CPU usage very high

genetic

genetic

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I've noticed during the past couple of days that my pc has been very slow. When opening a number of tabs in firefox, the system becomes sluggish. The mouse will even freeze at times.
I have noticed that there is high CPU usage when the system is idle (ranges from 20% to 80% usage).
I've installed FlashGet and Zonal Alarm recently, but I doubt that these applications use a lot of resources, as they are supposed to be light weight.

Task Manager shows most processes using 0%. Some will periodically peak at 2%.

I'm running Vista on a 3.8Ghz P4, 2GB DDR 800 RAM and a Gigabyte P35-DS3L motherboard.

Anyone else with similar problems / probable causes?
 
genetic said:
I've noticed during the past couple of days that my pc has been very slow. When opening a number of tabs in firefox, the system becomes sluggish. The mouse will even freeze at times.
I have noticed that there is high CPU usage when the system is idle (ranges from 20% to 80% usage).
I've installed FlashGet and Zonal Alarm recently, but I doubt that these applications use a lot of resources, as they are supposed to be light weight.

Task Manager shows most processes using 0%. Some will periodically peak at 2%.

I'm running Vista on a 3.8Ghz P4, 2GB DDR 800 RAM and a Gigabyte P35-DS3L motherboard.

Anyone else with similar problems / probable causes?
Click to expand...

there's your problem,
you should be running... away from vista ;)
 
Lol, I knew I would get flamed for using Vista. :o It's the spawn of the devil! :eek:

I just couldn't be bothered to install XP and then go through the process of configuring programs, updates, drivers etc. It's a schlep.
 
Vista 64 has given me no probs for the last 8 months or so, no need to knock it :)

p.s. trying out windows 7 now and also no issues to date
 
QX6700RULZ said:
Vista 64 has given me no probs for the last 8 months or so, no need to knock it :)

p.s. trying out windows 7 now and also no issues to date
Click to expand...

+1 - I am a big supporter of Vista 64.

Although your system is not that bad, it should run Vista so so, it shouldnt be using so much of your CPU. I would suggest getting a spyware cleaner and running that.
 
What ever happened to helping someone?

Anyways, lets get back on topic:
QX6700RULZ said:
Vista 64 has given me no probs for the last 8 months or so, no need to knock it :)

p.s. trying out windows 7 now and also no issues to date
Click to expand...

He has a P4 so 64 won't work on his PC

have you disabled windows search and superfetch?
Click to expand...
Good suggestion

Disable the aero theme.

Try ending all programs (including those in the tray) on-by-one and see if your CPU usage drop. Note the app that is causing it, then disable it in start-up.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies

Yip, I'm running the 32bit version of Vista. I'll try disable superfetch and kill some applications one-by-one in the taskbar as see if it helps.

It's when I open multiple tabs Firefox that is really becomes sluggish. Vista has always run smoothly even with a number of open applications in the background. I think Zone Alarm might be the culprit.
 
How many tabs is lots of tabs? 30? 100? Firefox should cope in 2GB RAM.

ZoneAlarm could well be the issue.

What AV do you have?
 
genetic said:
Lol, I knew I would get flamed for using Vista. :o It's the spawn of the devil! :eek:
Click to expand...

Not true.. not sure about 32-bit versions but my 64-bit Ultimate has given me not a single problem in the 8 months I've had it.

Firefox can hog quite a lot of resources especially if you have lots of tabs open.
Is it only Firefox that spikes the usage?
 
Firefox seems to be the biggest resource hogger. When 10+ tabs are open, CPU usage jumps up considerably.
Strange thing is that it never caused the machine to slow down to the point where the mouse does not move until recently.

Sometimes Firefox will lock up, then firefox.exe will continue to run in the processes window in the task manager, and will refuse to terminate. If I try to open Firefox again, it tell me that another instance of Firefox is already running. A restart is the only cure...

Firefox updated to version 3.0.6 a few days ago. Maybe the update is causing problems??

I'm also running NOD32, Zone Alarm, SpeedFan and FlashGet in the taskbar.

I'll try some suggestions posted when I get home later today.
 
SharkBait said:
Not true, P4's are 64bit cpus.

PS: Can we get a pole on who is using what OS? :D
Click to expand...

P4's 64bit? I thought only the Core 2 line and up were 64bit :confused:...

EDIT: System Information for Windows says its a Pentium 4 640, 64bit CPU.

I never knew that they had 64bit versions of the old P4. I don't suppose I'll notice any performance what-so-ever should I upgrade to Vista 64??
 
Last edited:
Dude i would do a few things when using vista, firstly have nothing loaded that does not need to load, you do not need speedfan to load every time vista does.

In the run box type services, move down to windows search, stop and disable it, go into your hdd properties in my computer and untick index this drive.

If firefox is using up all your resources try another browser like IE8, chrome or opera. From the sound of it vista is not the problem but firefox is. I would also suggest uninstalling zonealarm and see if you still have the problem.

If all this should fail you should fresh install vista and make sure you turn windows search off and then monitor when firefox starts using alot of resources, you can listen to scotty about vista but he has never used it and is a total vista noob and that the reason he could not even begin to help you and just post that vista is the problem.
 
The 640 is a 3.2Ghz cpu, unless you OCed it. I don't think you would gain any performance, but it should solve your problem and then you have a fresh install. :p
 
SharkBait said:
The 640 is a 3.2Ghz cpu, unless you OCed it. I don't think you would gain any performance, but it should solve your problem and then you have a fresh install. :p
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's OCed. If nothing else, maybe a fresh install that I've been avoiding for a whole year is inevitable :(
 
genetic said:
Firefox seems to be the biggest resource hogger. When 10+ tabs are open, CPU usage jumps up considerably.
Strange thing is that it never caused the machine to slow down to the point where the mouse does not move until recently.

Sometimes Firefox will lock up, then firefox.exe will continue to run in the processes window in the task manager, and will refuse to terminate. If I try to open Firefox again, it tell me that another instance of Firefox is already running. A restart is the only cure...

Firefox updated to version 3.0.6 a few days ago. Maybe the update is causing problems??

I'm also running NOD32, Zone Alarm, SpeedFan and FlashGet in the taskbar.

I'll try some suggestions posted when I get home later today.
Click to expand...

I've noticed this on my work PC (Dual Core with XP).
Sometimes, it's a specific webpage thats the culprit. I can only assume it's running some insane script. My mouse also takes forever to respond and takes about 4 minutes to get into the Task Manager
 
CPU

Open task manager check process check explorer.exe between 50% and 70% on my Vista 32 bit. Not always but it happens often I don't know why.
After restart leaving it on idle no problem between 0.1 to 1%
 
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