Non Specific CPU usage

Discussion in 'Windows OS's' started by illusion, Jan 31, 2006.

  1. illusion

    illusion Geek Trainee

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    Hello everyone,

    I have a problem with my CPU constantly running at 10-13%.

    The CPU is a Celeron D 2.66Mhz(stop sniggering at the back there please:)).

    I have run virus and ad aware programmes to no effect.

    I have also sat and watched the processes in task manager for ages and seen nothing running apart from system and system idle but both of these cant use that much of the CPU time.

    Anybody have any ideas as 10-13% all the time on a pony processor is not a good look!

    Other system info : 512Mb ram, 2.66Mhz Celeron, 256Mb 6600Gt graphics card, 550w psu.
     
  2. sabashuali

    sabashuali Ani Ma'amin

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    Is there an actual problem?

    I mean, apart from seeing the % rise and fall can you actualy see any lagging in performance?

    What sort of cooler do you have and do you notice whether it is working harder than usual? If you have a tempreture monitoring program see if your CPU is hotter than it should be. If everything is OK and there is no dent in performance I would not conceder this a problem.

    Anyways, what on earth are you doing staring at the TM for ages? It will make your palms go hairy! Go outside and play in the sunshine!!!!

    pffffff, kids!
     
  3. Addis

    Addis The King

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    In the task manager, you can see how much CPU time each process is taking. You might have to scroll a bit to see the collumn. Then find the process taking up the most processing time and see if its vital.
     
  4. megamaced

    megamaced Geek Geek Geek!

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    EXACTLY! :chk:

    Seriously though - I think what you are experiencing is normal PC behaviour....
     
  5. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    It's nothing bad I think, I'm sitting here with about 10% CPU Usage (that's what TM is reporting) - I also have a Celeron so don't worry they can laugh if they want, I'm with ya, they can laugh but I like my heap of junk that I call a computer...
     
  6. illusion

    illusion Geek Trainee

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    Nice work Matt at least it's not just me :)

    Nice work all round fellas thanks for the input.

    The only time I really find it a problem is when I am using Reason or FL Studio and I need all the CPU head room I can muster as sometimes certain synths need uber power. I suppose not using a Celeron would be a good move but with no spare beer vouchers that looks like a no no at the mo!

    BTW crackin forum, I have posted this on Dear Wandy and had marginal help HF rocks :good:
     
  7. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    Glad to be of assistance, yeah HF is a great place to be, the first forum I joined and I've loved every minute!
     
  8. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    You mean normal Windows behaviour. In fact, this is an OS issue and not a hardware issue at all, so I've moved the thread to the appropriate forum.

    Welcome to HardwareForums.com by the way. :)
     
  9. illusion

    illusion Geek Trainee

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    Hi AT. I am interested in that answer. In what way a OS issue?

    All information greatfully received:)
     
  10. Anti-Trend

    Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek

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    My point was that the hardware itself is not responsible for unexplained CPU usage during what should be idle time, the operating system is. It could be a system process running in the background, it could be malware such as a rootkit, it could be abborant Windows behaviour, or it could even be CPU overhead associated with not having DMA enabled on all of your IDE devices. Scan for malware (perhaps over at Housecall), turn off any unnecessary services which are running in the background, and make sure DMA is enabled on all of your IDE busses (in Device Manager).
     
  11. megamaced

    megamaced Geek Geek Geek!

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    I have a Celeron 4 2.8GHz - but i'm not proud of that fact :)

    You can do some music production with a Celeron - it's not impossible. I used to run Cubase SX2 with some heavy VST synths, and it ran OK. It would buckle after a while though, if I ran too many synths.

    Heres a tip: Go into task manager, and select the processes tab. Right click the process that needs more grunt (ie Reason or FL studio), and then go Set Priority > and select 'Above Normal' or 'High'. Be carefull of selecting 'RealTime' because this can make other system services unstable.

    Actually I have a question about Windows processes: What is 'System Idle Process' and what does it do? I regualary see it at the top of my processes list, eating up my resources
     
  12. Addis

    Addis The King

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    Not sur eof thast myself, but system idle process for some reason shows the idle CPU time. E.g. if a process is using 10% sysidle shows 90%. ???
     

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