fauna” will use the computer for their own purposes. There can be quite a lot of options, from banal spamming to participation in a botnet and the recently fashionable cryptocurrency mining. As a result, the processor is constantly loaded with actions not authorized by the user.

Not every such “guest” can be detected in a timely manner by an antivirus program. In this case, healthy suspicion and utilities can come to the rescue, allowing you to obtain comprehensive information about the processes occurring in the system. Task Manager can show you this information, but it's not that easy to figure out. For example, the presence of a dozen svchost processes in a running OS is considered normal, provided that they are launched on behalf of the system.

The screenshot shows the work of the Process Explorer utility, references to which are even given by Microsoft technical support. All processes are displayed in the form of a tree structure showing mutual dependencies. When using it, any attentive user has a chance of identifying a malicious process in disguise.

CPU utilization of 100 percent on Windows 10 or 7 may also be a consequence of the reverse process. An overly security-conscious PC owner installs several antivirus programs that begin to conflict, using all available resources.

System Services

When upgrading to Windows 10, users may experience problems with the Modern Setup Host process. This system service is responsible for updating from older operating systems. In this case, a complete copy of the existing OS is created on the system disk to provide the ability to “roll back” changes. Its average size is about 20 GB and if this space is not available, the service must abort the update. In some cases, its incorrect operation can lead to process freezes and increased CPU load. The problem is solved by manually freeing up the required space.

If your computer is not connected to the Internet, you can reduce CPU usage on Windows 7 or 10 by disabling unused services. The operating system launches network-related services by default. For example, you don't need Automatic Updates on your local computer. Its operation in the absence of an Internet connection can also lead to an uncontrolled increase in load.

Finally

The vast majority of CPU usage cases are software related. Try not to mix work and gaming configurations, turning your computer into a testing ground. A verified set of necessary programs allows you to ensure OS stability and avoid unnecessary crashes.

While using a computer, there are times when performance begins to sag due to 100% processor load. It is not always possible to solve the problem quickly, since there are many reasons for the problem and not everyone knows about them. Why the computer processor is loaded at 100 percent for no apparent reason will be discussed below.

The first reason you should pay attention to is the presence of a program that loads the processor and reduces the performance of the computer. A “pest” is defined as follows:

• Launch “Task Manager”;
• The launch is carried out by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys or through the start menu;
• After opening the program, select the “Processes” tab. It displays all currently running system processes and programs;
• To identify the pest, sort the processes in order of processor load;
• Terminate the program. To do this, select it with the left mouse button, then click on the “End task” button;

When closing the program, keep in mind the following nuances:

1. Stopping an important system process will require you to restart the computer manually, as the operating system may freeze;
2. Some applications leave side processes behind after closing that affect the performance of the processor. This often happens when the browser is closed urgently;

Main reasons for maximum load

There are many reasons for processor load and reduced performance. Among the main ones are:

• Driver malfunction;
• Many applications run in startup mode;
• The system is being attacked by viruses;
• The operating system is loaded by antiviruses;
• Hard drive problems;
• Peripheral equipment malfunctions, which affects the operation of the processor;
• There are many applications running at the same time;
• The problem is in the program code;
• Applications running in the background take up a lot of resources;
• The reason is a hardware malfunction;

Note! The performance of the processor can be affected by several reasons.

Each element of the computer operates under the control of a separate program, which contains all the algorithms for interaction with other devices. Such programs are called drivers, and sometimes the reason for the processor load lies in them. To fix the problem with faulty drivers, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official website of the manufacturer and download the new version of the software for the device;
2. Reinstall the driver and restart your computer;

Note! New driver versions do not always work correctly due to insufficient optimization of the program code. When downloading, pay attention to the “stable” mark. Its presence means that the program code is optimized and when using it there should not be any conflicts with the system.

Some drivers are difficult to find on your own and nothing is clear on the developer’s websites. In this case, use third-party applications that search for and install missing software.

A large number of programs in startup

Among modern applications installed on a PC, there are increasingly software products that, after installation, begin to work in startup mode. It means:

• The program automatically starts when the computer is turned on;
• In startup mode, the application gains access to the Internet, downloading updates without notifying the user;

One or two applications won't put much stress on the CPU, but 5 - 10 will become a serious problem. The problem is resolved like this:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the same time;
2. Launch “Task Manager”;
3. Select the “Startup” tab;
4. Select unnecessary programs and click the “Disable” button;

Working on the Internet is accompanied by the risk of catching a virus that loads the processor, interfering with its operation. Most often, viruses are disguised as system processes, and identifying them even with the help of an antivirus program is extremely problematic. In this case, the following action will help:

• Restart the system and load Windows 7 in “Safe Mode”;
• To do this, during the reboot, press the F8 key, after which we select the mode we need;
• After activating the operating system, check it for viruses. To do this, it is not necessary to download and install separate antivirus software. There are services on the Internet that allow you to do this without installation on your computer. Dr.Web offers a similar service;

Antivirus activity

The operation of the central processing unit (CPU) can also be affected by the operation of the antivirus. The fact is that even when the system is idle, when the user does not perform any actions, the antivirus routines do their job, monitoring the system in search of the enemy. If the computer is weak or the antivirus is not configured correctly, failures may occur during operation. You can eliminate them this way:

1. We configure the operation of the antivirus by choosing economy mode or disabling unnecessary elements;
2. We change the antivirus to a less resource-intensive one;
3. We update computer hardware to new ones;

There are no other effective ways without the risk of damaging the OS or antivirus.

The hard drive affects the processor in two cases:

• The hard drive fails, causing the performance of the OS and, as a result, the processor to suffer;
• OS updates are being installed, which affects the performance of the processor;

The first problem is solved by purchasing new equipment. Yes, it is expensive, but over time the hard drive will completely fail, and you simply will not be able to start the computer. The second problem is resolved like this:

1. We wait for the download and installation to complete, after which we continue to go about our business;
2. Disable auto-downloading of updates;

There should be no other reasons for the drop in processor power due to the hard drive.

Problems with peripheral equipment

When connecting third-party equipment - a mouse, keyboard, printer or scanner, the drivers may not install correctly. Because of this, conflict situations arise in the operation of the peripheral device and the OS, which leads to the allocation of additional processor resources to solve the problem.

Steps to resolve the problem:

• We turn off the peripheral equipment one by one and monitor the response of the processor. If after disconnecting a device the load disappears, reinstall the drivers;
• The drivers on the device are installed, but do not work correctly. This shows up in Device Manager;

Often, the computer itself signals that drivers are installed incorrectly, but you simply do not pay attention to this, continuing to work on programs that are not native to the equipment.

A huge number of running processes

The simplest reason why processor overload occurs. The fact is that each process, even not visible to you, takes a certain amount of energy from the processor, forcing you to monitor its actions. Resources are not unlimited and at some point the computer will begin to slow down, thereby indicating overload. It’s easy to deal with the problem - close unnecessary applications. This will unload the processor and the performance of the operating system will return to normal. It is not necessary to close all applications. Choose those that are least used at the moment or those that are quick and easy to open when the need arises.

Important! Develop the habit of not being lazy and closing unnecessary pages on the Internet, applications that are no longer needed. You will notice how your PC's performance will increase and its performance will stabilize.

Software type problem

Software-type problems include unstable operation of a particular application. For example, Chrome loads your CPU at 100 percent. In this case, closing the application, deleting it, and then downloading a new version will help. Often such troubles arise due to the installation of unlicensed software in which the program code is damaged.

Such an application does not work optimally, taking away extra resources from the processor that were not required when running the licensed product. If reinstallation does not help, then the problem is not in the program. Most likely, the computer is infected with a virus or the hard drive is becoming unusable.

Running background system processes

After turning on the computer or laptop, Windows automatically performs a huge number of system processes, and they do not stop even when the user does not perform any active actions. The System.exe process is responsible for their operation, which is checked first when suspicion arises.

They cannot be disabled, since the operation of the OS directly depends on them, be it Windows 7 or Windows 10. Other operating systems are built on a similar principle. The following things affect the workload of this process:

• Windows Automatic Update Service;
• Operation of anti-virus programs;
• Action of viruses;

Optimizing or eliminating these causes will return your system processes to normal, stabilizing your PC.

Obsolescence of the computer and processor in particular

As in the case of a hard drive, the processor does not last forever and its working resource is gradually spent. This happens due to:

1. Long service life of equipment;
2. Inappropriate conditions for maintaining equipment;
3. Manufacturing defects;
4. The computer worked in intensive mode, subjected to constant overloads;

All this cannot have a positive effect on the operation of the equipment. You can solve a problem related to the technical side of the process using the following algorithm:

• Clean the system unit by removing all dust and dirt using a vacuum cleaner. Pay special attention to cooling systems, since an increase in the temperature of the processor overloads it, gradually disabling it. You can determine whether the processor is heating up or not using special applications, which are available in large numbers on the Internet. If cleaning does not help and the equipment continues to heat up, change the thermal paste covering the top of the processor;
• Check the functionality of the OS when running simple applications such as Notepad or Paint. If the “Process Manager”, when starting them, shows the processor load at least 50%, and it does not drop, I recommend paying attention to new computer models, replacing the old hardware with new ones;

A step-by-step check of the PC for all the reasons listed above will reveal the problem and performance will return to normal. The main thing is not to rush, carefully performing all stages of checking the malfunction.

One of the most common and least understood problems is CPU usage. 100 percent of its work is taken away by incomprehensible processes and services, which makes using the computer extremely difficult. Why is this happening?

CPU utilization is 100 percent. What to do?

Quite often, computer owners may observe deterioration in performance, delays in response to user actions and other problems after some time of continuous use. Some of the most common reasons that can lead to this include the CPU becoming completely overloaded with obscure running processes. The simplest advice is to restart your computer. In some cases it can help. You can advise reinstalling the system, but this is the most extreme method, already included in the category of anecdotal recommendations on most technical forums.

The most common reasons for increased CPU load

There are quite a lot of people who are concerned about this issue. And they are all looking for an effective solution to their problem without using drastic methods. And to do this, it is necessary to understand the reason that could lead to such a situation. If you turn to forums where questions related to such computer behavior occur quite often, you can identify the most common situations:

• Running a program or process that uses increased computer resources.
• System malfunctions.
• due to accumulated dust and insufficient cooling.

Identifying problems and solving them

In order to determine why the interest occurs, you will need to carry out a number of diagnostic procedures. Once the cause has been established or there is reason to choose one thing, you will need to take the actions necessary to eliminate it. Details of what needs to be done in each specific case are discussed below.

Determining the program that loads the processor

The first thing to do when your computer starts to slow down and respond poorly to mouse commands and other actions is to open the task manager. To do this, you can simultaneously hold down the key combination Ctrl, Alt and Del or Ctrl, Shift and Esc, or call the context menu in the taskbar area and find the corresponding item in it.

In the window that opens, you need to select a detailed view so that tabs appear, among which will be the one we need - “Processes”. In it you can see when the CPU load is 100 percent. What to do next in this case?

The tab will display a complete list of all processes that are currently running in the system. By default they are sorted alphabetically, but you can select the CPU usage column to determine which one is causing the problem.

Quite often it happens that a massive program that requires a lot of resources does not unload correctly after closing. As a result, processes remain running and the processor load continues. In this case, just click on the “End task” button to solve the problem. In this regard, rebooting the system, which was recommended at the very beginning, may be effective. Roughly speaking, during it the same removal of tasks occurs. In addition, additional resources are freed up that you may not notice on your own.

The list of processes may also contain unknown ones that were not there before. Moreover, they can also take part in loading the system. This behavior is typical of viruses, so it would be good to know the names and characteristics of the processes that are constantly running on a particular system, and periodically check the list of running ones for suspicious activity.

System malfunctions

The first method does not always allow you to determine the reason why the CPU load is 100 percent. What to do in this case? In practice, it may turn out that the entire load falls on the “System inactivity” item. And in this situation it will not be possible to cancel the task.

The recommendation in this case would be to run the utility, which is distributed by Microsoft completely free of charge. presents an expanded picture of what the task manager is showing. In the situation under consideration, the processor load may be 100 percent due to system interrupts, which in this program are designated as Interrupts. It is difficult to say what exactly is the reason for this behavior unless additional steps are taken.

What can load the processor in the system?

Incorrectly written drivers often lead to this problem. Booting the system using safe mode will help identify this. If the CPU is not experiencing the same load, then with a high degree of probability the reason is in the drivers. You need to look for their new versions, provided directly by the manufacturer of the computer or laptop.

Also, various viruses that have settled in it can lead to such behavior of the system. In this case, you need to run a system scan with antivirus software.

Problems with connected devices may also result in 100 percent CPU usage. What to do about this? The advice is pretty simple. It is enough to disconnect everything from the computer, leaving only the most necessary minimum set of mouse, keyboard and monitor. You should also look into it to check for possible problems there.

If these tips do not help solve the problem, you will have to reinstall the system. It’s good if during the work process rollback points are created to which you can restore if the system was working properly at that time.

Dust accumulation and overheating

Often, loud operation of the cooler and an increase in processor temperature can help determine why the CPU load reaches 100 percent. As a rule, this indicates that it is high time to clean the computer or laptop from accumulated dust and dirt, and replace the thermal paste. This also leads to slowdown and failure of the system. It is recommended to clean at least once a year.

Quite often, situations occur when users, noticing that their computers are slowing down, to put it mildly, open the task manager and see an interesting picture there. The processor is 100% loaded, although no “heavy” applications are running. The full load of the processor is unknown and is the reason for the PC to slow down and freeze.

In this article we will give some practical advice on how to solve this problem.

Reasons why the processor may be 100% loaded

Now we will list the most likely reasons for the processor being almost completely loaded when there are no running programs or games at first glance.

1. The work of background system processes to install and download operating system updates, as well as its maintenance;
2. Viral activity;
3. Physical obsolescence of the processor.

Now about each in more detail.

Running background system processes

The Windows 7 operating system, like any other, is updated periodically. This process in most cases occurs hidden from the user and the service is responsible for it.

svchost loads the processor

It is also possible that the OS will be periodically checked for threats using built-in security tools.

In fact, it doesn't matter which system service is loading the processor. Something else is important. That it usually lasts no more than a couple of hours. Therefore, the first thing to do when detecting increased activity and processor load is to simply leave the computer for a few hours to give it the opportunity to do all its “maintenance business.”

Viral activity and viruses - miners

The second very common reason why a computer without visible programs loads its processor 100% is unclear - it is malware. For example, the so-called virus miner is now very popular. It gets onto your computer most often when downloading and installing something from the Internet. And the essence of its work is simple - when it hits your computer, special algorithms are launched to mine bitcoins on your computer and send the results via the Internet to a specific address. In this way, attackers make money on your computer, thereby leaving you with a slow computer, since its processor is 100% loaded. At the same time, they are disguised as the names of system processes!

Therefore, if, after several hours of inactivity, your computer has not reduced the processor load, we advise you, and it is better to use several different updated antiviruses.

Obsolescence of the computer and processor in particular

There is also a situation in which the computer is simply outdated and its processor simply cannot cope with the background system tasks of maintaining and protecting the operating system. But this is only possible on really old processors 10 or more years old with 1 core.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are not many possible options. And the method to fix the problem with CPU usage at 100 percent is as follows:

1. We check the processor to make sure it is not too old;
2. We leave the computer turned on and connected to the Internet for several hours;
3. We check it for viruses;
4. You can also open the task manager, sort processes by CPU load and read about the process that uses the most CPU on the Internet;
5. As a last resort, if all else fails, reinstall Windows and immediately .

The best way to thank the author of the article is to repost it on your page

Good day!

I think almost every user, with at least a little experience, has encountered a similar problem: you work and work on the computer, and then you begin to notice that it somehow reacts slowly to pressing the mouse or keyboard buttons, it slows down...

Very often the reason for slow operation and brakes is the processor load, sometimes it reaches 100%!

Solving this problem is not always easy, especially since the CPU can be loaded for no apparent reason (i.e., perhaps you did not run any resource-intensive programs: games, video editors, etc.).

In this article, I will look at the sequence of actions that can be taken to remove CPU load and return the computer to normal performance.

The first thing to try is to identify the process or program that is using the CPU. As happens in most cases: some program (or game) was launched, then the user exited it, but the process with the game remained, which loads the processor...

What process or program is the processor loaded

The fastest way to determine which program is hogging the CPU is to call Task Manager(buttons: Ctrl+Shift+Esc ).

In the task manager, open the tab "Processes" and sort apps by CPU load. In the screenshot below, you can see that the lion's share of the CPU (~84%) is consumed by the Firefox browser (although I don't even have it running...).

If you have such a “hidden” program, you can close it right away from the task manager (just right-click on it...).

Note

Windows has its own resource monitoring, which can also be used to view CPU, memory, disk and network load. To call it, press the buttons Win+R, then enter into the line "Open" team resmon and press Enter .

Important!

In some cases, the task manager does not allow you to calculate the reason for the processor load. By the way, the processor may not be loaded at 100%, but, say, at 20-50%...

If the task manager does not give you any food for thought, I recommend using one utility - Process Explorer(by the way, located on the Microsoft website...).

Process Explorer (search for the "invisible" cause of the brakes)

An excellent program that has helped me out more than once! Her main area of ​​work is to show you ALL the processes and programs running on the computer (probably no one will escape her...). This way, you can determine for sure which process is consuming the CPU.

The screenshot below is very indicative:

• System idle process- this is an indicator in % of system inactivity. Those. in the first half of the screen below - the processor is almost 95% idle (this is exactly how it should be if a couple of programs are open on it: a browser, a player);
• and on the second part of the screen System idle process is 65%, but hardware interrupts and DPCs as much as 20% (and sometimes reaching 70-80%! This shouldn't happen. In general, interrupts (these are system interrupts) during normal operation rarely go beyond a few percent! This is the reason why your computer slows down and loads!
• By the way, very often the system is loaded by the svchosts.exe process. In general, this is a system process, but there are a number of viruses that masquerade as it and pretend to be it. Below we will consider the question of how to catch them...

Process Explorer: in the first part of the screenshot - everything is fine, in the second - the processor is ~20% loaded with system interrupts (hardware interrupts and DPCs).

If the CPU loads interrupts

If the problem is related hardware interrupts and DPCs- then most likely the problems are related to the drivers. More precisely, with their conflict with each other, and even more likely, incompatibility with your Windows OS. Moreover, even if your version of Windows is listed in the driver description, this is not a 100% guarantee of compatibility.

Pay special attention to drivers: video cards, chipset mat. boards, network card, Wi-Fi, sound card. I recommend downloading several versions of them at once and trying them one by one.

Less commonly, the problem is associated with viruses, and even less often with peripheral equipment: printer, scanner, network cards, etc.

Checking and updating drivers

Sometimes choosing the right drivers for a computer/laptop is not as easy as it seems at first glance... In general, usually, the new version of the driver works better than the old one (but sometimes it’s exactly the opposite). If your CPU usage is related to hardware interrupts and DPCs- I recommend:

1. try installing drivers from the official website of your equipment manufacturer. Usually, this requires identifying the manufacturer - for this you can use a special one. utilities for determining PC characteristics -;
2. If you didn’t find the site or couldn’t identify the manufacturer, you can try using some special one. driver update utility:
3. If during installation you have problems removing the old driver from the system, I recommend this instruction:

To find out if you have devices on your system for which there are no drivers, open device Manager . To do this, call the menu "Run"- buttons Win+R, enter devmgmt.msc(example in the screenshot below).

Virus scan

Viruses can be the cause of anything... Usually, when the processor is loaded due to viruses, you can find some process that is loading the system. Most often, this process is systemic: for example, viruses disguise themselves as a process svchost.exe- even an experienced user cannot immediately find and identify a virus among real processes (but this file will be discussed below) ...

1. In Windows XP, 7: you can press the key several times when loading the OS (immediately after turning on the PC). F8- a “black” window should appear with a choice of boot options;
2. in Windows 8, 10: click Win+R, enter the command msconfig. Further in the section select Windows OS and check the box next to the item "Safe mode" . Save the settings and restart your PC (screenshot below).

And it is advisable to run a virus scan from safe mode. To do this, it is not necessary to have an antivirus installed on your computer - there are special utilities that do not need to be installed.

Periphery equipment

If the problem has not yet been found, I recommend trying to disconnect everything unnecessary from the laptop (computer): printer, scanner, mouse, etc.

I will also once again draw attention to device manager (more precisely on the drivers). It is possible that drivers for some peripheral equipment are not installed on the system and the exclamation mark is on...

Pay special attention to old devices that may work in the new Windows OS, but you installed the drivers for them “forcibly” (for example, Windows could warn that there is no signature, and you continued the installation) ...

In general, it is quite difficult to find the true culprit in this case. If the processor is not loaded in safe mode, I recommend trying to remove drivers for peripheral equipment one by one and see how the load behaves.

To help! How to remove old or unnecessary “firewood” -

Svchost.exe is loading the processor - what is it?

The file loads the processor very often svchost.exe- at least that's what he says Task Manager. The fact is that this is the main process for loading services - that is, roughly speaking, a necessary system process that cannot be avoided...

There are two possible cases here:

• Viruses are often disguised as this process, and it is difficult to distinguish real svchost from masquerading - even experienced users are not always able to do so;
• real svchost may load the system (in certain situations).

How to determine which svchost.exe file is system and which is not?

When you launch it, you need to go to the menu Service/Process Manager (see screenshot below). Next you will see ALL processes in the system - they need to be sorted by name (this is more convenient, it seems to me...).

The point is: all system processes that AVZ knows about are marked green color. Those. if you have on the list svchost black colors - look at them very carefully, they are most likely viral.

By the way, with the help of this AVZ you can analyze all other suspicious processes.

Turn off automatic Windows updates

Often svchost loads the processor due to automatic Windows updates being enabled. I suggest turning it off (there’s nothing wrong with that - you’ll just manually check for updates a couple of times a month - click the mouse 1-2 times...).

First you need to open the tab services. The fastest way to do this is to press a button WIN+R, enter services.msc and press Enter(as in the screenshot below).

1. startup type set "Disabled";
2. and click the "Stop" button.

Save the settings and restart your computer.

Is there overheating? Checking CPU Temperature

A possible reason for the processor loading may be overheating. Moreover, if everything was fine with you before, this does not mean at all that now it cannot start to overheat.

Most often, the cause of overheating is:

• dust(especially if the system unit has not been cleaned from it for a long time). Dust forgets the ventilation holes, air begins to circulate poorly in the device case - and the hot air from the processor remains in place, and the temperature begins to rise.
• The easiest way get rid of dust- open the cover of the system unit and blow out the dust using a vacuum cleaner (turning on the reverse mode). everything is more complicated - if you have never taken it apart before, I recommend giving it to specialists...
• high room temperature . This usually happens in hot weather in the summer, when the temperature outside the window can rise significantly. In this case, you can open the side cover of the system unit and direct a regular fan towards it. There are special cooling pads for sale for laptops.
• broken cooler (or it could also become clogged with dust). The advice here is simple: replace or clean.

To help!

Signs that may indicate overheating:

1. the computer (laptop) begins to freeze, a blue screen may appear, a sudden reboot or shutdown;
2. strong cooler noise - this is especially noticeable in laptops. Your hand, if you get closer to the left side (where laptops usually have ventilation holes), can also feel the hot air coming out, sometimes it doesn’t even tolerate it ☝.
3. Various applications crash with errors.

To find out the processor temperature- I recommend using some utility to determine the characteristics of your PC. For example, I like Speccy and Aida 64. You can see a screenshot of the processor temperature from Speccy below (t=49 °C, degrees Celsius).

What should the processor temperature be?

A very popular question that cannot be answered definitively. The fact is that different manufacturers have different critical temperatures.

Update dated 10/1/19.

Intel processor temperature: how to find it; which one is considered normal and which one is overheating -

For personal computer

In general, the ideal option is to look at the model of your processor and open the manufacturer’s website: critical temperatures are always indicated on it.

Generally speaking, if the temperature of your processor is up to 40°C (degrees Celsius), then everything is fine with it, the cooling system can handle it. Temperatures above 50°C may indicate problems with the cooling system (or a large amount of dust). Anything above 60 degrees must be carefully examined and action taken: clean it from dust, install additional coolers (or replace old ones).

For laptop

As for laptops, the bar is somewhat different. Since space in a laptop is limited, the processors here heat up higher. For example, it is not uncommon that the operating temperature under load for many processors is about 70-80°C (especially for gaming models).

When idle, this level is usually about 40-50°C. In general, you should start to worry (for most modern laptops) if the processor temperature rises above 75-80°C (at least check if this is normal for your device).

Most often, such a high temperature is reached when running games, editors, and other heavy applications.

By the way, many experienced users (and some specialists) echo the critical temperature of 105°C for modern laptops. I will say this, the laptop can and will work at 90-95°C, and even possibly at 100°C - but the main question is: how much? In general, this topic is controversial for many...

PS

Last tip. Sometimes finding and eliminating the causes of high processor load and computer brakes is quite tedious and not easy.