kernel_task - massive CPU usage

Question

Hey Support Community!I know this is a common question on here. I have looked through other people&#x27;s answers but I wanted to post my system&#x27;s specs with an EtreSoft report to see if I can get any specific answers to what is ailing my MacBook Pro. The kernel_task is running up my CPU usage so very high. At times, it will behave normally and the computer is speedy fast as it is supposed to be, however, more often than not, the previously stated issue will unrelentingly get in the way of using my Mac. Please take a look at my computer&#x27;s diagnostic report and leave a comment with some insight if you could! Thank you very much!Problem description:My kernel_task is using 300% CPU and my computer is running painfully slow!EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)Report generated 4/26/15, 8:30 PMDownload EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheckClick the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.Hardware Information: ℹ️    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Technical Specifications)    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2    1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core    8 GB RAM Upgradeable        BANK 0/DIMM0            4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok        BANK 1/DIMM0            4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n    Battery: Health &#x3D; Normal - Cycle count &#x3D; 229 - SN &#x3D; W03384UE6D3LCVideo Information: ℹ️    Intel HD Graphics 4000        Color LCD 1280 x 800System Software: ℹ️    OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Time since boot: 0:31:35Disk Information: ℹ️    APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362 disk0 : (500.11 GB)        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (403.74 GB free)        Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB     HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS41N  USB Information: ℹ️    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver     Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub         Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller     Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad     Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in) Thunderbolt Information: ℹ️    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busGatekeeper: ℹ️    Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions: ℹ️        /Library/Extensions    [loaded]    com.globaldelight.driver.BoomDevice (1.3 - SDK 10.9) [Click for support]        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.master (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]        /System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns    [not loaded]    com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.leopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]    [not loaded]    com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.panther (5.9.1 - SDK 10.-1) [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.snowleopard (5.9.1 - SDK 10.6) [Click for support]    [not loaded]    com.paceap.kext.pacesupport.tiger (5.9.1 - SDK 10.4) [Click for support]Launch Agents: ℹ️    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Click for support]Launch Daemons: ℹ️    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.novation.automap.pluginhelper.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.paceap.eden.licensed.plist [Click for support]    [loaded]    PACESupport.plist [Click for support]User Launch Agents: ℹ️    [loaded]    com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist [Click for support]    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]User Login Items: ℹ️    iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)    Google Drive    Application  (/Applications/Google Drive.app)    Google Chrome    Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)    Spotify    Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3    Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9    o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]    googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 40 Check version3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️    Flash Player  [Click for support]    Java  [Click for support]Time Machine: ℹ️    Time Machine not configured!Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️        20%    WindowServer        12%    Spotify Helper(2)        11%    mdworker(4)        11%    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent         8%    SafariTop Processes by Memory: ℹ️    650 MB    kernel_task    328 MB    Spotify Helper(2)    115 MB    mds_stores    98 MB    com.apple.IconServicesAgent    82 MB    SpotifyVirtual Memory Information: ℹ️    3.70 GB    Free RAM     4.30 GB    Used RAM     0 B    Swap Used Diagnostics Information: ℹ️    Apr 26, 2015, 07:54:00 PM    Self test - passed

Grant Bennet-Alder · Answer

You appear to be simultaneously running iTunes, dropbox, google drive, and spotify, while mdworker (which does the heavy lifting for Spotlight indexing)  is indexing your drive. You may also have a bloated Icon file.http://www.chriswrites.com/how-to-delete-favicon-caches-from-safari/I expect you are spending so much time checking things on your Mac Vs the copies of things on the Internet you have no time for any computation on your Mac. Try shutting off some of those connections and see if things speed up a bit.

Linc Davis · Answer

The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.ThrottlingWhen it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or low voltage readings from the battery of a MacBook, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to:☞ a buildup of dust on the logic board☞ high ambient temperature☞ a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable☞ the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal componentNote that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That behavior may be normal for some models. CPU usage should drop when charging is complete.Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a fault. For more thorough hardware testing, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.Installed softwareUser-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer&#x27;s instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.Corrupt NVRAM or SMC dataSometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.External displayConnecting an external LCD display to some MacBook Pro models while the lid is open may cause this issue. If applicable, test by closing the lid or disconnecting the display. You might get better results with a newer LED display.

°Bernz° · Answer

Hi,For what it&#x27;s worth: I&#x27;ve seen WindowServer go up in CPU usage for tiny graphic rendering in OS X 10.10. On my new Macbook, a tiny icon animation in the menu bar brought the process to 30% of my CPU, which I believe this is huge for a portable device. As soon as the animation stopped, WindowServer when back to near-zero CPU.If you experience high WindowServer CPU, try to detect any animation on your screen, especially this in background windows. The dock seems to generate high CPU demand if transparency is enabled. Check out this page for a few tricks: http://www.macissues.com/2014/10/20/prevent-the-windowserver-process-from-draggi ng-yosemite-down/Hope this helps.