system performance dies...

  • Thread starter Thread starter commandre
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commandre

Hi, Ive been having a problem where my system slows down
dramatically, the CPU useage is reported as 45-75%
constantly. This is mostly noticable in games (halflife
via steam, and neverwinter nights) but is definately not
related to graphics as when i use music creation programs
it performs very poorly as well, or anything else for that
matter.

I have an AMD 850, 256MB ram, i have 3 hard drives, 20gb
30gb and 160gb. nvidia riva tnt2, soundblaster live.

running win XP professional, later installed XP1, and
reinstalled freshly and the problem was still there.

I noticed the problem pop up a few times over the last 6
or so months, but now its constant. The useage is all in
System Idle Process, but as i say, the processor useage is
up at 45-75% or more.

It seemed like when i would just turn the computer off for
a while the problem would go away (pointing the solution
to heat maybe) but now as soon as i start it up even first
thing in the morning its just as slow. (and the cpu is
running at about 68 degrees, which is normal, yes?)

Im quite sure its not a virus or anything, since as soon
as i installed the new copy of winxp, even the intro video
it plays was incredibly slow.

The strange thing about it is that after doing a full
virus scan AND a fresh win XP install on a new drive, the
problem is still there, but when i boot to Win ME or win2k
advanced server its just fine. (0% useage at idle) its
also fine when i boot to safe mode.

im thinking it must be something to do with hardware...
ive had the exact same config for a few years and the
problems only started over the last few months, the only
new thing is the 160gig hd, 2 weeks ago. the problem
became constant only a few days ago.

I hope theres enough info there, i hope someone can help
me, i looked through the posts but nothing described this
situation closely enough to help.

Thanks for any help,
commandre
 
commandre said:
Hi, Ive been having a problem where my system slows down
dramatically, the CPU useage is reported as 45-75%
constantly. This is mostly noticable in games (halflife
via steam, and neverwinter nights) but is definately not
related to graphics as when i use music creation programs
it performs very poorly as well, or anything else for that
matter.

I have an AMD 850, 256MB ram, i have 3 hard drives, 20gb
30gb and 160gb. nvidia riva tnt2, soundblaster live.

running win XP professional, later installed XP1, and
reinstalled freshly and the problem was still there.

I noticed the problem pop up a few times over the last 6
or so months, but now its constant. The useage is all in
System Idle Process, but as i say, the processor useage is
up at 45-75% or more.
Click to expand...

"The usage is all in the System Idle Process"?! Why is it, that as soon as
people see a word used in a technological context they think it has some
hidden meaning?! Suggest you avail yourself of the nearest dictionary and
look up the definition of 'idle'.

It seemed like when i would just turn the computer off for
a while the problem would go away (pointing the solution
to heat maybe) but now as soon as i start it up even first
thing in the morning its just as slow. (and the cpu is
running at about 68 degrees, which is normal, yes?)
Click to expand...

If that's 68°C at idle then, no, it's not. Add the 20° or so it could
potentially rise at full load and you're heading towards full system
meltdown. 90°C is the maximum temperature for an Athlon XP CPU but they're
more heat tolerant than the older AMD chips. I suggest you invest in some
more efficient cooling and check that your system fans are round the right
way (cool air should be drawn in at the front and hot expelled from the
rear). I would check that your CPU fan is fully functional and that it's
free from dust. Dust acts like an insulating blanket and, depending on the
thickness of the layer, could increase temperatures significantly.

I have four systems here. A P4 3.2GHz which runs at 35°C idle and 45° at
load, a P4 1.8GHz, which is slightly cooler (about 33° idle and 43° at
load), a 3000+ which runs warmer than the 3.2GHz P4 (but, then, Athlons
always do) at about 37° idle and 47° at load. Finally, there's my father's
P3 1GHz which is probably about 30°/40°.
Im quite sure its not a virus or anything, since as soon
as i installed the new copy of winxp, even the intro video
it plays was incredibly slow.
Click to expand...

How did you install it - over-the-top upgrade or clean installation? If the
former, I strongly suggest you do the latter. Having said that, whilst
850/256 isn't anywhere near the minimum requirements, it's not exactly the
newest thing in the world. Also, the problem could lie with your graphics
card. The Riva TNT2 must be at least 5 or 6 years old by now and is no
longer supported by nVidia (there are no XP or 2000 drivers, and the NT
driver will *NOT* work under XP). This will explain the problems you're
experiencing in games, and certainly no recent (last couple of years or so)
will run with on a TNT chipset - they'll all require a GF or Radeon.
The strange thing about it is that after doing a full
virus scan AND a fresh win XP install on a new drive, the
problem is still there, but when i boot to Win ME or win2k
advanced server its just fine. (0% useage at idle) its
also fine when i boot to safe mode.
Click to expand...

Which doesn't require drivers so it must be a driver issue and all fingers
point to the graphics card.
im thinking it must be something to do with hardware...
ive had the exact same config for a few years and the
problems only started over the last few months, the only
new thing is the 160gig hd, 2 weeks ago. the problem
became constant only a few days ago.
Click to expand...

Did you flash (update) the BIOS to accommodate the bigger drive? Older
BIOSes do *NOT* support larger drives. Not only that, but you will need to
update to SP1 for XP to do so. The slowdown /could/ be to do with the drive
as it could be causing a bottleneck. Your system won't be capable of
handling the faster drive speeds - and fast drive on slower board = slowdown
as the drive will be forced to run at the speed of the board. Putting new
components in an old(er) system is not very sensible - it's like putting a
V8 engine in a Ford Cortina.

Personally, if it was me, I would have put the money that you spent on the
160GB towards a new system - £100 would have gone quite a way.
 
-----Original Message-----
Hi, Ive been having a problem where my system slows down
dramatically, the CPU useage is reported as 45-75%
constantly. This is mostly noticable in games (halflife
via steam, and neverwinter nights) but is definately not
related to graphics as when i use music creation programs
it performs very poorly as well, or anything else for that
matter.

I have an AMD 850, 256MB ram, i have 3 hard drives, 20gb
30gb and 160gb. nvidia riva tnt2, soundblaster live.

running win XP professional, later installed XP1, and
reinstalled freshly and the problem was still there.

I noticed the problem pop up a few times over the last 6
or so months, but now its constant. The useage is all in
System Idle Process, but as i say, the processor useage is
up at 45-75% or more.

It seemed like when i would just turn the computer off for
a while the problem would go away (pointing the solution
to heat maybe) but now as soon as i start it up even first
thing in the morning its just as slow. (and the cpu is
running at about 68 degrees, which is normal, yes?)

Im quite sure its not a virus or anything, since as soon
as i installed the new copy of winxp, even the intro video
it plays was incredibly slow.

The strange thing about it is that after doing a full
virus scan AND a fresh win XP install on a new drive, the
problem is still there, but when i boot to Win ME or win2k
advanced server its just fine. (0% useage at idle) its
also fine when i boot to safe mode.

im thinking it must be something to do with hardware...
ive had the exact same config for a few years and the
problems only started over the last few months, the only
new thing is the 160gig hd, 2 weeks ago. the problem
became constant only a few days ago.

I hope theres enough info there, i hope someone can help
me, i looked through the posts but nothing described this
situation closely enough to help.

Thanks for any help,
commandre
.
Click to expand...



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