Originally Posted By: Ira L
Yes, an 8-year old laptop could be the culprit. When I look at my "modern" 6-year old iMac with 16 GB of RAM and a Quad-core Intel i5 processor, my System CPU usage is under 4%, where yours is almost 64%.

Something is not right and it goes beyond Activity Monitor. It isn't unusual for the Kernel task to be at or near the top of the list of CPU using tasks, but for the system to use 2/3 of the possible CPU cycles ❓❓❓Neither is there any indication of any user task using the remaining 1/3 as indicated by Activity Monitor. Either there is a total runaway task running, or Activity Monitor is completely knackered.

Personally I wouldn't put any reliance on what keys' Activity Monitor is reporting other than something is haywire. Which is why I suggested a cold boot just to stabilize (hopefully eliminate) whatever is going on.

If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein