Problematic CPU on my Dell Inspiron 1520

In the last week my CPU has been acting up and I don't understand why. I know its normal for it to jump to 90 for a split second when ever I Open a new program it does that but then it goes back down to the normal. (Example A high spec game jumps to 99 when it opens but once its running like 3 seconds later goes back down to 55%) The problem is it does not stay at 55% like it once used to, now its going 55,27,28,41,29,59,81,22, every second it changes. My physical memory is a stedy 54% with the game running however the CPU is never calming down, Even when I have no programs running it goes from 2-10% jumping in between that every 2-3 seconds. All I know is my computer Did not do that last month and it happened out of no where, any one who can help me plz I really don't understand whats going on.

2.0 Duo core processor
2GiG of ram
NVIDIA 8600 256 GT graphics card.
Dell Inspiron 1520 Notebook.

 

that's the CPU changing its clock- it saves battery life and allows the CPU to adjust to the computer's demands

 

Sounds normal to me....

 

are u sure about that man, because It used to be steady before like 50-53% not 20-80 all over the place and even with NOTHING is running i still get 2% 4% 17% 12% 11%

 

You have to realize that there are always processes running in the background that will take up cpu cycles. Even at idle it will never be a constant 0%. If your computer is on, it will need some cpu interaction.

Sporadic cpu usage doesn't mean a bad cpu, it means bad software. There's prolly a new thing installed on your machine, whether software that you installed or spyware that is using up your cpu cycles. But it is in no way a bad or malfunctioning cpu. Believe me, if your cpu was "bad", you would know it (aka your computer won't turn on)

 

I did a spyware check with spy bot S&D (Since I cant afford one you pay for) It detected a few files like 12 or so I deleted them all then did a secondary system check and it got 1 more, got rid of that and then did a virus scan, got zero viruses....It kinda calmed down though after the spyware sweep I think that might have been part of the problem but it still not as stable as my friends. Which is the same identical computer

 

Unless you guys cloned your OSes and installed the EXACT SAME software, and use the computer the EXACT SAME way, there is no way you can say your computers are identical.

You may have the same specs, the same OS, but you guys have your own programs that you use, your own habits of how you use the computer and what websites you browse and for how long you do each thing. All of those factors make them different. Thus you cannot say that your cpu is broken because it's not as stable as an exact replica of your computer.

Like I said before, a "bad" or "broken" cpu would not show these problems. These are not the symptoms of a broken cpu, nor do they indicate a malfunctioning cpu. If your cpu was bad, the computer would not turn on.

So now that we have that cleared up and out of the way, the only other thing to examine is the actual software and drivers installed on your OS. Thus the discrepancy lies in the software, not the hardware.

Oh and also, just cuz your cpu fluctuates more than others doesn't mean it's not stable. The definition of cpu stability is a completely different thing.