high CPU usage

[Kenetics]

First of all, I have a Lenovo X61 Core 2 Duo T7100 @1.80GHz, 2G RAM with Windows 7 32bit 7600build and this is my problem.
My CPU usage is at 20% ~ 30% when idle and constanly goes up to 100% on whatever I do, even if i just right click on my desktop cpu goes up above 60% for couple of secs. If i try to download anyting from the internet CPU goes up 100% with DPC usage above 30% while downloading, this also happens when someone is copying shared files from my laptop over the network. I've tried fresh installing my windows 7 with all the updates and correct drivers, but I get the same problem and I only have SEP with anti virus protection and office 2007 installed. And the funny thing is if go back to XP from my norton ghost image i backed up, my cpu is normal and it stays around 2% to 3% when idle. So my question is.... is this normal? does Win7 use more CPU then XP???

 

[Orpheous]

Hi Kenetics, and welcome to sevenforums
20 - 30% idle cpu usage isn't normal, I'd say it's either due to background processes that are running, or could perhaps be something nasty.
type msconfig into the search panel, and click on the Startup tab, uncheck any unwanted/unnecessary items, click apply, then ok, then restart.
If you're unsure of any of the items in the startup tab, expand the command column until you see the name of the .exe file and do a quick google search for it, the first few results should give you a good idea of what it is and what it does.

After you've rebooted, click ok on the changed startup message, then check your task manager again. If it's still unusually high, then I'd suggest that for started you install MalwareBytes Anti-malware and do a full system scan with it.

Not sure what SEP is.... I did a search for it, but I don't think that you meant this!?!

 

[Orpheous]

hi Kenetics, it's been a couple of days, how is your high cpu usage issue going?

 

[AdeelAhmed]

Hey, I've been having a similar problem too. Noticed it lately. My pc lags when im browsing internet and the cpu usage keep hitting 50 to 70 and even 100%. I have a2.8 core 2 duo with 4 gigz of ram and a graphic card too but this has never happened before. Also my speakers make crackling sounds when i scroll up or down a webpage and lags too. Please please help!

 

[CommonTater]

Hey, I've been having a similar problem too. Noticed it lately. My pc lags when im browsing internet and the cpu usage keep hitting 50 to 70 and even 100%. I have a2.8 core 2 duo with 4 gigz of ram and a graphic card too but this has never happened before. Also my speakers make crackling sounds when i scroll up or down a webpage and lags too. Please please help!

Just out of curiosity, how big is your Temporary Internet Files Cache?

(IE... TOOLS... Internet Options... Browsing history... Settings)

If you make it smaller IE will spend less time maintaining it. Also shorten your history retention time... I'm at 16mb and 2 days...

No promises, but that might be part of it...

 

[whs]

The DPC problem is often caused by some bad driver. Run the DPC Latency Checker and see where you are at. If you have a lot of red, check your drivers.

 

[AdeelAhmed]

@ Commontater. I'm not really sure about the cache size as im not using IE. I use mozilla. The real pain is that if i've put some music on, and im also browsing the internet, the audio lags when i scroll a page up or down.

 

[CommonTater]

@ Commontater. I'm not really sure about the cache size as im not using IE. I use mozilla. The real pain is that if i've put some music on, and im also browsing the internet, the audio lags when i scroll a page up or down.

Hmmmm... are you using the default video and audio drivers installed by Win 7?

I had crap like this going on when I first put w7 in my machine and the fix was to get the more robust video driver from Nvidia. I don't know what it is with MS but they sure as heck don't know how to write (or steal) good drivers.

 

[AdeelAhmed]

@ Commontater. I'm not really sure about the cache size as im not using IE. I use mozilla. The real pain is that if i've put some music on, and im also browsing the internet, the audio lags when i scroll a page up or down.

Hmmmm... are you using the default video and audio drivers installed by Win 7?

I had crap like this going on when I first put w7 in my machine and the fix was to get the more robust video driver from Nvidia. I don't know what it is with MS but they sure as heck don't know how to write (or steal) good drivers.

Yes i am! I also checked the latency and there are alot of reds in it! I have an asus motherboard and the weird thing is that i've never had this issue before. Started two weeks ago! :S I'm using the default windows drivers!

 

[AdeelAhmed]

Umm strange

Hey guys, finally got rid of the red spikes in the DPC latency checker but now, something strange is happening. Turned out the audio twitching sounds were because the graphic card's heat sink was clogged with dust. Cleaned it completely and everything went back to normal but now the pc has started freezing. Dont know how to fix that. I've a freshly installed windows 7 64 bit with 4 gigz of ram. SHouldnt happen. Dont know whats wrong. It just freezes for no reason and i have to hard boot it everytime. Please help. Will really appreciate it!

 

[whs]

Hey guys, finally got rid of the red spikes in the DPC latency checker but now, something strange is happening. Turned out the audio twitching sounds were because the graphic card's heat sink was clogged with dust. Cleaned it completely and everything went back to normal but now the pc has started freezing. Dont know how to fix that. I've a freshly installed windows 7 64 bit with 4 gigz of ram. SHouldnt happen. Dont know whats wrong. It just freezes for no reason and i have to hard boot it everytime. Please help. Will really appreciate it!

The first culprit would still be the graphics card. Maybe you dislodged something and it is running too hot at times.