CPU Usage hovering around 50%

[greg20]

I installed the folding@home GUI client last night on one of my XP machines. On my homebuilt (specs below), CPU usage hovers around 54% with the f@h client running, according to task manager. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm running other applications or not; it doesn't stick around 100% as it should. I'm virus- and spyware-free, defragged, etc. Even if I had one of these issues going on, I assume it would still show 100% usage and it would just be that less of that was being allocated to folding@home.

I installed the gui client a few minutes ago on my Dell 4550 with XP and CPU usage is right up there at 100%; again according to task manager.

Any ideas for getting my homebuilt CPU usage up to where it should be? It occasionally peaks to around 75% when I launch a new app or something, but that's about it. Is task manager reporting a false value, or is my CPU usage being limited for some reason?

I've been running a WU for about 18 hours on the system specs below and it's done 146/400 - since this is my first, no idea if this is slow or not. So far I've either left my PC alone or not done anything more intensive than Eudora and a few browsers open at once.

I may set it up on my now-dormant PIII 800 Dell but I'm not sure how much value that would add.

I'm also having the blacked-out taskbar popup boxes issue (on both machines); I followed the link mentioned in another thread but the Microsoft patch was no longer available on that site.

I ran a search for "cpu usage" on the distributed computing forum and didn't come up with anything relevant. Thanks.


PC specs: P4P800 (non-deluxe), P4 2.6C, 1024 MB Crucial RAM (2 512 sticks dual channel), 120 GB WD special edition, ATI AIW 9700 (non-pro), SB Audigy 2, Dlink DWL-520+ PCI adapter, Antec case w/350W psu.

[lil Jimmie]

It is a Hyperthreading cpu and it sounds like you are only running one instance of Folding on it and so 50% is all you are going to see unless you run 2 instances of folding or disable hyperthreading in the bios but you lose that feature for folding and other things.

In this F@H tweakers guide there is info on how to setup 2 instances on hyperthreading cpu's. Look for 5 "b) Two folds are better than one (Difficulty: Advanced)"

[Vigo]

Are you using any other distributing programs?

Go to the configuration window for folding at home. click on advanced and under core priority check off "slightly higher" See if that changes anything.

[Vigo]

Originally posted by lil Jimmie It is a Hyperthreading cpu and it sounds like you are only running one instance of Folding on it and so 50% is all you are going to see unless you run 2 instances of folding or disable hyperthreading in the bios but you lose that feature for folding and other things.

Same chip; 99% cpu useage. *shrugs*

[MulderMan]

this happens with me and SETI@home, i can go from 5% to 100% in a matter of seconds after launch.

[Byte 2.0]

I too am having

I'm also having the blacked-out taskbar popup boxes issue (on both machines); I followed the link mentioned in another thread but the Microsoft patch was no longer available on that site.

I reinstalled direct x 9.X and my video drivers but still happening, any fixes?

[Vigo]

On the graphical display? You have main title enabled checked off under display, in configuration?

[lil Jimmie]

There were some WU that had a problem running the cpu at full load, something having to do with writing to the disk but I thought Stanford had that fixed.

I always though the grapical client was too unstable and is why I only run the text console.

[greg20]

I posted, went to eat dinner, came back and there's already 7 replies! You guys are amazing.

Anyway, lil jimmie thanks for the info and I'm going to try the text clients with HT. I read the info on maximumpc but haven't tried it out yet.

Vigo, I'm not running any other distributed computing apps. Also, "main title enabled" is unchecked and I still have the blacked out text issue. Not only is it black text, the popup textbox 'alignment' (for lack of a better term) is off. IE I run my mouse over the AIM icon, and it comes up as 'Sygate Personal Firewall' (whose icon is next to it).

I guess I'll lose the current fold but I need to make sure I'm running at 100% and not 50. I'll post a followup once I get the text console going.

Thanks.

edited for typos

[greg20]

Looks like we're good to go now. Got rid of the GUI, and I have two FAH clients running with the affinity for the clients and cores set appropriately. My blackened text problems are gone and CPU usage is at 100%. Thanks.

[lil Jimmie]

Good Job!!!

There is a little program called Hide It you can use if you grow tired of the consoles showing up in the taskbar.