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Brief CPU spikes are typically OK, but if you see a correlation between these spikes and PC slowness, something else is likely at play.

I’m guessing your CPU is multi-core, so it seems unlikely that your browser would be pegging multiple cores at the same time under normal operation. By that, I mean even if one processor spikes due to browser use, you should have other cores that have low workload so your system does not become sluggish.

Install CPU-Z and a CPU temperature monitor like CoreTemp. Make sure you’re not having CPU downclock under stress due to heat. This can happen if you have a crappy bond between your processor and heat sink. It can also mean your heat sink fan has died.

If your temps are good and you’re not having CPU throttling due to heat, then it must be OS/Browser/Software: You have something installed that is causing your troubles. Whether its a browser plug-in or some other third-party software, it may be your culprit. It doesn’t necessarily have to be “malware.” It can be legitimate software that is poorly-coded or optimized.

I know I use “Dashlane” as my password warehouse, and it has browser plug-ins. This tool has a propensity to cause my CPU to spike at times.

My advice would be to look at your installed browser plugins, as well as your installed software and apply some good ol’ common sense on which of these items may have hooks into your browser and be CPU-intensive.

If nothing leaps out, I’d back up my system, and then do a system restore to bare-bones Windows, and then install a Waterfox with nothing else and see if the problem has gone away. If so, you can either revert to backup and uninstall software until you’ve found the problem, or rebuild your system on the restored OS.

Good luck!