Steam high CPU usage while downloading

[Naxterra]

Hello

Steam is using around %30 of my CPU while downloading something. Why is that and how can I reduce CPU usage?

I have Intel i7 6850K - Zotac GTX980 AMP - 64GB RAM - 1 TB m2 SSD (Samsung 970 Pro). My OS is Windows 10 Pro with all updates installed. All drivers are up to date also.

When my other apps download with full speed I don't even notice it but Steam is slowing my computer when downloading something.

[MancSoulja]

Steam downloads are compressed, your CPU is being used to decompress the download, the fact you have a very fast SSD means your CPU probably has to work a little harder to keep up.

[Naxterra]

Still my CPU shouldn't use that much. It is o/c'ed to 4.5 Ghz, has 12 cores and still a simple 10 GB download from Steam can manage to slow it down.

Also I tried to extract files from a Winrar archive, it had no effect on my computer. At the moment I am compressing Starcraft 2 folder with normal compression ratio, Winrar is using %60 of my CPU but nothing is slowed on my computer. When Steam downloads everything goes slow motion mode.


Edit.
While Winrar compression goes on, I have around 90-110 FPS in World of Warcraft. When Steam downloads it, my FPS drops to 6-7

[Naxterra]

Update.

I still have same issue.

No other game clients like Origin, GoG, Epic, Ubi causing this issue. For testing I downloaded Elder Scrolls Online (85.7 GB), my computer froze a lot. Gaming wasn't possible, even Spotify skipped song parts.

I don't know what to do. This behaviour is not acceptable. It is not about compression, it is about optimization. It has been 7 months since I opened this topic and it seems Valve don't care about it.

[Xquality]

Originally posted by Naxterra:

Update.

I still have same issue.

No other game clients like Origin, GoG, Epic, Ubi causing this issue. For testing I downloaded Elder Scrolls Online (85.7 GB), my computer froze a lot. Gaming wasn't possible, even Spotify skipped song parts.

I don't know what to do. This behaviour is not acceptable. It is not about compression, it is about optimization. It has been 7 months since I opened this topic and it seems Valve don't care about it.

Hey I found a solution!

1. Go into steam Settings, under Downloads
2. Click the "Limit bandwidth to:"
3. At the box "Enter a new value below", enter a value your CPU can handle

I have it set to 50000 (50MB/sec), since my CPU is at about 93% usage at that speed.

Hope that helps :)

[CZI]

Originally posted by Naxterra:

Update.

I still have same issue.

No other game clients like Origin, GoG, Epic, Ubi causing this issue. For testing I downloaded Elder Scrolls Online (85.7 GB), my computer froze a lot. Gaming wasn't possible, even Spotify skipped song parts.

I don't know what to do. This behaviour is not acceptable. It is not about compression, it is about optimization. It has been 7 months since I opened this topic and it seems Valve don't care about it.

If there is uncommon and unusual issue, basic troubleshooting would be uninstall and reinstall.

Have you reinstall Steam Client?
It would uninstall all game and need to reinstall again though.

But it may worth to try if you have good internet plan (ex. no data limit)

[Supafly]

Originally posted by Xquality:

Originally posted by Naxterra:

Update.

I still have same issue.

No other game clients like Origin, GoG, Epic, Ubi causing this issue. For testing I downloaded Elder Scrolls Online (85.7 GB), my computer froze a lot. Gaming wasn't possible, even Spotify skipped song parts.

I don't know what to do. This behaviour is not acceptable. It is not about compression, it is about optimization. It has been 7 months since I opened this topic and it seems Valve don't care about it.

Hey I found a solution!

1. Go into steam Settings, under Downloads
2. Click the "Limit bandwidth to:"
3. At the box "Enter a new value below", enter a value your CPU can handle

I have it set to 50000 (50MB/sec), since my CPU is at about 93% usage at that speed.

Hope that helps :)

3 years to late, One would hope OP sorted the issue out years ago

Originally posted by CZI:

3 years old, post #4 necro'd the thread.

[Naxterra]

Upgrading my CPU to 10th gen and getting m2 disks solved my problem a while ago. But holy hell.. how did you find 3 year old thread?

[Xquality]

Originally posted by Naxterra:

Upgrading my CPU to 10th gen and getting m2 disks solved my problem a while ago. But holy hell.. how did you find 3 year old thread?

I was trying to compare two CPUs to find out how much faster one would download on Steam compared to the other, then stumbled upon this thread. I am a necromancer now, apparently.