(Solved)Sudden 80% benchmark performance loss on CPU?

cpu temps under control?

Any strange/unusually high CPU usage in task manager with only a browser open?

If you monitor task manager, run a Defender scan...does your cpu's clock speeds ramp up and down from 1200 MHz to as high as 3600 MHz during duration of scan? (assuming WIndows set to default 'Balanced' in Power Management)