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expectmoore
Participant
January 27, 2014
Question

Flash and CPU usage?

  • January 27, 2014
  • 1 reply
  • 1367 views

I am using Flash 12.0.0.38 on Windows 7. I use an HP 8760W EliteBook. It has intel core i7-2620M CPU with 8 Gig of RAM. As of 2-3 weeks ago, watching video, using skype or even playing candy crush for more than 15 minutes is resulting in 100% CPU usage, laptop getting incredibly hot, and eventually it shuts down. This has occurred in both Chrome and IE. I have noticed under my processes tab that the Chrome or IE or Skype begins to duplicate over and over (with Chrome as many times as 6-8). I use MCafee Antivirus and have noticed this begins to use a lot of cpu as well when this occurs.

I have done some research and see that people have described a problem such as this and it seems to point to Flash. I have not been able to find any solutions though. I welcome any possible solutions.

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1 reply

C_F_McBlob
C_F_McBlob
Inspiring
January 28, 2014

IE and Chrome use separate and different plug-ins. Each has its own, which functions independently of the other.

Unless you're using it for video calls, Skype doesn't require Flash, to open or for messaging. And McAfee doesn't use it at all. So whatever's "spiking" your CPU is something that affects ALL of these. Since that isn't Flash, it has to be elsewhere.

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expectmooreAuthor
Participant
January 28, 2014

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your answer. Your answer did point out to me that I may not have been clear in writing my big list of stuff on here.

1. When I watch video using either IE or Chrome, my CPU usage begins to rise over a period of time ultimately going to 100% and overheating my laptop (takes about 15-20 minutes).

2. When I play "Candy Crush" on FB which is a flash based app, the same happens in both IE and Chrome.

3. When I use Skype for a video call, which does use flash (from what I have investigated it seems to use the flash plug in from the users "default" internet browser), the same thing happens.

While I would agree there are different plug-ins on different browser platforms, ultimately those different plug-ins are accessing Flash for flash based video and games.

When I monitor processes while the CPU is high, 99-100%, it seems the browsers or software are being multiplied while in the above mentioned activities (IE 3-4 .exe and Chrome 6-8 .exe). It is my thought that as these .exe files are multiplying, they are causing Mcafee to overwork trying to track and monitor all of them as a result. I have disabled my Mcafee during these events, and it does cause the CPU usage to go down (around 50%), but then CPU usage will rise again to 100% after about 5 minutes.

On the net, I have found discussions on Chrome and Flash, IE and Flash, and Skype and Flash. The common denominator here is Flash.

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