Q: CPU % usage — reduce or control?

Question

Ian999

Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Q: CPU % usage — reduce or control?

Skype and a few other apps use a lot of CPU%. On my Air, the fan comes on and the machine runs hot. Usually >100 degrees for Skype. Is there some means to reduce this usage. Is there an app that will limit the % of resources a specific app can use? If so, point me in that direction. Or any other useful advice welcome.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on May 17, 2016 4:11 AM

I have this question too

Solved

JimmyCMPIT

Level 5 (6,775 points)

Mac OS X

A:

some have reported updating or downgrading Skype on the mac can fix this

if that is not available to you:

reset your SMC

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

then boot into safe mode

Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

if problem persists please post an etrecheck report for further analysis.

https://etrecheck.com

having a 3rd party app manage your apps or your internal cooling is not a good idea, it's recipe for disaster.

Posted on May 18, 2016 6:59 PM

Q: CPU % usage — reduce or control?

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by brenden dv,Helpful

brenden dv May 18, 2016 6:59 PM in response to Ian999
Community Specialists

May 18, 2016 6:59 PM in response to Ian999

Hi Ian999,

Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities! I'm sorry to hear that you are having these concerns regarding processor usage and heat generation on your MacBook Air. Depending on the situation, this may be expected behavior, or it may indicate that an app isn't working correctly (a "runaway application"). For more information on heat management and application activity, you may find the information and troubleshooting steps outlined in the following articles helpful:

Mac notebooks: Operating temperature - Apple Support
Apps can affect Mac performance, battery runtime, temperature, and fan activity - Apple Support

Regards
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by Ian999,

Ian999 May 18, 2016 7:01 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT
Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

May 18, 2016 7:01 PM in response to JimmyCMPIT

Dang! Reset the SMC, and now skype mostly behaves. It runs at 100% (which I think to be too high), but it no longer reaches 300%, and my comp sits around 90C. Thanks for the advice.
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by leroydouglas,

leroydouglas May 18, 2016 7:07 PM in response to Ian999
Level 7 (22,768 points)

Notebooks

May 18, 2016 7:07 PM in response to Ian999

Try updating your Skype app to the latest.

https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/
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Accepted Answer · May 18, 2016 6:59 PM

JimmyCMPIT

Level 5 (6,775 points)

Mac OS X

May 18, 2016 6:59 PM in response to Ian999

some have reported updating or downgrading Skype on the mac can fix this

if that is not available to you:

reset your SMC

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

then boot into safe mode

Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

if problem persists please post an etrecheck report for further analysis.

https://etrecheck.com

having a 3rd party app manage your apps or your internal cooling is not a good idea, it's recipe for disaster.

Q: CPU % usage — reduce or control?

All replies Helpful answers

by brenden dv,★Helpful

by JimmyCMPIT,Solvedanswer

by Ian999,

by leroydouglas,

All replies

Helpful answers

by brenden dv,Helpful