100% CPU utilization and Firefox

Question

Level 1

4 points

100% CPU utilization and Firefox

All,

Consistently my CPU is running at 100% when running firefox. This has been happening it seems ever since I upgraded to snow leopard (although that may not be entirely true).

I'm not running flash or anything else that is intensive.

Thoughts?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Oct 28, 2009 12:27 PM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,889 points

Oct 28, 2009 12:28 PM in response to tebucky

Which version F'fox?

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Answer 2

tebucky Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2009 12:36 PM in response to K T

3.0.14

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Answer 3

tebucky Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2009 1:05 PM in response to tebucky

Also, when I quit the firefox process CPU drops like a rock. I mean, the CPU utilization of Firefox is significantly more than what itunes and clamav generate combined.

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Answer 4

BobHarris

Level 9

56,891 points

Oct 28, 2009 1:07 PM in response to tebucky

I've found that most run away browsers are really a JavaScript or Java program that a web page downloaded to handle its page.

Does Firefox start consuming 100% when you just start it up without any web sites displayed?

Does Firefox start consuming 100% when you visit specific web pages?

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Answer 5

tebucky Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2009 1:21 PM in response to BobHarris

"Does Firefox start consuming 100% when you just start it up without any web sites displayed?"

No, but right now its at 60% CPU after a restart and that is still quite high

"Does Firefox start consuming 100% when you visit specific web pages?"

No, I can't determine anything specifically to one or more web pages

What should ne standard CPU utilization for a browser process? I would think in the ~10% area?

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Answer 6

etresoft

Level 9

56,572 points

Oct 28, 2009 1:29 PM in response to tebucky

Sounds like a Firefox problem. Try the Firefox support forums.

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Answer 7

BobHarris

Level 9

56,891 points

Oct 28, 2009 2:17 PM in response to tebucky

My Firefox is consume 4% to 5% right now. I have 10 tabs at the moment. While looking at my tabs, I jumped up to the 10% to 11% range.

However, I have had my Firefox go off the deep end, but again, this has been because of some we site I have been visiting. Even when I get rid of the offending window, the run away javascript (or java) code does not always stop. I restrart Firefox in that case.

So I suspect a web page you have been visiting.

Firefox is also up to 3.5.4 (or at least that is the version I'm running)

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Answer 8

Oct 28, 2009 3:16 PM in response to BobHarris

Also, its worth trying disabling your Addons all at once and then add them back one at a time, seeing if any one causes the CPU spike.

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Answer 9

tebucky Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 28, 2009 4:12 PM in response to Graham Outterside

I disabled all addons and upgraded to the latest version. Upon restart I'm still using between 30-100+% CPU which is still alarming. I've posted something very similar to this thread to the FF forums as well.

CAn anyone else chime in with thoughts?

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Answer 10

Nov 16, 2009 1:26 AM in response to tebucky

This is a well-known issue with the Flash/Shockwave browser plugins and occurs on both Windows and OSX. It will cause problems even when there is no Flash on the page. It's most likely an implementation problem with Adobe. Uninstalling Flash+Shockwave player fixes the issue.

Firefox thread documenting behavior:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/415618?forumId=1&commentsthreshold=0&comments_parentId=415618&comments_offset=80&comments_per_page=20&thr ead_style=commentStyleplain

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Answer 11

Nov 16, 2009 4:57 AM in response to tebucky

Earlier FF versions apparently had a memory leak. Thus, try upgrading to the latest FF.

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