Then it listed startup items (Java, IDT PC Audio, Intel Common User Interface (listed 3X), MS security client, Intel Wireless, and IAStorIcon) none of which should be an issue. It gave a list of programs (Netgear Genie, Dell System Detect, and Dropbox) none of which should be an issue. I ran the Performance Troubleshooter and (I think) came up with nothing. The computer is almost 4 years old but I would hate to spend the $$ to replace it and find that the problem is software. I've run a Malwarebytes scan and a full virus scan with Microsoft Security Essentials: nothing found. I've done a lot of web searching as well as this forum and none of the fixes seem to either work or apply to me. So you can't point to a single process as the culprit though it's possible that high demand web sites (lots of ads) trigger the problem. When I look at resource monitor right now it's consuming 1.3% of CPU but when things are choking it is consuming 15% of CPU, and all the running processes jump from like 0.5% to 5%. What seems to happen is that something triggers high demand and then every process on the computer joins in. It remains steady and doesn't decay so there was something wrong with the OS, etc. Download speed not only fixed but faster than it was before.

I explored a lot of possible issues but none resolved the problem so I reinstalled Win 7 on Friday, January 16. Running in Safe Mode eliminated the loss of download speed so I knew it wasn't a problem with hardware or my cable modem or wireless router. Occasional problems with computer speed as well and when I checked Resource Monitor I would see CPU usage bumping 100%. I was experiencing slowing of my download speed - dropped in half every 2 hours or so after a restart. I don't know what all is related so here's the story.

I've got a 2010 Dell Studio laptop, Intel processor, 4GB ram, 320 GM hard drive (180 GB consumed) running Win 7 and IE 11 that is giving me CPU usage problems.

Check cpu usage windows 10