CPU usage %

Question

Hello all, It's that time again. I need to turn to you folks for assistance/advise.  I have a new  e310  P4  3.0, 1 gig ram, 160 hd running xp media. Now I keep a fairly clean machine. Cookies, temp int files always cleaned out. Here's my issue. This thing chokes by doing the simplest things. Typing an e mail while burning a cd, FORGET IT. I can type 10 words, look up and nothing for a good 10 secs. Trying to do any 2 or 3 tasks is almost impossible. As soon as cd is burned everything's fine. Even printing while typing an e mail bogs it down BAD. I don't know diddly about the CPU usage % but I imagine that's where I can see what's using what? I would think this machine would handle multiple tasks with ese.  Any ideas?  And as always, Thanks in advance!

woochman · Answer

Sounds like your CD app is eating up CPU cycles while active.  You can use task manager to verify this.  Start task manager, click the processes tab, and click the CPU field twice to sort the processes by the highest CPU utilization.  Start burning a CD, and immediately revert back to task manager.  Note the process name that is towards the top, eating CPU cycles.  Oddly enough, iti's normal for SystemIdle to be listed around 97-99%. Whatever is below the system idle process is most likely the culprit.

onion721 · Answer

Hi,   Has it been like this from day one or has it progressively gotten worse? Did you make sure Hyper Threading is enabled?

pensj · Answer

OK Woochman, Did what you said and system idle stayed in the upper 90's. Nero was at 2%    Does that tell you anything?   How do I enable Hyper Threading? This seems to be getting worse day by day. Message Edited by pensj on 09-26-2006 02:16 PM

woochman · Answer

Yes, SystemIdle will always be in the mid to High 90% range. 2% isn't that excessive. Try again, keep an eye on the Nero process, and see if it spikes up to and stays in the 90% range.

Also, have you updated your Nero software with all the latest updates? Another possible test would be to disable any active AntiVirus monitoring services temporarily, burn a CD, and see if you get the same behavior.

pensj · Answer

OK Woochman, Here's the latest. Burning a dvd and monitering task manager. System idle at 72% Then System at 22%, nero at 2% , explorer at 1%.  I'm gonna call Dell cause I'm not happy at all with this performance.

woochman · Answer

OK, this is a start, and these numbers were gathered when the system started to slow down?  Did you disable the AV protection?    It's hard to say everything I do when I get a problem like this.    I would download and install Startup Inspector for Windows  Uncheck anything that is related to Nero.  The beautiful thing is that you can re-check things if you need them to start up.  If you're like many I've seen, you mostl likely have many unnecessary items starting up.  Uncheck other items that you feel you may not need.  Click the apply button to save the changes, and then reboot.    See if this helps, and let us know how you fare!!

pensj · Answer

Just spent 75 minutes on the phone with Dell. After checking 10 different things, msconfig ,my start up was fine.What he did was allocated more physical memory (can't remember how or where) and now everything seems fine. Browser open, media player open, word open, photoshop, dvd drive running.  So far so good.   Thanks for your help.

woochman · Answer

Good, glad to hear you resolved it.  Keep that Startup inspector for Windows handy, I use it quite frequently to keem my startup items in check . . .

pensj · Answer

As it turns out the system ran fine for 2 days then back to the same. Called Dell and they had me reinstall Windows, again. Worked great for 4 days and now tonight can't even listen to media player while typing. MP3's play fine untill I hit 1 key, then it bogs down to the point you can't even understand whats playing.  I'm so dissapointed right now.   If this continues to be an on going issue, what are my options? New machine?

onion721 · Answer

Sorry its back, What video card do you have? You said Nero is running at 2% but you mentioned system usage is at 22%. What is using the other 20%? Here is a program that will monitor all background proggys in realtime. Read up and give it a try. http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Filemon.html

pensj · Answer

I'll try the file monitor tomorrow and post my results. I have Dell calling me at 2:00 tomorrow as well. I want them to be aware of this on going problem.  How do I find out what video card I have?  It's 310 , 3.0 , 1 gig ram , 160 hd, tv tuner, xp media edition   Thanks for your response.

pensj · Answer

Here's what's happening this morning. I have media center open trying to watch tv while I burn video files off my HD.  I don't think I'm asking to much from this thing. Task manager says.... Nero vision at 84%, ehshell 9%, System idle @ 6%      As I type this the tv is just dragging more and more. The minute I stop typing it seems to speed up to par.  Now my windows was just reinstalled 4 days ago.  What gives?     THANKS         Forgot   CPU usage is @99%  with 48 processes.          I'm on my way to work now, but would apprecaite any idea's. I'll check later.  Message Edited by pensj on 10-03-2006 07:36 AM

pensj · Answer

Can you post a screenshot of background processes that are running while you are burning?   How do I do that? When I rt click on desktop, that isn't an option. On my way to work now, back in about 6 hours.  THANKS

onion721 · Answer

48 processes on a fresh install is nuts. Sounds like you have a bunch of bloatware. Can you post a screenshot of background processes that are running while you are burning? Have you tried to burn with Windoze Media Player? You really need to streamline your OS to free up system resources and get rid of some of the preinstalled bloatware. Did you find out what Vidcard you have? I ask because some the 7600 series have driver issues  causing high CPU usage. Right click on your desktop--> nvidia display--> Dell monitor #### and this should take you to your vidcard control panel. Also note what forceware version you are running.

woochman · Answer

pensj wrote:

As it turns out the system ran fine for 2 days then back to the same. Called Dell and they had me reinstall Windows, again. Worked great for 4 days and now tonight can't even listen to media player while typing. MP3's play fine untill I hit 1 key, then it bogs down to the point you can't even understand whats playing. I'm so dissapointed right now. If this continues to be an on going issue, what are my options? New machine?

By reinstalling Windows, do you mean a system restore? Also, have you run the machine without Nero installed?

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CPU usage %

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