Big problem?

[Arr0w000]

I got Win7 x64 bit the other day on an Intel D220 processor 1.20Ghz ~ 1.50 ghz
MY problem is the CPU usage metre is really really really high. Most of the time it's about 90's and sometimes in the 00's

When I go to the task manager it seems at the CPU used doesn't add up?

Sometimes things like dmw.exe use 30% cpu, is this normal? Firefox also uses about 50%.

Thanks guys.

 

[soulsick]

Hi,
I guess you have this cpu: Intel® Celeron® Processor 220 (512K Cache, 1.20 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SLAF2
A 1.2 GHz Celeron isn't very powerful, but it should be able to run Win 7 ok. However you will have 100% cpu usage peaks quite often.
Your screenshot is totally what i would expect on such a system, except for the fact the total cpu usage says 100% (lower left corner), while it should say 56%, because your system idle process has 44% cpu.
Firefox sometimes uses quite a lot cpu (depending on the sites you are lookin at), on my system its also often at 50%.
Please post a screen of the performance tab of the task manager while your system is idle. It's easier to tell if your cpu usage is unusually high if we see the cpu usage history.

 

[Arr0w000]

Do you recommend I take it back and get a laptop with a better processor?
Or is there a way to improve it?
Thanks for your reply.

 

[soulsick]

Well, it depends on your needs. For basic tasks as browsing, listening music and watching movies your notebook should be good enough. But if you do a lot multitasking or use demanding applications like video-editing, games or stuff like that, i would recommend a notebook with dualcore cpu and maybe even a decent graphics card. But keep in mind a more powerful notebook will most likely mean shorter battery life, in case you do a lot of mobile computing.
You can also try to improve the performance by going through this excellent tutorial written by Brink: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-speed-up-performance-windows-7-a.html?filter
But again, while your notebook is idle, please post a screenshot of the performance tab of the taskmanager where one can see the cpu history. Maybe your cpu usage is unusually high, it shouldn't be always over 50% like in the first screen you posted.

 

[Arr0w000]

At the moment I'm doing some work, but I will try to upload a screenshoot in a little bit.
I quickly did check a while ago and it was about 5% but sometimes spiked to about 15%.
I also have another question, what does the ~ means? as in 1.2GHz~ 1.5GHz

Thanks.

 

[soulsick]

5 to 15% is a normal value. As i said, bigger spikes like 50 to 100% are also normal, but should happen very rarely when your system is idle.

I also have another question, what does the ~ means? as in 1.2GHz~ 1.5GHz

To be honest, I'm not sure. I'd guess your notebook has the ability to slightly overclock the cpu to 1.5GHz when needed. What brand and model is your notebook?

 

[Arr0w000]

It's Asus X5DCSeries, not sure if it's buyable in most shops though.

 

[Arr0w000]

The biut to the left was in idle mode, the bit further right was when I started working again.

 

[soulsick]

It's amazingly hard to find information on that model. Anywhere your notebook is mentioned, they just say it has a 1.2Ghz celeron, no info regarding the ~1.5GHz issue. Where did you find the 1.2~1.5 ghz statement?

As I did some research, I can tell you what i think about that notebook now. It's basicly a small bit more powerful than a netbook and has a bigger display than netbooks. Overall experience in win 7 is probably almost the same as with any netbook with 1.6 GHz Atom CPU.
Looking at your cpu history, i can't see anything abnormal. You have a slow cpu, that's why there are so many huge spikes when working. Don't want to sound offending, but either get used to it or pick up a faster notebook. At least cpu usage doesn't stay at 100% all the time
Using the tutorial i linked earlier won't change your situation very much. Maybe your notebook would be a little more responsive, especially when you turn all the eye candy off. But a turtle will never be as fast as a horse.

 

[Arr0w000]

Thanks for your reply.
The ~ 1.50ghz bit is found in dxdiag.

 

[soulsick]

You could check the speed of your cpu with CPU-Z (CPUID) if you are interested. I wouldn't trust dxdiag too much as it incorrectly reports my CPU speed too.

 

[Arr0w000]

Oh okay, I will do. Thank you so much for your help.
I think I'll keep this one as I'm just a student and my main needs are just facebook, youtube, itunes and ms office.

 

[Arr0w000]

It tells me my core speed is 1500.3 MHz.
Is that a good enough speed?
Thanks again.

 

[soulsick]

Oh okay, I will do. Thank you so much for your help.
I think I'll keep this one as I'm just a student and my main needs are just facebook, youtube, itunes and ms office.

You are welcome.
As i said, for basic tasks this notebook is not bad. And it has a decent amount of RAM (3gb), that's nice cause win 7 loves RAM. It really doesn't make that much of a difference if 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz, but of course the higher number gives you a little more performance
Just out of curiosity, any lags when watching youtube in fullscreen?

 

[Arr0w000]

No lag at all. I tried a lot of video hosting sites and they all seemed fine. Youtube, BBC iplayer, etc.
However, the one that I could not watch whatsoever was MEgaVideo. Not sure why though.

Thanks a lot for helping.

 

[soulsick]

No lag at all. I tried a lot of video hosting sites and they all seemed fine. Youtube, BBC iplayer, etc.
However, the one that I could not watch whatsoever was MEgaVideo. Not sure why though.

Thanks for the info. I asked because i need a new notebook, my 7 years old one refuses working now. Was thinking about buying a netbook, but maybe i should reconsider

 

[Arr0w000]

A good one might be the ASUS X50R it looks pretty good fore the money.