Google Chrome Slowing Down My Computer??… Easy Fix!!

Reuben Glover Jul 17, 2013 · 2 min read

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Google Chrome is using too much memory and i fixed it… finally!
Most of us know that Google Chrome is the fastest browser today. It loads fast, it starts fast and it really navigates fast.

But how many know that Chrome utilizes so much processor’s resources that for those PCs who have lower powered processors installed, suddenly, everything crawls down.

My laptop has a dual core processor and 2 GB of RAM (the standard off the shelf package). The only difference is that I use this laptop as a network management and monitoring unit. I’ve installed a processor and RAM monitoring facility (naaah, I am not using Windows gadgets which consumes lots of RAM), but instead, am using Rainmeter and its necessary skins.

What I’ve noticed is that when I was using Mozilla Firefox, CPU activities only range from 8-15% utilization on 45% RAM usage. The CPU activities nor the RAM usage do not go up when using Firefox’s multiple tab functionalities.

Recently, I’ve tried using Chrome, and using the same behavioral processes in browsing, I’ve noticed that my CPU and RAM usage spikes, even though I am confined with one tab. Much worse, it increases when I am using at least three tabs.

As I am writing this blog article using Chrome, I am only using 6% of my CPU and 40% of my RAM. Yes, I have three open tabs and I have multiple processes running in the background.

The secret?

I’ve found out that Chrome, in its default installation, protects users from phishing and malware on real time. Sure, small deal, but if it consumes 80% of your CPU and 80% of your RAM, its definitely big deal.

What I did is just to disable this functionality under the

I went to Google Chrome Options ->> Settings, then scrolled all then way down and clicked on ”Advanced Settings”, scrolled all the way down again until I found this section called “System”!! I was in Shock when I found these two little ”Google Chrome Hacks” as I call it! Two lines that simply ask you to…

1. Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed.
2. Use hardware acceleration when available.

UNCHECK THEM BOTH – Then Restart Your Browser!!!!

– And right there and then, my CPU usage went down from 60% to 14%, my RAM usage went down from 70% to 35% and everything is back to normal.

Of course, I am not saying that you go through everything without the phishing and malware protection for this is important. But it surely worked for me!!