System Idle 99% and CPU 45%?

Strange XP Behavior

[jk3210]

Someone want to explain to me how the CPU Usage can be at a constant 35-45% when the System Idle Process is at 99%? (with no programs running)

I thought it was maybe anti-virus software running, but it even happens after a clean boot.

If you can explain it, you're doing better than?ell Support.

[asquithea]

I wouldn't have thought that's technically possible. The System Idle Process isn't really a process at all -- just an accounting mechanism to make the numbers add up to 100%.

Try using ProcessExplorer from SysInternals -- that'll most likely shed more light on your system.

[genel]

This has just started happening on my Win2K system. It also happened once before. Right now task manager is reporting 94% for the system idle process, but performance monitor is reporting 53% utilized.

The first time I had installed a Motorolla wireless network adapter. I resolved the problem by removing the wireless adapter.

This time I added a Belkin USB 2.0 PCI adapter.

I have tried a couple of cpu benchmark programs and it appears that the cpu can be entirelly allocated to a user processes.

If anybody has any ideas on the cause of this, I would love to know what it is.

[freeflight2]

they might include IO usage into this 45%.
SCSI etc. operations can be done without much CPU use

[jk3210]

Mine becomes a problem because the mouse becomes jerky and it takes forever to open a program. Only happens for 20 minutes at a time, then goes back to normal.

And get this: after spending two days holding on the tech support line; after doing all the checks; after restoring the complete hard drive back to the factory mirror; after doing another complete re-install from disk (wipe drive clean); the problem still occurs.

?ell says it's a video card problem. We'll see tomorrow when the new one arrives, I guess. If it is the problem, that's one nasty video card.

[jdMorgan]

I'll hazard a guess that some device (such as your video card) is generating endless request-for-service interrupts. Any card could do this if it failed in a certain way, and that would burden the CPU, but it wouldn't have any specific association with an application, just a driver.

So, your technique of pulling one card at a time is a good one to find this sort of problem.

Jim

[ForceFed]

Hi guys. I just wanted to let you all know that I recently had this problem as well and my problem was linked to my video card. Last week I upgraded my video card from a FX5200 to a BFG FX6200 OC (overclocked from the factory).
I installed the card, installed the latest driver from NVIDIA and then installed Coolbits(a registry setting that allows me to overclock my video card even more as well as other things).
I overclocked my video card over the OEM specs and I also checked a little box in the video card settings that tells the video card fan to stay on all the time. Thats when I noticed that my system was taking a hit. Normal Idle CPU temps on my PC are between 40-41*C. I noticed at idle though that my CPU temps were creeping as high as 50-55*C and the computer became virtually inoperable. CPU load never went below 50% and System Idle was between 86-99. I had an inherit lag with the mouse pointer and navigating Windows was impossible. I then rebooted into safe mode, turned the fan off, reinstalled the video card driver and then checked my temps. They started coming down and finally settled back in to about 40-42*C. My computer is now fine but I'm sure as soon as the fan on the Video Card kicks back in, this problem may come back. So I could be totally off-base here, but I think the fan on the Video card was running and channeling warm or hot air directly onto my CPU causing it to run hot. Thats the only explanation I can think of. Anyways, to the original thread poster, please check your CPU temps and let us know what they are. Good luck!

[johnlamb]

Check under Services and make sure the Messaging service is disabled.
This is a Microsoft problem that was fixed wth Service Pack 2. The messaging service should be disbaled by default.

Try it if it works OK

[deadbird]

IMO....

First do a spyware check

Second, swap out your RAM. Faulty ram can cause inaccurate readings.

[edited by: bill at 1:49 am (utc) on Nov. 3, 2005]
[edit reason] URLs not necessary. We all know the main spyware removal vendors. [/edit]