CPU excessive use Firefox...normal?

Discussion in 'Software' started by greybuffalo, Sep 2, 2015.

  1. greybuffalo

    greybuffalo Staff Sergeant

    I am using Firefox with windows 7,and suddenly with ,maybe new versions,my laptop is suffering mostly 100 percent cpu usage.
    Is Firefox a particularly cpu user?
    I have tried Process Tamer,doesn't seem to help,any comments on Process Tamer?
     
    greybuffalo, Sep 2, 2015
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    HI

    Firefox can be resource hungry on the CPU and depends on how many windows/tabs you have open, it also does take a fair bit of RAM also.

    What you could try is to open Firefox in its safe mode and to do this hold down the SHIFT key and open Firefox and what this will do is open Firefox with no add-ons, this allows you to try and narrow the cause down a little as if Firefox works ok, then its likely an add-on.

    Process Tamer I have not used so could not really comment, I tend to use Process Explorer to help find a possible cause to issues.
     
    DavidGP, Sep 3, 2015
    #2
  3. mjnc

    mjnc MajorGeek

    You can also use the built-in utility Resource Monitor to watch CPU usage and which processes are using the most.

    Here's a tutorial that can help:
    How to use the Resource Monitor in Windows 7 & Windows 8

    After going through the introduction, scroll down to the heading OK, it's Open. Now What? and just below that,
    How to Monitor CPU usage with Resource Monitor.

    =
     
    mjnc, Sep 4, 2015
    #3
  4. greybuffalo

    greybuffalo Staff Sergeant

    Thanks for enlighting me,as I was not aware of Resource Monitor,but is there a way to reduce the cpu usage at all ?
     
    greybuffalo, Sep 4, 2015
    #4
  5. _nullptr

    _nullptr Major Geeky Geek Geek

    If it's definitely Firefox that is CPU intensive, then follow DavidGP's advice to launch Firefox in safe mode.
    If CPU use is back to normal in Firefox safe mode, then it's most likely a bad or conflicting FF addon causing the problem.

    (The yellow font is very enlightening :S)
     
    _nullptr, Sep 4, 2015
    #5
  6. mjnc

    mjnc MajorGeek

    I don't think I could help you with that, but the first task is to identify where the high usage is.
    That's where Resource Monitor can help.
    You have to find the culprit before you can find a remedy.
    If you can give clear information about that, someone can help.
    If it is Firefox, try starting it in safe mode to see if that helps.
    If it does, then you have a starting point - the add-ons.
    Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode
    see: How to start Firefox in Safe Mode
     
    mjnc, Sep 4, 2015
    #6
  7. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I run Palemoon on our 4 windows 7 computers. I have FF ESR (extended support release) as a backup on all 4 computers.

    There is a portable version of FF ESR that I tried to see how it worked before I decided to install it.

    Try FF ESR and see how the CPU usage goes. You can install the same addons that you have in your current FF version.

    This is the newest version
    http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox-portable-esr

    a version is supported for a year through quite a few 6 week new versions of FF fast track. That's what I prefer. I do not like new versions and new features every 6 weeks.
     
    plodr, Sep 4, 2015
    #7
  8. greybuffalo

    greybuffalo Staff Sergeant

    thanks for your info,I am trying Pale Moon,never had heard of it.
    As a second I will use portable FF.
    I think the ad ons where causing problems,especially,ad block plus with FF
     
    greybuffalo, Sep 4, 2015
    #8
  9. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Well I have ABP in all computers and for Palemoon I use AdBlockLatitude. I have not noticed high CPU usage using it.
     
    plodr, Sep 5, 2015
    #9
  10. Ichinzen

    Ichinzen Corporal

    I use adblock plus for ff but don't have high cpu the ff does tend to lag and freeze on occasions. It rarely breaks 5-10% cpu usage. What is different about ff esr from ff?
     
    Ichinzen, Sep 5, 2015
    #10
  11. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I don't get a new version every 6 weeks. That drove me crazy.
    A version is supported for 1 year. The only updates I get are for security.

    Life cycle support: scroll down
    https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/faq/

    I've been on v 38 since May. I had 3 updates from May until Sept. all were security updates.
    I'm now up to 38.2.1
    I'll move up to v 45 in May 2016.
     
    plodr, Sep 5, 2015
    #11
  12. greybuffalo

    greybuffalo Staff Sergeant

    CPU excessive Firefox

    it seems,I had loads of plug ins loading up on start up.
    Plugins suck cpu right?
     
    greybuffalo, Sep 9, 2015
    #12
  13. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    No idea because i don't run many so I have no experience with what the behavior is like with lots of plugins.
     
    plodr, Sep 9, 2015
    #13
  14. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    The number of plug-ins is not as relevant as the type of plug-ins. Especially active plug-ins, like add-blockers, can and do consume a lot of CPU and RAM.
    Abine's DoNotTrackMe kills Internet Explorer.
     
    Eldon, Sep 9, 2015
    #14

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