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11716
January 2nd, 2009 17:00
100% CPU Usage
My laptop reflects 100% CPU usage, slows to a crawl, and gives off a ton of heat when I try to watch video content on iTunes or run complex applications that require a lot of memory. I've performed a disk cleanup, defragged, etc., yet the problem persists. Have I simply run out of RAM (I've only got 1 gig of DDR) or could there be other issues?
Thanks very much!
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Thereal-dbk4297
3 Apprentice
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3.4K Posts
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January 3rd, 2009 10:00
Hello,
More RAM will not help the CPU usage.
But, if you can't afford to buy a newer system, more RAM will enhance your overall experience. Your system can support two 1GB chips of the correct memory. If you read the upgrade memory page at my site you will see why Dell computers require model specific part numbers for memory upgrades.
Mr._Pseudonym
2 Intern
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315 Posts
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January 2nd, 2009 17:00
:^/ My first thought was that your computer may be clogged with spyware. That stuff will quickly use up every clock cycle your CPU has, and scream for more....
trojan94
3 Posts
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January 3rd, 2009 09:00
Wow, thanks for the quick response! Unfortunately, that thought had also occurred to me, so I performed Windows Defender, McAfee, and Winferno Power Registry Cleaner scans with no spyware/viruses/registry errors detected. Are there other possibilities or could I be looking at a hardware problem?
When I check the list of processes in the Windows task manager, I don't recognize many of the images or the applications they are associated with. The one that appears to take the most CPU juice is something called "System Idle Process" (98) but it uses very little memory.
I'm a computer novice and really appreciate the help!
Thereal-dbk4297
3 Apprentice
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3.4K Posts
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January 3rd, 2009 09:00
Hello,
The "System Idle Process" is the amount of CPU power "NOT" being used.
A 98% SIP is a very good thing as your CPU is in effect just idling. My second thought is that since we don't know your model number or version of Windows, no one can really give you any good advice. :emotion-55:
trojan94
3 Posts
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January 3rd, 2009 10:00
Good point - I failed to do the subtraction and realize that myself! As I said, I'm a novice...
Anyway, while watching a movie, for example, iTunes takes ~65-100% of my CPU power (with a corresponding decline in SIP) and the picture jerks around as the computer slows down. I have a 4-year-old Dell Lattitude D400, Intel Pentium M processor (1.4 GHz), running Windows XP Service Pack 3. Turns out I only have 512MB RAM. I suppose that could be the problem?
Thanks!
Mr._Pseudonym
2 Intern
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315 Posts
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January 3rd, 2009 10:00
;^) Yeah, WindowsXP needs that much just to run at all. Upgrading your RAM would help quite a bit for anything that uses much, and videos and such use lots. Go for it.