Online streaming platforms like Twitch have become super popular, giving a stage for creators to show off their skills and chat with a big audience. But, there’s a bump in the road for many: when watching Twitch on browsers like Firefox and Chrome, especially on Windows 11 or 10 PCs, the CPU usage goes way up. Let’s get into why this happens and how you can fix it.
Also see: Game Lag When Watching YouTube or Twitch on Chrome
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Why does Twitch use so much CPU?
High CPU usage means your computer’s brain is working too hard, which can slow things down, make the fan noisy, and even cause crashes. A few things make Twitch a bit of a CPU hog:
HTML5 and resource-intensive elements
Twitch switched to HTML5 from Adobe Flash, which was a good move for better streaming and safety. But HTML5 can ask a lot from your CPU, especially with high-def videos, chats, emotes, and overlays. All these need constant work from your CPU, making it busier.
Related concern: High GPU Usage While Watching YouTube or Twitch Videos
Chat and emotes animations
The chat on Twitch, where viewers talk to each other and the streamer in real-time, is cool but can make your CPU sweat. Animated emotes, in particular, are demanding and eat up CPU power, even if the stream’s video isn’t that heavy.
Extensions and overlays
Streamers use extensions and overlays to make their streams more fun and interactive. But these extras can increase CPU load, especially if you’re watching multiple streams in different tabs.
Browser extensions
Some browser extensions mess with Twitch and can hike up CPU use. It’s a good idea to check your extensions and turn off any you don’t really need or that slow things down.
Solutions to reduce Twitch’s CPU usage
Quality settings
Changing Twitch’s video quality can help a lot. The default setting is high quality, which is pretty demanding. Dropping the resolution to 720p or 480p means your CPU doesn’t have to work as hard.
To do this, click on the gear icon (“Settings”) on the Twitch player and pick a lower resolution that fits what your computer can handle.
Useful tip: How to Limit CPU Usage of a Process in Windows 11
FrankerFaceZ and BTTV extensions
FrankerFaceZ and BetterTTV (BTTV) make Twitch better with more emotes, chat options, and customizations. But, they can also make your CPU work harder. Try turning off some features, using lighter versions, or even disabling these extensions to help your CPU out. And keep them updated for better performance.
Use alternate browsers
Chrome and Firefox are popular, but other browsers like Microsoft Edge or Opera might be easier on your CPU when streaming Twitch. Try different browsers to see which one works best for you.
Firefox vs Chrome for Twitch
Firefox and Chrome handle streaming differently, which can affect CPU use. Firefox is designed for parallel processing, which is efficient but can be slowed down by certain extensions or settings. Chrome might use more CPU if you have lots of tabs open because it runs different processes for them.
Disable hardware acceleration
Hardware acceleration, which uses your GPU to help out, is on by default in both Chrome and Firefox. But sometimes, this can actually make CPU usage go up. Turning it off might help.
In Chrome, click “Settings,” then “System,” and turn off “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
In Firefox, click “Settings,” look for “Hardware Acceleration,” and uncheck it. Try both settings to see which is better for you.
Linked issue: Computer Fan is Loud When Watching Twitch or YouTube Videos
Limit active Twitch tabs and background processes
Keeping many Twitch streams open or running in the background can overload your CPU. Close tabs you’re not watching and shut down other heavy programs that you’re not using.
Update browser and GPU drivers
Keeping your browser and GPU drivers up to date is crucial for smooth performance. Updates often include fixes and improvements that help with CPU usage. Regularly check for and install updates to stay on top of things.
Summing it all up
High CPU usage on Twitch can come from many places, like video settings and extensions, or even how your browser handles things. At the end of the day, it’s all about testing and tweaking settings to make your Twitch streaming experience as smooth as possible. The goal is to enjoy your streams without overworking your computer. So, play around with these solutions and see which ones give you the best performance.
