CPU usage shoots up

The CPU is always going to run as fast as it can whenever it has some work to do, like a system scan. It only throttles back when waiting for other system components to do their job, or when the work is done. Notebooks can be throttled back to preserve battery power when necessary, but I'm not sure if there is anything like that for desktops or not. The CPU contains protection circuitry to throttle back if it begins to overheat, but that will not occur if the cooling system is performing adequately.

 

The 55% free RAM figure may fluctuate as you use different and multiple applications, but Windows will use as much RAM as it can in anticipation of your needs, by copying files from the hard drive to the RAM. I'm no expert, but I believe most of the primary Windows components and all your hardware drivers are loaded into RAM, as well as many other files, as long as you have the room. The CPU only works directly with data in RAM, and only accesses the hard drive to move data back and forth from RAM. Even though you have more room in RAM, Windows XP doesn't anticipate which application(s) you might be running next. A 55% free RAM figure means Windows has loaded nearly 512MB of data from the hard drive into RAM in preparation to serve your needs, and that's a good thing.

 

GM

Thanks,

 

I noticed in my BIOS Hyper Threading was not enabled, it is enabled now.

 

Under Hyper Threading there is HDD Acoustic Mode now I dont know what that is exactly but its set on bypass, would this be correct or would that need altering?

 

The four options for HDD Acoustic are Bypass, Quiet, Suggested and Performance.

 

Which should it be set on?

 

Many thanks.

 

Adam.

To be honest I dont :smileyvery-happy: What should it be doing? I cant say I notice any speed difference.

Thanks:smileyhappy: I have noticed it now since doing a few things.