# Retroarch CPU very high **URL:** \ **Category:** Emulators\ **Tags:** retroarch\ **Created:** [February 28, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056 "2019-02-28T04:43:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/1 "2019-02-28T04:43:24Z")
Hi all, Do you experience CPU is hot and battery drain to much when playing Retroarch, even when just open Retroarch menu (rgui theme)? In my GS, CPU go up to \> 300%. But other standalone emulator like Pcsx-rearmed when running FF IX only take 50% CPU. I running on OS pre-installed GS purchased in Christmas (dont know how to check OS version, it not show in “About” menu) and Lima GPU driver. Anyone know if this is ARM CPU limitation or GPU driver or Retroarch build? Thank all. P/S: In my laptop, Retroarch running is very low CPU load. ---
**Author:** ![riverscn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/riverscn/32/1558_2.png) [@riverscn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/riverscn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/2 "2019-02-28T04:47:54Z")
if you use Lima driver+sdl2, CPU cost will be very low, and never get hot. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:50am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/3 "2019-02-28T04:50:13Z")
Thank @riverscn I tried SDL2 driver but it make RA crash. I will try recompile RA again. Do you have any compile flags recommended for GS? ---
**Author:** ![riverscn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/riverscn/32/1558_2.png) [@riverscn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/riverscn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:50am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/4 "2019-02-28T04:50:51Z")
did you use v0.3 image? ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/5 "2019-02-28T04:52:16Z")
Hi @riverscn I use pre-installed OS, dont know how to check OS version. But in Settings, I can see “Switch GPU driver” menu. ---
**Author:** ![riverscn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/riverscn/32/1558_2.png) [@riverscn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/riverscn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/6 "2019-02-28T04:54:13Z")
> [@clockworkOS v0.3 with GPU driver is available!](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/clockworkos-v0-3-with-gpu-driver-is-available/2433): > > is here ! Finally, the new #clockworkOS v0.3 with GPU driver is available for download now, [http://106.185.33.196/clockworkos\_v0.3.img.bz2](http://106.185.33.196/clockworkos_v0.3.img.bz2) With #HDMI & #GPU, #GameShell is able to work at fullscreen 60FPS. once update Just go to “Settings” \> “GPU driver switch” \> “Lima”, Done! ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/7 "2019-02-28T04:57:18Z")
Thank @riverscn My Linux kernel is 4.12, so I think Im in OS v2.1. OS v3 has Linux v4.20. I will try and report here. ---
**Author:** ![adventureFAN](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/adventurefan/32/1900_2.png) [@adventureFAN](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/adventureFAN)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:32am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/8 "2019-02-28T07:32:46Z")
Hello folks, I’m new in the Clockwork PI-Community, but in 15 days I will be a proud owner of a Clockwork Pi \<3 But what I want to ask: Whats about this issue? I want to play PlayStation games on the go… but I don’t want this battery drainage =( How I can avoid this for a dummy? ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/9 "2019-02-28T08:40:09Z")
Hi @adventureFAN Pcsx-rearmed performance is pretty good on GS. You can enjoy 3-4hours with it. It a standalone emulator and pre-installed. I will try OS v3 later for Retroarch. ---
**Author:** ![adventureFAN](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/adventurefan/32/1900_2.png) [@adventureFAN](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/adventureFAN)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/10 "2019-02-28T08:43:06Z")
Thank you for the answer but I prefer retroarch because I can easily export/import my save states from the pc. I waiting for your experience with retroarch =) ---
**Author:** ![Johnisa](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/johnisa/32/1933_2.png) [@Johnisa](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Johnisa)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 11:42am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/11 "2019-02-28T11:42:58Z")
the RA one is laggy/stuttery imo. the stand alone works much better and setting up controls without touching a RA config file is nice ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Nguyen](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/long_nguyen/32/1402_2.png) [@Long\_Nguyen](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Long_Nguyen)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/12 "2019-03-01T01:29:09Z")
Hi all After flash OS v3.0, RA perform much better. GUI only take 10% CPU, run SNEX9X core take around 70-80%. So I think Lima driver seem work well. But it also unstable as release notes, sometime when open game, screen turn blank and need hard reset or soft reset via SSH. ---
**Author:** ![riverscn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/riverscn/32/1558_2.png) [@riverscn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/riverscn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:54am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/13 "2019-03-01T03:54:19Z")
SNEX9X 2005 plus seems ok. ---
**Author:** ![aifreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/aifreedom/32/2119_2.png) [@aifreedom](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/aifreedom)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/retroarch-cpu-very-high/3056/14 "2019-03-31T03:10:42Z")
After upgrading to OS v0.3 and selected Lima as the GPU driver, RetroArch only takes no more than 100% CPU!