The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Processor maxing out easily in XPS 1640

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by orkitect, Apr 20, 2009.

  1. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I got a refurb Studio XPS 1640 with the below config.

    -- Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 (3MB cache/2.4GHz/1066Mhz FSB) Windows Vista Home Premium.
    -- 500 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
    -- 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz (2 DIMMs)
    -- 512MB ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3670

    I have the below questions.

    1) My CPU gets maxed out even if i have a couple of IE8 windows open. Is it normal or do i need to check something?
    2) Also if i play any mkv files the movie is not smooth and is this an issue with processor?
     
    orkitect, Apr 20, 2009
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Clean install Vista?
     
    sgogeta4, Apr 20, 2009
    #2
  3. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I am sorry, are you asking to do a re-installation or asking whether this is a clean installation?
     
    orkitect, Apr 20, 2009
    #3
  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Either or. If you haven't maybe try doing a clean install. If you are running a clean install, then it rules bloatware out.
     
    sgogeta4, Apr 20, 2009
    #4
  5. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I see what you are saying. you suspect bloatware issues. But I see the iexplore.exe in task manager occupying more than 80% during start up and then consistently around 40-60% when i browse. Is this normal?
     
    orkitect, Apr 20, 2009
    #5
  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Seems a little high. I use Firefox, so I'm not sure what you're supposed to be at. Try that and see if web surfing is any better?
     
    sgogeta4, Apr 20, 2009
    #6
  7. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

    Reputations:
    3,833
    Messages:
    8,209
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I don't think it's normal at all, but then again, I rarely use IE. Try downloading Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and see if they do any better.
     
    Mastershroom, Apr 20, 2009
    #7
  8. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    thanks all. i will try different browser and will see whats happening
     
    orkitect, Apr 20, 2009
    #8
  9. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    352
    Messages:
    3,799
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Try Google chrome.
     
    Luke1708, Apr 20, 2009
    #9
  10. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I installed firefox and man what a difference.......... now i can have multiple windows and browse and still the CPU wont cross 50% :). Thanks guys
     
    orkitect, Apr 21, 2009
    #10
  11. ImakE

    ImakE Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    438
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The only time my CPU goes past 10% while browsing is if im streaming a movie. I can have multiple tabs (10+) open and running multiple Word and Excel docs, and it doesnt even come close to 50%. And, the only time i max out the CPU is if im converting a movie.
     
    ImakE, Apr 21, 2009
    #11
  12. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Do you use IE?
     
    orkitect, Apr 21, 2009
    #12
  13. ImakE

    ImakE Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    25
    Messages:
    438
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Im running Firefox. Even on my old laptop with its 1.2 GHz processor.. it rarely went over 10% CPU use, unless i was doing Flash video (which is very processor intensive).

    Are you using tabs in Firefox, or opening up new instances of your browser?
     
    ImakE, Apr 21, 2009
    #13
  14. orkitect

    orkitect Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I usually will have my gmail opened in one window all the time and some forums which i visit regularly all the time. I can say atleast 3 windows with 3-4 tabs in each on them will be open always in my machine :D
     
    orkitect, Apr 21, 2009
    #14