"kernel_task" is hogging CPU/Memory

Question

The same thing that happened on my MacBook Pro is now happening on my Mac mini (Late 2012, model 6,1). A task called "kernel_task" is using an awful lot of CPU and Memory. This task did not appear until two weeks ago. Here&#x27;s an EtreCheck report.(Yes, I reset the NVRAM, SMC, I&#x27;ve checked the fan, I&#x27;ve checked my peripherals, and my Mac is not currently encrypting either of its disks)EtreCheck version: 2.9.11 (264)Report generated 2016-04-26 16:43:47Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.comRuntime 1:34Performance: ExcellentClick the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.Check Apple signatures: EnabledProblem: Computer is too slowDescription:Kernel_task seems to be hogging up my CPU and RAM.Hardware Information: ⓘ    Mac mini (Late 2012)    [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty &amp; Service]    Mac mini - model: Macmini6,1    1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2-core    16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]        BANK 0/DIMM0            8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok        BANK 1/DIMM0            8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok    Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/nVideo Information: ⓘ    Intel HD Graphics 4000        Display 1280 x 768 @ 60 HzSystem Software: ⓘ    OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 (15E65) - Time since boot: less than an hourDisk Information: ⓘ    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB disk0 : (500.11 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: No)        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB        Totoro (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (227.23 GB free)        Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB    APPLE HDD HTS545050A7E362 disk1 : (500.11 GB) (Rotational)        EFI (disk1s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB        Ponyo (disk1s2) /Volumes/Ponyo : 499.76 GB (139.18 GB free)USB Information: ⓘ    Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub        Areson USB Device        Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard    Apple, Inc. IR Receiver    Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller    Wacom Co.,Ltd. Wacom Wireless ReceiverThunderbolt Information: ⓘ    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busGatekeeper: ⓘ    Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions: ⓘ        /Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.FTDI.driver.D2XXHelper (1.0 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-04-24) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBGuitarRigMobileDriver (2.6.0 (R82) - SDK 10.8 - 2016-04-24) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.caiaq.driver.NIUSBHardwareDriver (2.6.0 (R82) - SDK 10.8 - 2016-04-24) [Support]        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.screenrecycler.driver.ScreenRecyclerDriver (1.4.13 - SDK 10.4 - 2016-04-23) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.wacom.kext.wacomtablet (Wacom Tablet 6.3.15-3 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-04-23) [Support]System Launch Agents: ⓘ    [not loaded]    7 Apple tasks    [loaded]    162 Apple tasks    [running]    69 Apple tasksSystem Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [not loaded]    46 Apple tasks    [loaded]    163 Apple tasks    [running]    79 Apple tasksLaunch Agents: ⓘ    [running]    com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist (2014-03-25) [Support]    [loaded]    com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]User Launch Agents: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-04-24) [Support]User Login Items: ⓘ    iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)    Dropbox    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox.app)    uTorrent    Application  (/Applications/uTorrent.app)    NIHardwareAgent    Application Hidden (/Library/Application Support/Native Instruments/Hardware/NIHardwareAgent.app)    DVDAuthorizeHelper    Application  (~/Library/Application Support/Helper/DVDAuthorizeHelper.app)    Plex Media Server    Application  (/Applications/Plex Media Server.app)Other Apps: ⓘ    [running]    2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebits.onepassword4-helper    [loaded]    com.bittorrent.uTorrent.56992    [running]    com.etresoft.EtreCheck.102432    [running]    com.getdropbox.dropbox.63072    [running]    com.google.Chrome.121632    [running]    com.native-instruments.NIHardwareService.108512    [running]    com.plexapp.plexmediaserver.118752    [running]    com.titanium.OnyX.126432    [running]    com.wacom.TabletDriver.107552    [running]    com.wacom.WacomTouchDriver.106272    [running]    wondershare.DVDAuthorizeHelper.110432    [loaded]    401 Apple tasks    [running]    177 Apple tasksInternet Plug-ins: ⓘ    Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-04-25) [Support]    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-03-12)    WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 - SDK 10.9 (2015-12-16) [Support]    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-03-12)Safari Extensions: ⓘ    1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (2016-04-22)3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ    Native Instruments USB Audio (2016-04-23) [Support]    WacomTablet (2015-12-16) [Support]Time Machine: ⓘ    Time Machine not configured!Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ        65%    tar        41%    helpd        14%    talagent         6%    WindowServer         3%    fontdTop Processes by Memory: ⓘ    965 MB    kernel_task    557 MB    Google Chrome Helper(7)    442 MB    OnyX    197 MB    mdworker(8)    180 MB    Google ChromeVirtual Memory Information: ⓘ    10.00 GB    Free RAM    5.90 GB    Used RAM (3.42 GB Cached)    0 B    Swap UsedDiagnostics Information: ⓘ    Apr 26, 2016, 04:37:14 PM    Self test - passedPLEASE HELP ASAP!!

Carolyn Samit · Answer

"Problem: Computer is too slow"Uninstall the BitTorrent then restart your Mac to test.The ScreenRecycleDriver could also be a culprit.Add Onyx to the list. Third party Mac cleaning utilities are unnecessary on a Mac. Your Mac runs maintenance in the background for you.

theratter · Answer

There is no problem with kernel_task. The problem is related to:       65%    tar        41%    helpThese are using over 100% of the CPU which will cause the computer to slow down. However, these may just be temporary if you are downloading torrents. But only if they are part of BitTorrent should you be concerned.

TildeBee · Answer

camfair --I agree with Carolyn.As long as you are opening up your system via Torrents, there really isn&#x27;t a lot we can really do to help you keep your Mac safe from problems like this.