Kernal_task issue

Question

Hi all
I have a performance issue, and kernal_task, as monitored in Activity Monitor, seems to be the culprit.  Unlike other examples on this site, however, rather than saying 100% of CPU usage, I get interesting figures like 602.5%:
In addition, this is a cyclical thing, and it goes down to quite normal levels on its own, then back again, without opening or closing documents, applications, or having obvious background events like printing or Time Machine going on (although in this case Terminal was running in normal example and not in the abnormal one, it really does it on its own very often, with no input or action from me):
So I've done the "Five step" procedure, and this is what was returned:
Step 1:
com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.1.1)
com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.1.1)
com.Logitech.Control Center.HID
com.trusteer.driver.gakl_driver_2 (1)
Step 2:
com.autodesk.backburner_server
com.autodesk.backburner_manager
uk.co.thefoundry.rlm
uk.co.thefoundry.lmgrd
com.paceap.pacesupport
com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd
com.sidefx.sesinetd
com.sharpcast.xfsmond
com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper
com.google.keystone.daemon
com.daz3d.content_management_service
com.autodesk.backburner_start
com.adobe.SwitchBoard
com.adobe.fpsaud
Step 3:
com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba.180080
com.microsoft.Word.69552
com.wacom.TabletDriver.326160
com.wacom.WacomTouchDriver.325984
com.Growl.GrowlHelperApp.105984
jp.co.canon.cijscannerregister.168464
jp.co.canon.ijscanner1.scanner.ica.183776.382A7750-D7C8-4A31-8E32-369691E40150
com.wacom.wacomtablet
com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd
com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist
com.Logitech.Control
com.google.keystone.system.agent
com.divx.update.agent
com.divx.dms.agent
com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager
com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager
com.nero.HSMMonitor
com.akamai.client.plist
com.adobe.ARM.df0ab5bbe6f698196fcc21e3c1e66dcb758bd911f4d637272d9d8109
Step 4:
/etc/crontab.applesaved
/Library/Components:
iGlasses3.component
/Library/Extensions:
ATTOCelerityFC8.kext
ATTOExpressSASHBA2.kext
ATTOExpressSASRAID2.kext
ArcMSR.kext
CalDigitHDProDrv.kext
HighPointIOP.kext
HighPointRR.kext
PromiseSTEX.kext
SoftRAID.kext
/Library/Frameworks:
.DS_Store
AECore.framework
AEProfiling.framework
AERegistration.framework
Adlm.framework
Adobe AIR.framework
ApplicationEnhancer.framework
AudioMixEngine.framework
Compressor.framework
DSPPublishing.framework
DivX Toolkit.framework
DivXInstallerUtilities.framework
FxPlug.framework
HPDeviceModel.framework
HPPml.framework
HPServicesInterface.framework
HPSmartPrint.framework
HPSmartX.framework
Houdini.framework
IntegoiCalFramework.framework
MediaServerAPI.framework
NMStatistics.framework
NyxAudioAnalysis.framework
ONCore7.framework
ONDocument7.framework
PluginManager.framework
PrintMeSSL.framework
ProMetadataSupport.framework
Qmaster.framework
REDCODE.Color.framework
Sentinel.framework
SketchUpReader.framework
StuffItSupport.framework
SuperPro32.framework
TSLicense.framework
WacomMultiTouch.framework
XSKey.framework
blurblibcurl.framework
iLifeFaceRecognition.framework
iLifeKit.framework
iLifePageLayout.framework
iLifeSQLAccess.framework
iLifeSlideshow.framework
iTunesLibrary.framework
/Library/Input Methods:
/Library/InputManagers:
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
AdobePDFViewer.plugin
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin.plugin
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101750.plugin
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL.plugin
DRM Plugin.bundle
Default Browser.plugin
DivX Web Player.plugin
EPPEX Plugin.plugin
Flash Player.plugin
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin
Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
NPVirtools.plugin
OVSHelper.plugin
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin
Quartz Composer.webplugin
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
RealPlayer Plugin.plugin
SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
SharePointWebKitPlugin.webplugin
Silverlight.plugin
SpeedDownload Browser Plugin.plugin
Unity Web Player.plugin
Unused
VLC Plugin.plugin
WacomNetscape.plugin
WacomTabletPlugin.plugin
Windows Media Plugin
Yahoo! Installer 3.plugin
disabled
flashplayer.xpt
freewrl.plugin
iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt
/Library/Keyboard Layouts:
/Library/LaunchAgents:
com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist
com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
com.adobe.CS4ServiceManager.plist
com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist
com.divx.dms.agent.plist
com.divx.update.agent.plist
com.google.keystone.agent.plist
com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist
com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist
com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons:
PACESupport.plist
com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
com.apple.aelwriter.plist
com.apple.qmaster.qmasterd.plist
com.autodesk.backburner_manager.plist
com.autodesk.backburner_server.plist
com.autodesk.backburner_start.plist
com.daz3d.content_management_service.plist
com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
com.sharpcast.xfsmond.plist
com.sidefx.sesinetd.plist
com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist
uk.co.thefoundry.lmgrd.plist
uk.co.thefoundry.rlm.plist
/Library/PreferencePanes:
Apple Qmaster.prefPane
Application Enhancer.prefPane
Flash Player.prefPane
Flip4Mac WMV.prefPane
Growl.prefPane
JavaControlPanel.prefpane
Logitech Control Center.prefPane
NIUSBAudio.prefPane
NetUpdate.prefPane
Perian.prefPane
REDcode.prefPane
RapportPreferences.prefPane
Synergy.prefPane
WacomTablet.prefPane
Xounds.prefPane
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:
com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper
/Library/QuickLook:
CMQuickLookPlugin.qlgenerator
GBQLGenerator.qlgenerator
iBooksAuthor.qlgenerator
iWork.qlgenerator
/Library/QuickTime:
.DS_Store
.svn
3ivx D4 4.5.1 for OSX
AC3MovieImport.component
AJACodec.component
AJAUncompressedCodec.component
AppleAVCIntraCodec.component
AppleHDVCodec.component
AppleIntermediateCodec.component
AppleMPEG2Codec.component
AppleProResCodec.component
AvidAV1xCodec.component
AvidAVDJCodec.component
AvidAVUICodec.component
AvidAVd1Codec.component
AvidAVdnCodec.component
AvidAVdvCodec.component
AvidAVpkCodec.component
AvidAVrpCodec.component
CanonMJPEGAVI.component
CanonMJPEGAVIDec.component
CanonText.component
DVCPROHDCodec.component
DVCPROHDMuxer.component
DVCPROHDVideoDigitizer.component
DVCPROHDVideoOutput.component
DVCPROHDVideoOutputClock.component
DVCPROHDVideoOutputCodec.component
DesktopVideoOut.component
DivX Decoder.component
DivX Encoder.component
FCP Uncompressed 422.component
Flip4Mac WMV Advanced.component
Flip4Mac WMV Export.component
Flip4Mac WMV Import.component
IMXCodec.component
LiveType.component
MAYA_IFFCodec.component
MAYA_IFFExport.component
MAYA_IFFImport.component
MayaIFF.component
Perian.component
QSXEssentials.component
QTFbx.component
QuickTimeMPEG2.component
REDCODE.QT.component
SheerVideo™ HD Reader.component
Sonix SN9C102 WebCam.component
Spectrograph.component
TSCC.component
ZyGoVideo.component
ZyGoVideo.component.hqx
iChatTheaterPreview.component
/Library/ScriptingAdditions:
Adobe Unit Types
Adobe Unit Types.osax
/Library/Spotlight:
GBSpotlightImporter.mdimporter
Microsoft Office.mdimporter
iBooksAuthor.mdimporter
iWeb.mdimporter
iWork.mdimporter
/Library/StartupItems:
AW_flexlmStartupItem
FxLicenseManager
HP IO
IntegoCommon
PACESupport
PFFarmer
PFFarmhand
ProTec6b
/etc/mach_init.d:
/etc/mach_init_per_login_session.d:
/etc/mach_init_per_user.d:
Library/Address Book Plug-Ins:
.DS_Store
SkypeABDialer.bundle
SkypeABSMS.bundle
Library/Fonts:
.DS_Store
CentaurMTStd.otf
Courier Final Draft
encodings.dir
fonts.dir
fonts.list
fonts.scale
Library/Frameworks:
Library/Indexes:
.DS_Store
FindByContent
Library/InputManagers:
.DS_Store
Smart Crash Reports
SpeedDownload Enhancer
Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
.DS_Store
Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
Picasa.plugin
WebEx64.plugin
Library/Keyboard Layouts:
Library/LaunchAgents:
com.adobe.ARM.df0ab5bbe6f698196fcc21e3c1e66dcb758bd911f4d637272d9d8109.plist
com.akamai.client.plist
com.apple.FolderActions.enabled.plist
com.apple.FolderActions.folders.plist
com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist
com.nero.HSMMonitor.plist
Library/PreferencePanes:
AkamaiNetSession.prefPane
Opera Preferences
Library/QuickTime:
Library/Services:
GraphicConverter.service
OmniOutliner Professional.service
ToastIt.service
Step 5:
GrowlHelperApp, AirPort Base Station Agent, SpeechSynthesisServer
Other threads have suggested audio-related items as the source, but I've had no success yet.  Any ideas?  Thanks very much...

Answer 1

The kernel is using excessive processor cycles. Below are some possible causes for the condition.
Throttling
When it gets high temperature readings from the hardware, or a low-voltage reading from the battery, the kernel may try to compensate by interrupting the processor(s) to slow them down and reduce power consumption. This condition can be due to
a buildup of dust on the logic board
high ambient temperature
a worn-out or faulty battery in a portable
the malfunction of a cooling fan, a temperature sensor, a voltage sensor, or some other internal component
Note that if the problem is caused by a sensor, there may be no actual overheating or undervoltage.
If the computer is portable, test with and without the AC adapter connected. If kernel_task hogs the processor only on battery power, the fault is in the battery or the logic board. If it happens only on AC power, charging is causing the machine to heat up. That may be normal on some models. CPU usage should drop when charging is complete.
Apple Diagnostics or the Apple Hardware Test, though not very reliable, is sometimes able to detect a fault. For more thorough hardware testing, make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.
If nothing is wrong with the hardware, then whatever you can do to improve cooling may help.
Installed software
User-installed software that includes a device driver or other kernel code may thrash the kernel. That category includes virtualization software, such as Parallels and VMware, as well as most commercial "anti-virus" products. Some system-monitoring applications, such as "iStat," can also contribute to the problem. You can test for this possibility by completely disabling or removing the software according to the developer's instructions, or starting in safe mode. Note, however, that disabling a system modification without removing it or testing in safe mode may not be as easy as you think.
Corrupt NVRAM or SMC data
Sometimes the problem is cleared up by resetting the NVRAM or the SMC.
External display
Connecting an external LCD display to some MacBook Pro models may cause this issue. If applicable, test by disconnecting the display. You might get better results with a newer LED display.