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6 Posts
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3008
February 5th, 2003 09:00
Regular CPU Spike
I got my Dell computer just last thursday. noticed yesterday that there is a regular cpu spike every 8 or so seconds. the cpu activity climbs to about 50% and then drops down again. this causes very annoying delays to typing and mouse movements in applications. And this is happening even when there are no programs open. or just MSN Messenger or something. . .
Have downloaded latest drivers. Have not installed any other software other than what came with the box. Virus scanner is the one that came with the computer (Norton). In the task manager the only thread which seems to be corresponding to the activity is the svchost, which i thought was a sort of dll host program which runs dll's for other programs. . . so it could be almost anything which is actually causing the spike. . . Have removed all unnecessary background applications. . . would really appreciate if anybody had a good idea what is causing this because it is very annoying.
thank you,
Miika Langille
Hotellinx Systems Ltd.
Miika
6 Posts
0
February 6th, 2003 05:00
Some further information. . .
the cpu spike seems to happen about once every 30 seconds. at first taking 30% of processor at each spike, steadily growing until half an hour later it takes about 90% of processor at each spike and completely jams up the computer at every spike. after it reaches about 95% or so it just has one more small spike and then stops.
something else i noticed yesterday was that if you unplug the ADSL modem from the computer the spikes stop.
thanks,
Miika Langille
Miika
6 Posts
0
February 6th, 2003 07:00
It is not windows update. I have fully updated the computer manually from windowsupdate, and also windows update has the little icon in the system tray when it is doing something.
Windows update also tends to be a constant download stream from the update site (hence slowed down net surfing), not a regular spike of cpu activity.
but thanks for replying, nice to see somebody is trying :)
Miika
FuNk_DoKta
83 Posts
0
February 6th, 2003 07:00
could it be "windows update" working in the background downloading stuff automatically? I was surfing real slowly the first few days i got my pc.. it was because windows update was working in the background without me nowing.. I don't remember how to turn it off but u should look in control panel somewhere.
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
February 6th, 2003 13:00
Why not use the Windows Task Manager to see what process is taking the CPU time. See the following:
http://www.lpt.com/windowsnetworking/regusers/wxptskmg.htm
Steve
Miika
6 Posts
0
February 7th, 2003 04:00
In my first message i mentioned that from the task manager the only process that corresponds to the spike activity is one of the svchost processes. As i understand it these are just dll host processes so it could be almost anything which is causing it. . . unless someone can suggest how to see what is running inside the svchost?
Miika
John Redcorn
410 Posts
0
February 7th, 2003 04:00
i've never really looked at mine....well not mine it is a work IBM P3 1Ghz with Win2000....my cpu is at 0% if I leave everything alone, even the nic isn't affecting it. it goes up to 2% when i first open task manager, then down to 0% and stays there. my svhost is 11th on the list and stays there, says 0:00:01 of cpu time....when you unplug your dsl modem does svhost begin dropping down the process list?