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    core duo cpu load

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by brotzfrog, Jul 24, 2006.

  1. brotzfrog

    brotzfrog Notebook Consultant

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    i have a question about my core duo machine and its out of proportion cpu load figures. While using notebook hardware control to help extend my battery life, I notice that the cpu load will requently increase into the 30-40% area even when no programs are running and the notebook is just sitting idle. i have to figure that this is going to eat of some battery life especially over time. the cpu load will stay aroud 2-4% for a few seconds then hop up to 30 or 40 then back down then maybe go up to 8 or 10 then back down to 2-4 then back up to 30-40 and so on and so on. Has anyone else noticed this? is there something i can do to help remedy this situation ? thanks for all your help in advance
     
  2. Revolution

    Revolution Notebook Guru

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    how do you know nothings running?
    virus scanner, ad aware stuf, spyware stuf will take some cpu but other then that I have no clue
     
  3. asenna

    asenna Notebook Consultant

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    i think it is windows doing some sort of maintenance work (oke i dont believe that myself)
    isnt there a function in windows that he will look what is on your hdd ,and when you search a file he finds it quicker ?

    or like "revolution" said background programs.
     
  4. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Yes, it's called the Indexing Service - which is a waste. Windows has so many unnecessary services/processes.

    Go here:
    http://theeldergeek.com/
    It will show you what you can and can't disable. Also follow our tune-up guide here:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=5787
     
  5. qwester

    qwester Notebook Virtuoso

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    Open the task manager > processes. Order the processes by CPU usage, and monitor it for a little while. This is the easiest way to discover what is using your CPU every now and then.
     
  6. Jalf

    Jalf Comrade Santa

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    Or enable the "CPU Time" column, and order by that.
    Then you can see how much CPU time a process has taken total since it was started. Most processes should be < 20 seconds. (I've been running Winamp for the last couple of hours, it currently shows 6 seconds CPU time. Firefox currently shows a bit over 3 minutes))