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How much Ram and how much graphics ram. I don't know a lot about the ati cards, but from what I'm seeing on the net, this is a low end card. What is the problem with updating the graphics driver? Do the spikes occur when not running the game?

Gary

Are you trying to install the whole software suite or just the driver? At the ATi site I see both downloads. Drivers & Tools | GAME.AMD.COM

If this is a recent problem, you could try doing a system restore to a point before this started happening. Info here if needed: System Restore - How to

Also you could open task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). Go to processes tab and click on 'show processes for all users' (continue at UAC prompt if necessary). Then click on the CPU column header so the busiest processes will come to the top. Watch and see if you can determine which process is causing the spikes.

On a side note, if you go to User CP and click on edit system specs on the left, you can fill in as much info as you can and then we won't have to ask and you won't have to answer whenever you have a question.

Hope this helps. Please keep us posted.

Gary

ok i was installing the entire suite, but it was from a different site i found on a google search. so i probably had the wrong file.

for the Task manager processes 99% of the time i have System idle process at 99%CPU and the extra 1% used by random programs.

but all i noticed is during a spike Safari went up to 56% usage, but i normally have safari 4 closed. don't know if this is any use.

Will edit after installing new graphics drivers and testing.

EDIT: i'm getting the error

"Source install package not found"

if that's any help.

Don't know what would cause that. Try installing the driver through the device manager.

99% is the percent of time the cpu is idle. That's pretty normal. Safari at 56% seems high to me even for a second but I could be wrong.
You could open Reliability monitor and see if anything shows in there. Start button/type 'Reliability Monitor' (no quotes) into the search box/hit enter.

Gary

i've done a bit of further research and tried some apps that came with one of my PCFormat CDs to see if there was anything in there. came across Speedfan.

According to speedfan my core temperature is around 87 degrees C when i start spiking, and that my lappy does not contain a fan. i'm thinking this could be the main culprit. any ideas with this?

EDIT: thought i'd add that it's around 45 when i'm just browsing but over 80 while playing games (WoW Usually)

EDIT2: actually it's around 65 at rest

Don't know what the operating temps are for that cpu are, but you ought to be able to find them at AMD. Seems high to me though and heat could be the problem.

Gary