I'm running mach desktop for animated wallpapers and the wallpaper I'm using is in HD. It's using over 100% of my cpu constantly. Does that mean it's using 100% of the cpu for just one of the cores, or both cores combined? Also, is using over 100% cpu constantly bad for the computer? More specifically will it damage my mac? The wallpaper is so nice I would like to keep it.
MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)
yes - over time - it will create issues for you - because of high CPU usage - a lot of heat is generated - it might not be bad for your CPU but for the other components around your CPU might be an issue.
it's your MB Air - you can run anything you want in it. But constantly using 100% + of your CPU's resources might damage your CPU in the long run - heat is not a good thing for your MB Air's components.
But when it says 100%, does that mean 100% of one of the cores or 100% of both cores combined. It dosn't sound logical for something to use over 100% of cpu. Thats like saying you have a glass of milk, and you drink 110% of it. That means you drank more milk than you had. 😀
No - it is shared between cores.
your processor has 2 cores - each core works with each other - so if you're using 100% or 110% - each core is using either 50% or 55%...
see image below - that is from my MB Air - each core is using a percentage of what the total CPU usage indicates.
Is 100% CPU usage bad over time?
