100% CPU Usage Problem

[pink_tractorbeam]

Hey,

I have been encountering a couple of problems since about November last year and I wondered whether anyone here could help me out.

I apologise in advance if this is unclear, I will explain it in the best way I can, and I also apologise about the enormous length of this post to readers :).

<U>The Problem</U>

The main problem - the title of the thread - is a seemingly constant 100% CPU Usage. To go into more detail, my computer will lock at 100% while relatively non-demanding programs are open, for example I cannot open Internet Explorer without my system locking at 100% and as a result rendering anything else I am doing/want to do a waste of time because my computer becomes unbelievably slow. Although I know people have encountered problems with IE 7, I use Firefox as my primary browser anyway and despite the fact that (even now) my CPU is currently running at 100% it is alot more useable than IE 7.

I don't just encounter this problem with my internet browsers. Overall my system will lock at 100% for programs/tasks (you get the idea) that are not at all taxing. As well as this, one thing that has caught my eye and concerned me is that on the off chance that my CPU is running below 80-100%, while viewing this information in Task Manager I noticed that when I close it just before the icon in the SysTray disappears, the bar fills right up - obviously signifying that my CPU has just reached 100%.

Anyway, this is also having a direct effect on other aspects of what I use my computer for. I am a fairly avid gamer and I play games such as C&C Generals and Counter Strike: Source, however even offline both games (especially Counter Strike Source) are near impossible to play due to (what I believe after minimising the games and viewing usage in Task Manager) this 100% usage. This is despite a 2.8Ghz processor; 512mb (definitely sufficient) RAM and an Nvidia GeForce 6200 (AGP; PNY [manufacturer]) graphics card.

This problem has only been present since last November, where I purchased a new motherboard, new RAM and formatted my HDD and putting XP Professional on it. I never had this trouble (except gaming, my graphics card was faulty) with my old OS and motherboard, however my old motherboard broke within 10 months of having it.

<U>Solutions</U>

I have tried only a few basic solutions, because even though I have a relatively good knowledge of ICT, I have never encountered this probelm before so I have basically been clutching straws at possible fixes. The following solutions have not worked:

Upgrading my RAM to 1GB
Using a different graphics card (same problems both with Onboard & a GeForce 5500)
Downloading all relevant drivers and updates
Trying different and less graphically demanding games

These were the first simple solutions to try and fix the problem. I am unsure whether there is a problem with the Operating System itself or maybe even my CPU, however I am using the same processor that came with my old motherboard and I never encountered this problem.

Below are the results of DirectX Diagnostics, because I can imagine you might need this. I apologise in advance, all of the data will be pasted from the saved Notepad document into this post (shown in Bold). Viewing it now, it is pretty long :D.

<B>------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/15/2007, 22:37:35
Machine name: HAL
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.060411-1541)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: P4i6G
System Model: P4i65G
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 502MB RAM
Page File: 339MB used, 505MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: The file ialmrnt5.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
Sound Tab 1: The file cmuda.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
Sound Tab 2: The file blueletaudio.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

[dub-u]

Have you opened the processes tab of task manager to see what application is actually hogging the cpu time?

[pink_tractorbeam]

Yes I have, it is mostly usually the internet browser I am using - Firefox is using anything between 30+% of my CPU but it has to be open. I have checked for any processes that shouldnt be running and I don't have any that are not supposed to be there. Anyway the point is that for relatively decent hardware something like Firefox which should not tax the system at all. My brother does not get this problem - he has slightly more dated hardware and can use his PC without any problems at all...can do all the functions my PC can't.

I've tried everything I can think of for this sort of problem; that's why I have come here but I should have mentioned that I do check my processes on a regular basis considering the nature of the problem.

Any other possible solutions?

[glc]

Is that an AGP or a PCI video card? By the looks of things I think it's PCI, because that readout of 502mb ram tells me that the onboard video is enabled. Using an AGP card will disable it but not a PCI. You could have the 2 video adapters fighting each other.

If you are an avid gamer, you need to beef up that machine a lot more. You need a lot more ram, a stronger video card, and a better processor. You are trying to make that machine do more than what it's suitable for.

[pink_tractorbeam]

I am currently running the on board graphics, because I have recently had more bad luck - I get a display memory error upon start up (in BIOS) with my 6200. I just need this to stop - I would like to upgrade my machine further at some point but I know for a fact that the specs I am running are at least sufficient (other computer in home can run CSS etc with 512 RAM; 2.6Ghz processor and GeForce 5200 - he has no problems whatsoever).

I did try running my PC with the 5200 graphics card in the other day and I still had the same problem with the usage - and an inability to play games.

I just dont understand why my brother's computer whose hardware isn't as good (i.e. slower processor; older graphics card with 128mb memory) can run the <i>same</i> games I want to run without his PC locking up at 100% (his runs about 60-70% with a relatively demanding game like Counter Strike Source) and extreme lag even while playing offline. The PC is more than suitable for playing the games I want to play, I know that for a fact - because my brother's PC can run exactly the same games with no problems whatsoever.

I see your point about beefing up my machine though, but I just don't see the point until this problem has been sorted :).

[glc]

Which 2.6 does he have? Your 2.8 is a Celeron - small cache and slow FSB.

This problem has only been present since last November, where I purchased a new motherboard, new RAM and formatted my HDD and putting XP Professional on it.

Did you install all applicable motherboard drivers? Did you install the latest drivers for all addon cards? Do you have SP2 and all critical updates? Have you tried reverting back to IE6?

[pink_tractorbeam]

My brother's PC is a Dell from a couple of years back so I'm pretty sure that his is a Celeron too.

Yes to all of those except reverting to IE 6 :), but thats because I would rather use Firefox. Anyway, the internet browsers (and games for that matter) are not the only apps making my CPU run at 100% - as I said, it locks (as in stays on) 100% CPU usage for relatively non-taxing applications.

My motherboard is a cheap one aswell - it only cost me about £30, but I doubt it's that...I have thought about the fact that it might be the processor but at the moment I don't have the sort of money to buy a new one, and I'm not inclined to want to when it ran just fine on my old motherboard with the old OS on.

When I get home from college I will revert back to IE 6 and let you know.

Thank you all for your help so far :).

[glc]

Maybe not - the Dell could very well be a 2.6 P4 with 800 FSB.

IE hooks into the OS, so it could be affecting it whether you use it or not.

Have you done virus and spyware scans, and examined all the startup items?

[pink_tractorbeam]

Yeah I have :) I make sure my computer's free from anything that shouldn't be on there - I used RegCleaner the other day to look through all my startup and complete program list too. I also regularly check my start up too :).

Now that you mentioned the fact that IE is hooked directly into Windows, do you think removing it completely may help the problem? Since I don't use it, it doesn't really bother me not having it on there. As soon as I get home I'll try that.

I'll double check the other processor too - you might be right...like I said before I'm not sure.

[glc]

You can't completely remove IE and still have a functional operating system.

[pink_tractorbeam]

I understand. Probably not the best thing to say :D...I never knew that.

Thanks for the suggestions so far glc.

[pink_tractorbeam]

Hey everyone,

I just thought you should know that I found the problem a few weeks ago and it has now been solved. The issue was my CPU was getting too hot (I was quite lucky actually, my BIOS said the processor was running at about 90 Celsius) and it became so bad my computer kept turning itself off - from what I now know must have been because the processor was getting too hot.

I then discovered that it was the CPU fan that was the issue - it had a blade broken (woops ) and it was running at half the speed it should have been.

I bought a new heatsink and fan (for a mere £5), and the 100% CPU Usage has completely stopped and I can now do everything I want on my system - I can finally play games after 18 months of problems!

Thanks to everyone for all their input and support. It certainly helped drive me to find out what this problem was! And luckily I did...I might not have a PC now if I didn't :D.

Mark.