Looks like I should restart browser

Hmm, maybe it depends on the browser itself. Which one do you use?
Usual Chromium, but notice sounds turned off after restart in Opera portable.
I have had a similiar problem like you with the google captchas. It was not working on my opera explorer. I had changed to chrome explorer and the captchas were fine.
I had later figured out, that all I needed to do, is log out from my google account in order for captchas to work correctly.
Hmm... I'm logged in google account in Chromium portable without api keys, but solving captchas in installed Chromium with api keys and google Chrome portable, captchas solved in 3-4 attempts, but now averything is ok.
Yes, when logged into google account problem with captcha exists.
CPU rate drop down again

It may be in two reasons: 1) I close pop-up window from login page too quick; 2) I changed location and use "free" Wi-Fi.