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Offline gr3yh4m3

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cpu usage is high... very high
« on: Sun, 23 March 2014, 07:06:53 »
Hey guys,
So I'm running Windows 64 bit, Intel Core duo E8400, 4gb ram.
When I look at my cpu usage, it's constantly at 100%? I've looked this up and suggestions have been to run a virus check and update drivers. Well I'm clean of viruses and as far as I can tell all drivers are up to date - at least that's what windows is telling me...
Is there anything you guys know that I can do?
Thanks, much appreciated.
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Offline iri

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 23 March 2014, 07:11:41 »
well, finding which process(es) use most of your cpu time will be the first step.
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Offline samwisekoi

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 23 March 2014, 11:52:28 »
Quote from: GR3YH4M3 on Sun, 23 March 2014, 07:06:53
Hey guys,
So I'm running Windows 64 bit, Intel Core duo E8400, 4gb ram.
When I look at my cpu usage, it's constantly at 100%? I've looked this up and suggestions have been to run a virus check and update drivers. Well I'm clean of viruses and as far as I can tell all drivers are up to date - at least that's what windows is telling me...
Is there anything you guys know that I can do?
Thanks, much appreciated.

I'd start with asking why you are running Windows 64-bit if you only have 4GB (and a Core Duo)?  Generally, people run 64-bit only if they have  more than 4GB of RAM installed, since 32-bit Windows can only access 3.5GB. 

Second do you mean your CPU is at 100% on both cores at IDLE? Or under load?  If under load, it may be that whatever you are doing is running that little CPU as fast as its little cores can run.

Your CPU is currently $29, but you could upgrade to a  Core2 Quad Q9300 for $80 and double your cores and increase your Passmark score by half.  (You could go faster than that in your LGA 775 socket, but the Q9300 seems like an easy upgrade.  More than that, and you should look at a new CPU and motherboard.)

Your CPU:  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E8400+%40+3.00GHz&id=955
Core2 Quad Q9300:  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Quad+Q9300+%40+2.50GHz&id=1044
Buy Link (example):  http://starmicroinc.net/-p-277.html?gclid=CPrktsmLqb0CFcyTfgody1kAIw

Socket LGA775 CPU Comparison:  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/socketType.html#id5

While you are at it, a clean install of Windows (7?) 32-bit would flush out whatever nasty things you've got anyhow.  If you have a legit copy of Windows, you MAY be able to down-grade to the 32-bit edition without cost.

Also, Microsoft Security Essentials is free, and will start off with a full scan of your system to find any nasties.  Run it no matter what else you are doing.

Download from MS:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

Just my $.02,

 - Ron | samwisekoi

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Offline Computer-Lab in Basement

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 23 March 2014, 12:35:43 »
I would, as was already suggested, "downgrade" to 32-bit Windows, and if you need access to that .5GB of memory you'll lose, you can modify your 32-bit OS to recognize more than the 3.5GB of memory. I have done it before, and I would provide a link, but it was a couple years ago when I did it last, and I'm sure if you Google how to do it you'll come across it no problem. Works with Windows XP+ IIRC.

Oh, and an upgraded CPU is also a good idea, just make sure it's compatible with your motherboard before making any purchases.
« Last Edit: Sun, 23 March 2014, 12:40:08 by Computer-Lab in Basement »
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 23 March 2014, 12:50:24 »
I have 64bit Windows on a much lesser spec E4500 with 4GB and it is totally fine. I don't agree at all with installing 32bit OS when the machine is 64bit capable. There is something using CPU time, which is making a problem. If you can't identify it with task manager, perhaps sysinternal process explorer will tell you what is using all the cpu time.
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Offline gr3yh4m3

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 24 March 2014, 01:17:10 »
found the culprit. it was rainmeter. I thought that platform was supposed to be light?
As for the 64 bit, it was recommended to me at the time. I have multiple hard drives for storage and what not, not sure if that's a thing. When I build my own pc i'll take all this into account, so thanks :)
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Offline Smasher816

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 24 March 2014, 10:26:33 »
Glad you got it all sorted out.
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 24 March 2014, 12:13:23 »
Rainmeter shouldn't be doing that if you have a properly written config, and have any dependent plug ins installed for it. I've been using Rainmeter for a very long time, almost since it existed so if you need some help to get it working properly I may be able.
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Offline gr3yh4m3

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 25 March 2014, 02:45:29 »
thanks IvanIvanovich :) yeah on my laptop now and looking at it, cpu usage is ranging from about 7-36%.. whereas on desktop it's at 50% with nothing running and shoots back up to 100 whenever I run anything, now with rainmeter uninstalled. Shame, I had an awesome setup too...
I'm beginning to think it wasn't rainmeter though, if it's still shooting up to 100% at the first signs of a program running. But thanks all the same, much appreciated :)
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Offline Oobly

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 25 March 2014, 04:46:47 »
In Task Manager, click the Processes tab and see what's using the most CPU time. If you have a lot of browser tabs open and Flash is enabled, it can use a lot of both memory and CPU time (which you can fix by using FireFox and AdBlocker and selecting plugins to start on-demand in about:config, plugins.click_to_play), but it sounds like you have some rogue programs doing stuff when they shouldn't be.

Search indexing, antivirus, badly written software for peripherals ("gaming" mouse software, etc) can also use a lot of processing.
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Offline tbc

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 22:11:13 »
not sure why people are recommending not to use 64 bit.

it's a waste of time to downgrade, then upgrade your hardware, and then have to reinstall your entire OS from scratch
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Offline samwisekoi

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 00:38:16 »
I am a Linux user, so YMMV for Windows. Since OP only has 4gb RAM, I asked why 64-bit. Depending on the OS, 32-bit is often recommended for desktop use. Some 64-bit versions have special quirky things, and aren't needed for common desktop use. I did notice some new incompatibilities when I added RAM to a Win7 desktop and had to upgrade to 64-bit.

But mostly I was asking why it was bing used inthe first place. And it seems like a clean install would be helpful, so choosing the best version for that required understanding the current state.

 -Ron | samwisekoi
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Offline PointyFox

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 27 March 2014, 00:41:48 »
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Offline gr3yh4m3

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Re: cpu usage is high... very high
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 28 March 2014, 09:19:34 »
thanks guys. the issue seems to have disappeared with a few uninstalls of programs and defraggles, virus scans etc. It's a fairly new system, that's why id be hesitant about reinstalling windows. that and i've never done that before...
and I'm totally not sure why it's running 64 bit with only 4gb ram.. the guy who fixes my pc is a family friend, and he was following my request because i saw what a difference it made to my laptop, but i'm sure he did it with good reason as well, otherwise he would have told me to just stay at 32 bit. I run ableton live 9 as well as video editing software, and I've got multipule hard drives installed like i say. if that's a thing?? But, confession time, I'm a total noob at computers. for now.
so thanks for all the info guys! it's really helping.
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