CPU Usage - High and Fluctuating?

P

Playdo

Member
- Windows Vista Home Basic - 32-bit
- Intel Celeron 420 Processor (1.6 GHz/ 512 KB L2 Cache/ 800 MHz FSB)
- 1512 MB RAM (DDR2)

I had issues with a BSOD recently and now it doesn't crash, but hangs on a blue screen temporarily until starting:
http://www.vistax64.com/crashes-debugging/287422-bsod-report-help-needed.html

I added some more RAM to the system. I've sinced checked the Task Manager - Resource Monitor, and the CPU usage is frequently showing 100%. The usage also fluctuates rapidly across a large value (between 10 - 100%). There are no other programs running other than Resource Monitor AFAIK - The computer is connected to the internet via LAN and I have a second computer that is connected wirelessly. I don't know if the second computer connection could make a difference?

The RAM is typically around 650MB usage (40%). The system is lagging a lot.

Why's the CPU so high and fluctuating, and how do I fix it? In the Resource Monitor what should I be looking at out of PID/Threads/CPU/Average CPU, to see if anything is abnormal?
 

My Computer

System One

Give us a screen shot of your task manager, showing cpu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Is it a laptop?
Ok if it is!
then go to battery control and take off the "Power saver" thingy..
my fathers laptop does the same thing.. you have to chose High performance or something like it.
If i take it on the Power thingy it goes to 100%..
 

My Computer

System One

It's a desktop.

@rich: Task Manager just shows a CPU usage graph. Do you mean a screen shot of Resource Monitor - CPU - PID/Threads/CPU/Average CPU?
 

My Computer

System One

Task manager under the process tab, will show each process and cpu usage. Check show all users.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Rich: I took two Print Screens, one after the other, so there might be some overlapping of the processes.

CPUProcess.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

Can you get a shot with the high cpu?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Here's a screen shot at 100%. It's only the top section of processes - let me know if you need the rest.

The CPU usage seems to go to 100% as soon as I do anything ie. run task manager, open an application etc.

CPUProcess02.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I've already done two full boot scans and a normal scan (Kapersky/Avira/Malwarebytes/) and I have Avast installed. Initially a Backdoor Trojan was found and removed (see link in 1st post). Nothing was found after this.

Before I increased the RAM, the RAM usage would be 80-90% but the CPU usage would generally be very low. I don't know why this is - maybe maximising the RAM could have prevented the CPU from going up?

Looking at that process sheet, does everything look normal? The value shown there in the CPU column, is that the % usage?

- I'm concerned why there are so many usernames showing (SYSTEM/LOCAL). Should there only be one on that computer?

I'll go through each of the processes behind svchost.exe but how will I know what should be removed or not?

It's causing the computer to respond very slowly, which hasn't always been the case.

My knowledge of computers is limited so, sorry for all the questions - I really appreciate the help.
 

My Computer

System One

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Capture-cpu.jpg
You are ok with the System and other users. Here is my TM.

The question about ram and CPU was very astute. Again the usage is quite normal and to be expected. If it did not occur you would problem have a problem
Why Is There More CPU Usage After Upgrading RAM? | eHow.com

Yes, that is percent that is used. It will always be near 100%. Look at mine, I have nothing running and Im at 100%. System idle is showing at nearly 100%. That number is misleading, however, as that is the reserve.

Lets start with the clean boot to diagnose, the slowness. Dont forget the malwarebytes. I know you have made other scans, but go with Malwarebytes to be sure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I mixed and matched. It's the same RAM specs; speed etc, just one stick is 512 MB, the other is 1GB.

When I said that the computer didn't use to be slow, I'm referring to quite a while back. It's been slow a while now with only one stick of RAM installed too.
 

My Computer

System One

OK I had to check. Perform the clean boot carefully and tell me the results.
also
Perfrom the malwarebytes scan. Full scan after you update.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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