If System Idle Process is using 97-99%, that's totally normal. System Idle shows how much FREE time the processor has, not how much is being used.
Your original post said usage jumps up to 49%. Under those conditions, what's using the CPU time? What's using high CPU time when audio gets jumpy? If DPC shows the high level of usage, that may be related to the nvidia 6800 card which has caused this type problem on quite a few 8400s. In that case, you may need to upgrade to a more recent driver directly from nvidia.com, as a place to start troubleshooting.
I downloaded the process explorer...I do see DPC's being active. What do I do about them? I am not so PC savvy...nor do I know what a DPC is or how to even tell which process is really bogging up the processor in process explorer...
What process is consuming the CPU time when it starts spiking up to 49%? That might point you at the source of the problem. If nothing is obvious in Task Manager, download free Process Explorer from www.sysinternals.com and use that instead of Task Manager to look at CPU usage. Deferred Procedure Calls (DPC) is one candidate.
On the 8400, video cards have been linked to this kind of problem, so post the specs on the card you have.
thanks ron-
The dpc's are low. Its running fine now...so I don't know. It seems when I turn the computer off for a day or two and then turn it on, it acts up sluggish. but after a few restarts and running time after the initial boot of the computer, it is fine. I don't know what the hec is going on...
well...nevermind...my computer is showing usage to 52-35% and it is mostly the dpc's...help! I downloaded the newest nvidia driver as well. still problems.
Did you remove the old driver first, or just install 'on top'?
If your system is still under warranty, contact Tech Support. Tell them the symptoms, and that DPCs are hogging the CPU, and they need to replace the nvidia 6800 card.
They'll probably want you to do some diagnostics first, but be politely insistent that you need the new video card. And if the new card doesn't solve it, then you have to look at the CPU, motherboard and RAM.
ron-
thanks for the help. So are DPC's related to video cards? What are DPC's? I have only recently had this problem; the system ran fine for months...
You can read a discussion about DPCs here, but it's very technical so may not be much help or interest.
http://www.sysinternals.com/Information/AdvancedDPCs.html
The bottom line is that there are either too many DPCs being requested or they're taking too much CPU time to be handled. And yes, this is a frequent problem on the Dimension 8400 with nvidia 6800 video card. It probably won't make you feel any better but here's a link to a long thread from others with the same Dell system and problem:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=837&PN=1&TPN=2
It's possible the video card recently failed and that's what started the problem. So before you spend too much time on this, contact Dell and request a new nvidia card, assuming you're under warranty. Otherwise, you might consider buying an ATI card which solved the problem for one poster in the thread noted above.
You also might consider going to www.omegadrivers.com and grabbing his free Driver Cleaner 3 to make sure you get rid of all old nvidia drivers completely before installing a new one. His free nvidia drivers solved the problem for some, but not all, 8400 users. So that's another good source.
Well- I bought a ATI X700 Radeon (a lesser card, but I am not gonna pay more) it is good for what I need. To all of our surprises...the ati card works...DPC's don't go above .77%, and the system is running better than ever...now...I then installed the geforce again, and the same problem occured. I need to contact dell...anybody ever had to go through with this...is there an easier way than to hassle with "beddy beddy good"??
Unfortunately, you had to spend $ to resolve a problem that's common on 8400s with nvidia cards. At least you solved the problem (and confirmed my suspicions). :)
Suggest you contact Dell via email rather than phone or chat. I've gotten much better responses that way, perhaps because they have chance to read your message at their own pace rather than having to respond immediately to phone/chat conversations.
If it were me, I'd ask Dell to replace the nvidia card even though you now have the ATI. You could keep it as a 'spare', assuming it works in the 8400, or maybe eBay it to recoup the costs of the ATI card.
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 1st, 2005 15:00
dimension 8400 refurbished
p4 3.2 ghz
2 gig ram
windows xp home
also,I have Maxtor 200 gig external usb hard drive
wtcnbrwndo4u
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1.5K Posts
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October 1st, 2005 15:00
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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October 1st, 2005 18:00
Your original post said usage jumps up to 49%. Under those conditions, what's using the CPU time? What's using high CPU time when audio gets jumpy? If DPC shows the high level of usage, that may be related to the nvidia 6800 card which has caused this type problem on quite a few 8400s. In that case, you may need to upgrade to a more recent driver directly from nvidia.com, as a place to start troubleshooting.
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 10-01-2005 12:48 PM
ejewels
83 Posts
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October 1st, 2005 18:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
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October 1st, 2005 18:00
On the 8400, video cards have been linked to this kind of problem, so post the specs on the card you have.
Ron
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 1st, 2005 18:00
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 1st, 2005 19:00
The dpc's are low. Its running fine now...so I don't know. It seems when I turn the computer off for a day or two and then turn it on, it acts up sluggish. but after a few restarts and running time after the initial boot of the computer, it is fine. I don't know what the hec is going on...
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 2nd, 2005 03:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
October 2nd, 2005 23:00
If your system is still under warranty, contact Tech Support. Tell them the symptoms, and that DPCs are hogging the CPU, and they need to replace the nvidia 6800 card.
They'll probably want you to do some diagnostics first, but be politely insistent that you need the new video card. And if the new card doesn't solve it, then you have to look at the CPU, motherboard and RAM.
Ron
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2005 01:00
thanks for the help. So are DPC's related to video cards? What are DPC's? I have only recently had this problem; the system ran fine for months...
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 3rd, 2005 16:00
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
0
October 3rd, 2005 16:00
http://www.sysinternals.com/Information/AdvancedDPCs.html
The bottom line is that there are either too many DPCs being requested or they're taking too much CPU time to be handled. And yes, this is a frequent problem on the Dimension 8400 with nvidia 6800 video card. It probably won't make you feel any better but here's a link to a long thread from others with the same Dell system and problem:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=837&PN=1&TPN=2
It's possible the video card recently failed and that's what started the problem. So before you spend too much time on this, contact Dell and request a new nvidia card, assuming you're under warranty. Otherwise, you might consider buying an ATI card which solved the problem for one poster in the thread noted above.
You also might consider going to www.omegadrivers.com and grabbing his free Driver Cleaner 3 to make sure you get rid of all old nvidia drivers completely before installing a new one. His free nvidia drivers solved the problem for some, but not all, 8400 users. So that's another good source.
Ron
ejewels
83 Posts
0
October 5th, 2005 01:00
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
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October 5th, 2005 16:00
Suggest you contact Dell via email rather than phone or chat. I've gotten much better responses that way, perhaps because they have chance to read your message at their own pace rather than having to respond immediately to phone/chat conversations.
If it were me, I'd ask Dell to replace the nvidia card even though you now have the ATI. You could keep it as a 'spare', assuming it works in the 8400, or maybe eBay it to recoup the costs of the ATI card.
Ron