Try this link

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_CPU_usage

Hello,

Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration. Since this feature was added to Firefox, it has gradually improved, but there still are a few glitches.

You might need to restart Firefox in order for this to take effect, so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.).

Then perform these steps:

• Click the orange Firefox button at the top left, then select the "Options" button, or, if there is no Firefox button at the top, go to Tools > Options.
• In the Firefox options window click the Advanced tab, then select "General".
• In the settings list, you should find the Use hardware acceleration when available checkbox. Uncheck this checkbox.
• Now, restart Firefox and see if the problems persist.

Additionally, please check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in the following Knowledge base articles:

• Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems

You have a driver from 2003 installed, you may want to check for a update to that.

• driverDate: 7-28-2003

• Upgrade your graphics drivers to use hardware acceleration and WebGL

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Thank you.

I've tried that before, and again. Didn't help.

Could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to bypass interference by extensions (and some custom settings). More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled (Flash will still run)

In the dialog, click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Any difference?

To see whether it could be related to the Flash Player plugin, try turning on "Click to Play" temporarily on the Add-ons page. Either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. Then change the setting for Shockwave Flash from "Always Activate" to "Ask to Activate". If eBay wants to use Flash, a notification icon will appear in the address bar. I'd wait to see whether CPU usage is high with Flash disabled before enabling it.

Nope. CPU still at 100%

I did as you said and changed Flash to "Ask to Activate." Ebay was quick to respond and CPU useage was low. HOWEVER, I could not of course, see many items on the web page. When I did activate Flash, the CPU usage again went to 100%.

Hi apdubois, it's useful to know that Flash is the problem but, as you point out, life without Flash is not very interactive.

This is some standard guidance that addresses the most common reasons for Flash problems in Firefox. I'm sure you've seen some of it before, but just in case:

(1) Make sure all recorders/downloaders that interact with Flash media are as up-to-date as possible, or disable them temporarily.

(2) Disable hardware graphics acceleration in Firefox and in Flash

(A) In Firefox, un-check the box here and restart:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced > General > "Use hardware acceleration when available"

(B) In Flash, see this support article from Adobe: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/video-playback-issues.html#main_Solve_video_playback_issues

(3) Disable protected mode (Windows Vista/7/8)

See this support article from Adobe under the heading "Last Resort": Adobe Forums: How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?

I tried disabling Hardware Acceleration, both in Flash and in Firefox. Neither seemed to make a difference so I left them enabled.

I did set Flash to "Ask to Activate."

Wonderful! I can finally work on eBay at a decent speed!

If I do need Flash, I'll activate it - for one instance only.

Thanks for the tip regarding Flash.