CPU running at 100%, how do you manage it so it goes back down to a normal level?

I have already downloaded the latest driver for my Intel Chip that was supposed to lower the CPU usage of my basic programs, I have a quad core, running all 4 cores just to keep up with the CPU usage. Just before the Chip update, I set it down to 1 core, like it should be, and now a large amount of programs are running at more than 1 CPU at a time (some are at 6-10 CPUs). I've been going through each program in resmon one-by-one and finding the problems out for each, fixing it, then going onto the next one, but every time I do, a new program pops up eating a ton of CPUs, its getting a little ridiculous now. Whenever I play an game on my computer, Norton pops up with a "High-Memory Usage" warning, then my computer sounds like its going to explode, even running the most simple graphics on a game like MineCraft. I have a HP Dv7 2.2 GHz Intel i7, 8GB of Ram, 64-Bit.