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Level 1

5 points

Why does netflix suddenly use 100% CPU?

I've noticed recently that while watching netflix on my imac (iMac 11.1, osx 10.6.8) that CPU use jumps up to near 100% and stays there.

This happens using both safari and chrome browser.

I can't think of anything that I've changed on the machine to have caused this. It worked fine for the longest time. I tried clearing out temp browser files, reinstalling the silverlight plugin, rebooting, etc. and nothing helps.

This is very frustrating because now the machine is unuseable while a netflix video is playing and the high CPU causes it to really heat up, crank up fans, etc.

Any ideas on what I can do to fix this?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), iMac version 11.1

Posted on Jan 8, 2012 11:04 AM

17 replies

Apr 17, 2012 8:17 PM in response to David314159

I've noticed the same thing in just the last few days. The problem could have started earlier, but I haven't been using Netflix lately. Even when paused, my CPU is at 50-90%. Then, when I start playing, the CPU jumps up to the 100-135% range.

I am running Silverlight 4. I also tested another computer which had Silverlight 5 running. At first, I had no problems on that one, but when I turned off Hardware acceleration, the same problems popped up. (Hardware acceleration is new to Silverlight 5.)

I have a feeling that Netflix is using our computers to do something other than just playing videos. They are in need of huge amounts of processing power to run their recommendation engine, maybe that's what they're doing on our machines. When the gpu is available, they're offloading the work there so we don't notice the load.

Scimos

Level 1

10 points

Jun 15, 2012 10:18 AM in response to David314159

This is a Microsoft Silverlight issue (not netflix) and its driving me nuts - in my case with Eurosport player - cpu over 100% machine to hot and no good on version 4 or 5.

Apparently microsoft are aware of it - but there is no urgency in soritng it.

Why does netflix suddenly use 100% CPU?