High CPU usage when computer is not being used.

[Sylveon Fetish]

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, the fan on my CPU is going full blast on my Dell Optiplex 780. This tells me that the CPU is being maxed out. However, I never get to see what process is causing the overload because by the time I turn on my monitor and move the mouse, the computer immediately calms down, every time this happens. If I am quick enough, I can see in the task manager that 50% - 70% of the CPU is being used and it drops to zero in just seconds—too quick to see what process it was. I am sure it was 100% CPU before I moved my mouse.


This problem does not happen a whole lot, just enough to raise some concern.


Does anybody know what the problem could be?

 

[TechnoMage2016]

As a computer tech of over 30 years, my best advise would be to turn OFF your computer when you're done using it. Then you won't have the problem as you outlined it.


Cheers!

 

[file3456]

I have seen so many problems with people use sleep or hibernation mode. Just shut it down. If that still doesn't work we can move forward with some other solutions.

 

[feetand nches]

I don't think that there is anything wrong at all, but that is just speculation. Computers run tools after the computer is idle for a certain amount of time, or at designated times. Most common is a Defrag, or Phoning Home, or Looking for Updates etc. I'm not familiar enough to go on about it more. I know my Linux box will look for updates like every half hour while idle, or so it seems to me from memory.

Unfortunately I don't have much good advice either. But, if it were me, I would Leave the Monitor On all the time, meaning visible desktop 24/7 until you get the info you want.

Then Open Task Manager > Options, and set it as Always on top. Though not needed, this way you can have it on top when needed in the future also, I find this very helpful. Now leave it all on, with the Processes Tab open till next morning so you can clearly see what is using all the CPU.

You can also use the Event viewer to get some info on what was running at that time in the morning. It will show the exact time for all processes.

There is also a tool called Process Monitor from Systernals. But I have never used this tool so cannot advise as how to do so.

Good luck