Why is Superfetch hogging my CPU?
QI was poking around in Task Manager when I saw Superfetch regularly occupying a large percentage of my PC’S processor time, with figures upwards of 50 per cent displayed in the CPU column. It seems to be only for a few seconds each time but it’s happening a lot. I have no idea what’s causing this but it seems a bit odd to me. Can you advise?
Phil Hastings
ASuperfetch is a Windows background process that loads content into your memory it thinks you’ll need next, based on how you’re using your PC. As such, it’s quite normal for it to regularly jump to the top of the CPU column.
However, while Superfetch sometimes appears to be using a lot of processor time, what’s less obvious is the time that it saves you. Information preloaded by this service doesn’t have to be pulled from the computer’s hard drive so, if or when your PC or program needs that data, Superfetch will serve it up immediately.
The service can be easily disabled but doing so is unlikely to speed up your PC. Indeed, switching off Superfetch will probably slow things down (precisely because it exists to speed things up). Still, if you want to experiment then, in the Task Manger’s Processes tab, right-click ‘Service Host: Superfetch’ then choose ‘Go to details’ (see screenshot above left). Task Manager will switch to the Details tab, where you’ll see a ‘svchost.exe’ entry highlighted. Right-click this, then choose ‘Go to service(s)’ (see screenshot above). The Services tab will appear, with Superfetch highlighted. Right-click this then choose Stop. To re-enable it, return here, right-click and choose Restart.