Why does chrome use excessive amounts of CPU?

Question

Synopsis

For the past few weeks, i've really started to notice a process on my machine hitting the CPU. So today I have taken a look into it, to find that Chrome is running about 100% CPU.

• Is there any known bugs that may explain this? Or
• Is there a method for me to resolve this?

I do not have any extensions installed, it's a recent clean install with no extensions.

20002 ash       20   0  480848 103708  60156 S 108.9  0.9   0:03.28 chrome

Chrome Version:

Version 40.0.2214.95 (64-bit)

Ubuntu/Gnome Versions:

ash ~ $ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS
Release:    14.04
Codename:   trusty

ash ~ $ gnome-shell --version
GNOME Shell 3.10.4

Solution 1

Use Chrome's built-in task manager to see what part of Chrome (page, plugin, etc) is using CPU.

To access it, just press Shift+Escape (or right click the window decoration and select Task Manager)

Solution 2

Switching to integrated GPU solves the high CPU issue for me.

I have the following system:

Graphics:  Card-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Trinity [Radeon HD 7600G]
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Mars [Radeon HD 8730M]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 driver: fglrx
           Resolution: [email protected], [email protected]
           GLX Renderer: AMD Radeon HD 7600G
           GLX Version: 4.4.13374 - CPC 15.20.1013

I've switched to the Integrated GPU (instead of High Performance discrete) in Catalyst Control Center (Administrative). After reboot the high CPU in Chrome is completely gone.

Comments

[Ash]

What happens when the problem is GPU Process - Could this also be related to an AMD graphics card (is the only modification i have made where i've noticed a difference)?

[Sergey Sergeyev]

@Ash : Did you solve the problem? Once I encountered the same issue and solved it by playing with chrome://flags but now it annoying again without any obvious reasons.

[Ash]

Thanks @SergeySergeyev I never know about that feature. For me I pulled my AMD GPU out and it was still running high CPU but it's not having problems any more since i reinstalled chrome and a few updates were installed.

[Ash]

NOTE: I have accepted this answer because this helped me discover the problem that eventually lead to a solution.