Extreme Increase in Processor Usage After Various Updates

About a week ago, I updated several programs as well as Windows itself. I also removed the leftover drivers from a GPU that I replaced a few months ago. About that time, my computer started experiencing abnormally high CPU usage. This causes web pages to load slowly, games to move at unplayably low frame rates, an interesting problem with Netflix Instant where the video would play in slow-motion but the audio would continue as normal, and several other problems. I have had this computer for over a year and a half, and this is the first time a problem like this has come up. It also doesn't appear to be related to any one program or process, but is rather an all-around increase in CPU usage. The RAM and GPU usage levels appear normal.

I have run antivirus scans (which came up clean), I have tried updating the drivers for my new GPU, I have screwed around with process priorities in Task Manager, but all to no avail. Has anyone else been experiencing a similar problem? If so, has anyone found a fix for it?

My specs:

• OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• RAM: 4gb
• CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260
• GPU: NVidia GeForce 560Ti

Also, sorry if this is in the wrong section or I did something else incorrectly. This is my first post on this forum.

hello,

Which process is it doing?

Right Click Tool Bar and select Task Manager Click the process tab go to CPU sort until the System Ide Process is first (click show processes from all users) to see System Idle Process

System Idle Process is usually 99-89% normal

what process is down below System Idle Process

Right now, Task Manager and Firefox are below System Idle Process because those are the only things open at the moment. Neither of them leave the single digits in CPU usage, except when I try to do something (e.g. watch a video).