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    Intel Centrino Duo processor

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by vistanoob18, Jun 30, 2010.

  1. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 notebook with a Intel centrino duo processor. No matter what I'm doing, my processor is always operating at about 50% usage. Even if there are no tasks running on my computer. It used to operate around 5-10% usage before I got a virus about a year ago. :(

    Because my processor is always at 50% or more, I can't watch a fight I've downloaded and I have to be careful about how many tasks I run at once. :( How can I fix this issue? Is there software I can download to fix it or do I need to take a different approach?

    Your help is greatly appreciated
     
    vistanoob18, Jun 30, 2010
    #1
  2. Brawn

    Brawn The Awesome

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    open task manager and look under the CPU column and find which processes are using it the most.. and kill the ones that you don't need
     
    Brawn, Jun 30, 2010
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  3. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    You could format the hard drive and re-install Windows. That would fix it for sure. :)
     
    Nick, Jun 30, 2010
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  4. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

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    Open msconfig.exe, go to startup tab, and uncheck the programs you don't need, like QTTask, iTunesHelper, AdobeReader, etc. Reboot.
     
    fred2028, Jun 30, 2010
    #4
  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    be sure that your antivirus isn't the culprit. Some settings tell the AV programs to scan everything, all the time.
     
    newsposter, Jun 30, 2010
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  6. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    Yes it would for sure and if u can't diagnose the problem , u will have to do this, but look for how much CPU usage ur Anti Virus uses... i had mc afee and it was a memory and CPU hog.. i'm using avast now and have no problems.
     
    sean473, Jun 30, 2010
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  7. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    I've reinstalled windows 2 times in the last year and that hasn't fixed the problem yet. I've also stripped the tasks down to the essentials and the problem remained.

    Is there anything else I can try?
     
    vistanoob18, Jul 1, 2010
    #7
  8. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Try booting in Safe Mode and the the usage.
     
    Nick, Jul 1, 2010
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  9. classic77

    classic77 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you've reinstalled windows, then its not a software issue....
     
    classic77, Jul 1, 2010
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  10. Pantha

    Pantha Notebook Consultant

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    Try a linux live cd, that'll tell you for certain if its a hardware issue, cpu usage should be pretty low when idle in linux, mine stays below 5%. (but i have a different laptop)
     
    Pantha, Jul 1, 2010
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  11. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    well then, might be a driver issue... i remember than 1-2 ppl had high CPU usage due to an Audio driver in HDX16t last year and u might have a similar case too if ur using some driver... u might also want to upgrade ur CPU.. it might be getting overloaded... also can u post screenshots of CPU-Z so we can see what CPU have?
     
    sean473, Jul 1, 2010
    #11