CPU Usage

Question

This may be a strange question but I just got a new XPS 1530 with 3 gigs of Ram and 2.2Ghz core 2 Duo processor. I have been having a lot of problems with programs "hanging" and stop responding, even after shutting down most of the programs running in the background.

How much of the processor should i be using for basic things like web browsing and viewing pictures and video? I have the CPU gadget up and when i open IE or picture viewer, the meter shows my CPU usage in the 60-70% range, and when rendering video to make a DVD it is about 95-98% usage. Is that normal, i mean that seems like a high number for a dual core processor.

Dell's solution is to restore to factory image, but I have done that three times in the 4 weeks that I have had it and still no different, so now they are coming out to put a new HD and replace all the memory, do you think this will help with the "hanging" and stop responding issues?

Thanks, sorry for the long post.

huskertko · Answer

thanks, by rendering, i guess i meant encoding, so i guess that is normal. While browsing and moving from page to page, that is when it jumps up to 50-60% but then falls back down after a second or so.

I still have the problem with Ulead Video Studio 11 freezing up and having to shut down. I have tried closing everything in start up that i could but it didn't fix that problem. What is annoying is that software will run flawlessly on my old P4 computer with half the RAM and half the video card as my new laptop.

ButtonMasher · Answer

When idle or just browsing the web should be under 10% on both cores.
When encoding video should be near enough 100% because the faster your processor the faster it will encode but will still use high percentage. If you mean rendering video - as in just watching it will depend on how high quality and the type and amount of compression so it's hard to say.

Try disabling windows aero effects. Also disable anything from booting that you don't need go to start then type "msconfig" untick everything in startup and system that you can and reboot. If you are not sure what an item is google the file name and it will tell you. You'll probably be able to disable a ton of start up apps and 2-3 services. Things like itunes add about 6-7 startup items and services and most of them are not needed to run. Bonjour, itunes helper, ipod service, quicktime taskbar etc.

Anyway you can add apps back in if you find something stops working until you get a good balance of performance and functionality. You may find you want to completely uninstall some resource hog apps.

First I did with my 1530 was remove McAfee and Google Desktop as these are resource eaters. I use OneCare which while not being the best protection available takes less resource and costs less too (I got 6months free then 3 computers licensed for £15 for another year because I beta tested - normal offer is 3months free then £30/year for 3 computers I think).

Hope this helps.

eSolutions · Answer

2 gigs is more than enough...........even of you have 4 gigs you wont gain anythin........configure yr page file.........plus 30 series have hardware conflicts........as when 2010 was first released was slower than my obsolete P3.

ButtonMasher · Answer

Sounds like the problem is with the Ulead Studio software - Check their site for updates. I think it was designed for single processors on XP so although it supports newer hardware/software in may not be ideal.

The problem is not insufficient power just incompatibilities with either vista or the core2duo processor or some other software you have installed. It could also be bad codecs so

I run PowerDirector and Imtoo software and it encodes fast and problem free.

eSolutions · Answer

1. Congigure yr page file. 1524-1524MB min & max.   2. MSCONFIG> uncheck non needed proggies on startup.   3. Turn unnecessary Services to Manual & a few to Disabled.

highpeaks · Answer

If huskertko has 3GB RAM, shouldn't his page file reflect at least 3000/3000 (if not more?).  I've read 2.5-3 times your installed RAM for paging file.  Can anyone elaborate on this subject?

highpeaks · Answer

I guess I'm a bit confused. My RAM is 3GB, my current paging file settings for all drives are:

Minimum: 16 MB

Recommended: 4603 MB

Currently allocated: 3369 MB

Should this be changed for max performance?

My computer specs:

XPS M1530

Intel Core Duo T7500 processer (2.2 GHz)

3070 MB Ram

Vista Home Premium

160GB (7200rpm) hard drive

NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GT video card

eSolutions · Answer

for 3 gigs set min & max to 512 MB.........for Vista.

eSolutions · Answer

pysical memory & page file are different.   what you see in the task manger or meter gadget is physical memory.

eSolutions · Answer

whats yr windows experience index??

highpeaks · Answer

Here are my scores:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz 5.1

Memory (RAM) 3.00 GB 4.8
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT 5.9
Gaming graphics 1535 MB Total available graphics memory 5.4
Primary hard disk 58GB Free (136GB Total) 5.2

4.8 WEI (Determined by lowest subscore)

The score appears to be good, but I still have performance problems when playing back video files.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

CPU Usage

Was this post helpful?