Possible CPU upgrade - questions!

Well... here's the deal. I currently have Intel core 2 duo T5500 Merom (1.66Ghz) processor... it's nice... I don't have many problems. Except one: It's running at 100% ALL the time. Now, to clear up a few things: first of all, I run Windows XP 32 bit. I have windows tweaked and optimized for performance. I also do not "overclock" or "underclock" or whatever... My computer doesn't overheat either. It's usually around 45 - 50C. Now why is my C2D processor constantly maxed out? Even right now, with only a single web browser open, it is at 100%. I'm thinking that I either a) need an upgrade, or b) have some sort of function that is keeping the processor running all the time.

I do a lot of digital video and audio editing which usually eats up lots of processing power... I also have 4 GB of memory (only 3GB used) and a 200GB 7200RPM drive installed... my other question is: will upgrading the CPU to a 2Ghz+ make much difference?!

Should I choose to upgrade, I need to know the following:

1) with core 2 duo do you need to get 2? or are both located on one chip?! Just makin' sure

2) how exactly do you know what's compatible and what's not? I have PC wizard installed which gives me a good amount of info (I attached a screen shot). I know there are different sockets, and pins, and all kinds of stuff...

3) is there much difference between a merom 2.0Ghz and a merom 1.66Ghz? If there's not much difference, than it's probably not worth it... Might as well get a new computer... anything about 2Ghz is incredibly expensive!

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

How about Ctrl+alt+del to check which processes are running?

1) No it is two cores in a single "die" package, so 1 is the number you want

2) Well, I can see that you have a "merom" which is the 65nm core 2 duo and it has a 667MHz FSB this means that you should look for ones with the EVEN model numbers between T5500 and the T7600 (not the T7800!)

There is also the UNEVEN numbers between the T5500 and T7800, but these require a 800MHz FSB and this is most likely not supported on your current motherboard

It is not compatible with the new "penryns" (45nm) so you should avoid these 45nm parts (T8xxx (3MB cache and T9xxx (6MB cache)-series)

3) Well something like the T7400 (2.16GHz) is around 25% faster (based solely on clockspeed, most likely more due to the larger cache)

Overall i think it depends on the price of the CPU's you can get. If you are otherwise satisfied with the performance and other parts of the laptop a T7400 may be a good option to increase your performance. The new penryn laptops are faster clock for clock, but in my opinion it doesn't warrant the purchase of a whole new laptop for that specific reason

 

Upon control alt deleting I found the only process to be running (with all windows closed) was RMClock (the numbers under CPU were 50... whatever that means). All the rest of the processes listed in the task manager said "00" under CPU.

I was actually looking at the T7400... although it is a lot more in price. I might be able to snag a used one on ebay for a bit cheaper than brand new.

Thanks for answering man!

 

all the 800mhz fbs chips all use a diffrent socket then most of the 667mhz

 

667mHz = socket M
800mHz = socket P

I think that's what I found when I started looking the other day.

I am getting a DV9700T as a replacement for my dead ZD7000 and HP would only provide the base processor, an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5550 (1.83 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB), so I was looking at possible replacements and the options I found (on Newegg) were:

2.0 gHz T7200 - $302
2.16 gHz T7400 - $433
2.33 gHz T7600 - $645

I'm thinking I will work with the 1.83 gHz processor for a while and see how it goes.

 

Are you on the desktop power scheme instead of laptop? If you are, the cpu will run full throttle................

 

These numbers mean the percentage of the total available CPU "power" used by the program. I.e RMClock is using 50% of the available CPU power ( either 50/50 on core 1 and 2 or 100% of 1 core). It is Right Mark cpu utility and I suppose this "50%" is from when you were looking at the processes while RMClock was running in the background.

So if it is 00 (except "idle = not used" ) then there isn't any load on your CPU

However I don't suspect you have RMClock running all the time, but if you didn't have it running intentionally then perhaps it is on automatic starup, in that case there might be a setting in the program to remove this (I just googled RMClock to see what it was so I don't really know it).

 

i think some of this is a misconception...

you need to find the core stepping of your chip first.

and at least the dv9700 series has an auto bus 400/533/677/800 mhz bus, so it will inturn take almost any chip that is not a socket m. pretty sure it's the same for the dv 6000 as well

Processor
A faster processor supports more efficient operations and applications performance
Help me decide
Pentium(R) Dual-Core Mobile Processor T2370 (1.73 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)
-$50.00Id : GV836AV Price : 75.00 EPP Price : 0.00 MIR : 0.00 IR : 0.00
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T5550 (1.83 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
Included in priceId : GM683AV Price : 125.00 EPP Price : 0.00 MIR : 0.00 IR : 0.00
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Pprocessor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 2 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
+$75.00Id : GM682AV Price : 200.00 EPP Price : 0.00 MIR : 0.00 IR : 0.00
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.10 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Superior performance for your entertainment applications with smooth multitasking
+$125.00Id : GV838AV Price : 250.00 EPP Price : 0.00 MIR : 0.00 IR : 0.00
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.40 GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
+$175.00Id : GV839AV Price : 300.00 EPP Price : 0.00 MIR : 0.00 IR : 0.00
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
+$225.00

direct from hp's website.

but it really boils down to stepping and socket. and 10 to 1 if it's a socket p, then it will take the faster chip without a hassle...as long as stepping is the same.

i have one around here, just haven't found a need to upgrade the chip in it.

 

The T5500 is Socket M.

 

you can get a t9300 (2.5ghz 6 meg cache) for about $350

 

None of the above listed would work anyway, as they are Socket M. The dv9700t uses Socket P (one of which John mentions in the post above).

 

just checked...your right.
mistaking a t5450 for a t5500

 

There is nothing wrong with your processor and, most likely, your system works on some task which you did not ask it for. Check all the bloatware or antivirus software's first, as they might take all the resources for their fake work. Also, replacing processor will never change it's busy state. Best thing - make a clean install of the system and check your resources in task manager and what software is started and making the processor to run forever.
Good luck!

 

Well.. I recently did do a clean install (After i installed a new hard drive), and I removed all the bloatware and useless programs/demos/other stuff... I then tweaked the crap out of the machine using almost every resource I could find to make it more efficient... then I installed all my software and set it up they way I want it. Yet... the processor is still busy as hell... It must be RMclock... are there any settings to make it "less busy".

I just checked my power scheme. it's currently set at "portable/laptop" with everything in the drop down menus selected as "Never".

Also, I have a DV6000us... not a DV9000 . My chipset is 945GM.