Firefox CPU usage at 100% on laptop?

[jana519]

I have a Dell D430 with a 1.2Ghz C2D processor. When I use Firefox with just 2 tabs open my CPU usage jumps up to 100% and sometimes stays around 90% consistently. This happens when I'm just on AnandTech or Google as well. Is this normal?

 

[chusteczka]

Has Firefox been updated? Current version is 30.0. What you described was common a couple years ago or if the browser is left open for a week straight. It might also help to update Flash Player or uninstall it. It might also help to use the No Script add-on.

If none of that helps, then switch to Google Chrome or Opera.

 

[pcslookout]

What add-ons do you have installed ?

 

[ninaholic37]

Is this normal?

On my Dell D410 with 800mhz Pentium M processor, with 5 Firefox tabs open my CPU usage for Firefox is between 0-10%. Memory is at around 195MB (19.5%).

 

[jana519]

Has Firefox been updated? Current version is 30.0. What you described was common a couple years ago or if the browser is left open for a week straight. It might also help to update Flash Player or uninstall it. It might also help to use the No Script add-on.

If none of that helps, then switch to Google Chrome or Opera.

I am updated on the latest version of Firefox and Flash. The problem is intermittent, it may just be a necessary cache clear is all. It usually happens after I open up some Tabs with Twitch or Youtube.

What add-ons do you have installed ?

Java, Flash, VLC, is pretty much it. Very vanilla.

 

[cool.dx.rip]

Stop using firefox and start using Chrome.
This is how i get rid of this *******************
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2388391&highlight=

 

[ninaholic37]

Stop using firefox and start using Chrome.
This is how i get rid of this *******************
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2388391&highlight=

490k of memory? Nice. You could even load that tab on an 8086/8088.

 

[Ketchup]

...It usually happens after I open up some Tabs with Twitch or Youtube...

This is probably it. Depending on what video card you have, youtube can use a lot of cpu power. If you have a decent video card however, it should take over.

I use Firefox by default. I have tried Chrome several times, but always end up going back to Firefox, even though the latest version is very similar to Chrome visually.

 

[pcslookout]

This is probably it. Depending on what video card you have, youtube can use a lot of cpu power. If you have a decent video card however, it should take over.

I use Firefox by default. I have tried Chrome several times, but always end up going back to Firefox, even though the latest version is very similar to Chrome visually.

How does the video card take over when going to sites like YouTube ?

 

[Ketchup]

How does the video card take over when going to sites like YouTube ?

Well, Firefox is designed to do this for Flash and other video formats by default. However, the video card has to be capable, and the drivers have to be designed, to do this.

TBH, it is rare to see that in a new machine. But with a Core 2 Duo running GMA 950, Firefox may decide that the onboard graphics aren't up to the challenge and run everything straight off the CPU.

See posts 5 and 6 here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/apple-mac-os-x/659143-flash-os-x.html

 

[jana519]

Well, Firefox is designed to do this for Flash and other video formats by default. However, the video card has to be capable, and the drivers have to be designed, to do this.

TBH, it is rare to see that in a new machine. But with a Core 2 Duo running GMA 950, Firefox may decide that the onboard graphics aren't up to the challenge and run everything straight off the CPU.

See posts 5 and 6 here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/apple-mac-os-x/659143-flash-os-x.html

Ah, I see now, thanks for explaining that. Can I just disable Flash hardware accel and then run everything in crappy resolution, so at least it's not so god awful slow?

 

[Ketchup]

Search add-ons for low quality flash and see if that helps.

 

[code65536]

Disabling Flash ads (or making them click-to-run) will make the but-I-was-just-on-Anandtech situation better (there are often some fairly hungry Flash ads served here).