Kernel_Task is it ok if it runs all the time?

[darthaddie]

Hi,

I have a M2 Ultra Studio which I upgraded from M1 Ultra Studio.

In both the computers, the kernel_task runs pretty much all the time, along with Windowserver tasks in the activity monitor. I had already returned one M2 Ultra due to this issue and earlier thought this was due to heat issues. Both tasks pretty much run even on idle even after a cold reboot.

I have a M2 Max MBP 16" which has never done this. It's only on the Ultra's. I can feel the system become sluggish when they are running. Ironically, they do not run after a clean system install but start running after 2-3 days. Even when I have not installed any app at all. I checked the temps and everything is in the lower normals. My M2 is new so there are no dust issues etc.

The WindowServer is always running at 20-30% use after a few days if use. These issues are persistent through Ventura and Sonoma.

I feel PS, Lightroom and Davinci actually feel slower when these tasks are running. After a clean install (first few days) when these tasks are not running, all 3 apps are lightning fast.

Any help much appreciated!

 

[DeltaMac]

I guess that you have not used a Mac for too long, or have not often wanted to look at the Activity Monitor.
kernel_task shows the activity from the parts of your Mac system that uses the kernel, so it is often the highest CPU activity on your Mac, and has always been high percentage since the beginning of macOS, and OS X. Notice how many threads are running from kernel_task. Yours shows over 900. My Mac, running Ventura, and is restarted, sometimes each day, shows more than 200 threads, but nothing else that I am running goes over 20 threads.
Your other item, Windowserver, is showing the activity that your Mac system is generating as it displays the various windows that you are presently using, so that can be an activity that can spike up very quickly, and certainly is an indicator of how busy your desktop is at the moment.
becuase both share some aspect of much of your Mac activity, they will always be running, and can take sigificant amounts of resources.
bottom line -- they are always running, and completely normal.
Do you ever move anything on the screen, or have open windows for any reason? Then, those 2 activities will be open. They are part of your system that must control/monitor those activities.

 

[Bigwaff]

That “process” is macOS trying to reduce the internal temperature of the SoC. How many monitors do you have connected and what are their resolutions? Where is your Studio placement in the context of allowing for airflow?

If kernel_task is using a large percentage of your Mac CPU - Apple Support

One of the functions of the kernel task process is to help manage the temperature of your CPU.

support.apple.com

 

[darthaddie]

That “process” is macOS trying to reduce the internal temperature of the SoC. How many monitors do you have connected and what are their resolutions? Where is your Studio placement in the context of allowing for airflow?

If kernel_task is using a large percentage of your Mac CPU - Apple Support

One of the functions of the kernel task process is to help manage the temperature of your CPU.

support.apple.com

I just have one Pro Display XDR connected at 6K. Studio is placed in the corner of my editing room on a glass shelf. Nothing above it with a 1.5 feet high clearance. The Mac is not blocked from sides so gets decent air flow clearance.

The CPU temps are not high at all. Don't know about the media engine chips.

 

[darthaddie]

I guess that you have not used a Mac for too long, or have not often wanted to look at the Activity Monitor.
kernel_task shows the activity from the parts of your Mac system that uses the kernel, so it is often the highest CPU activity on your Mac, and has always been high percentage since the beginning of macOS, and OS X. Notice how many threads are running from kernel_task. Yours shows over 900. My Mac, running Ventura, and is restarted, sometimes each day, shows more than 200 threads, but nothing else that I am running goes over 20 threads.
Your other item, Windowserver, is showing the activity that your Mac system is generating as it displays the various windows that you are presently using, so that can be an activity that can spike up very quickly, and certainly is an indicator of how busy your desktop is at the moment.
becuase both share some aspect of much of your Mac activity, they will always be running, and can take sigificant amounts of resources.
bottom line -- they are always running, and completely normal.
Do you ever move anything on the screen, or have open windows for any reason? Then, those 2 activities will be open. They are part of your system that must control/monitor those activities.

I have been using Macs for everything past 25 years. But you're right, I rarely looked at the Activity monitor lately. It was all working as expected. The funny thing is my m2 MBP does not have any of the 2 process running even under very heavy load.

The M2 ultra runs them on a permanent basis. So did my M1 ultra. If I clean install Mac OS, they do not run for about 2-3 days, and that's when I can see a noticeable performance uplift. The stutters during edits all go away. But as soon as these two process come back up, I can see a perf decrease.

 

[DeltaMac]

I think if you look again at your M2 MBPro, you will find that your Activity Monitor app is set to show only "My Processes", which won't show those 2 processes. They are not "your" processes, but belong to the system. Go to the "View" menu in your Activity Monitor, and change the setting there to "All Processes". I can predict that both of those "missing" processes will then pop into view, with each near the top of the usage list.

 

[benwiggy]

That “process” is macOS trying to reduce the internal temperature of the SoC.

That is ONE of many jobs that kernel_task does; which is most notable on Intel CPUs. On an M-series CPU, 23% of one core is not doing much, if any, throttling.

so it is often the highest CPU activity on your Mac, and has always been high percentage since the beginning of macOS, and OS X

Mmm. No. I currently have two processes higher than kernel_task, and if I actually start doing some work, it will be quite low down the list.

In both the computers, the kernel_task runs pretty much all the time, along with Windowserver tasks in the activity monitor. I had already returned one M2 Ultra due to this issue and earlier thought this was due to heat issues. Both tasks pretty much run even on idle even after a cold reboot.

This is completely normal, and I'm surprised that the shop didn't say that. There is no issue. Your Mac does work, even when idle. kernel_task is the fundamental process on which everything else is built. Windowserver, as the name suggests, looks after the windows on your screens.

Note that the CPU% values are per core. You have 24 CPU cores, so 24% of one core is 1% of your total CPU.

 

[Bigwaff]

In both the computers, the kernel_task runs pretty much all the time, along with Windowserver tasks in the activity monitor.

Is your network wired or wireless? Switch between the two if possible and see how that effects kernel_task. If wireless, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 5? Try switching between the two and see.

 

[darthaddie]

I think if you look again at your M2 MBPro, you will find that your Activity Monitor app is set to show only "My Processes", which won't show those 2 processes. They are not "your" processes, but belong to the system. Go to the "View" menu in your Activity Monitor, and change the setting there to "All Processes". I can predict that both of those "missing" processes will then pop into view, with each near the top of the usage list.

Thanks. Will look into this tonight.