Program to track CPU usage - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Rlyss · 06-06-2005, 10:29 AM

Hi all. I've had this problem ever since I bought this notebook a few months ago. Dell won't help me as they say it's a software problem. <a href="http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=85314">See my other thread.</a>

Something is slowing my computer to a crawl every 30 seconds or so, sometimes more frequently and sometimes less. I can never seem to catch it with Win XP's task manager, by the time I get to check it the CPU usage is back to normal. I'm looking for a program that I can use to track individual processes, or something like that. The CPU usage history graph is good as it shows me the CPU spike, but doesn't show me what's causing it, and I can never get to the processes tab quickly enough.

Does anyone know of a program that will do this, or any way I can pinpoint the process that's causing this? Cheers.

trache · 06-06-2005, 10:51 AM

Sysinternals Freeware - Processes and Threads Utilities has many programs that perform similar functions; you may want to try them out.

MikeSty · 06-06-2005, 10:57 AM

I had a very similar problem but it was somehow a file that I ripped from a CD? Until I deleted it and rebooted it would do this. Run scandisk and defrag I guess :/ It sounds odd and totally out of the question for diagnosis, but if the problem was at all like mine, it'd help.

Dragonlich · 06-06-2005, 11:09 AM

Using task manager, you could find it. Go to the processes tab, and look at the processor %.

Alternatively, Process Explorer might be what you're looking for.

Rlyss · 06-07-2005, 12:38 PM

Cheers guys. I'm not quick enough to grab it in task manager. The whole computer slows down so by the time I hit ctrl-alt-del and the screen comes up the slowdown is over and it's back to normal, everything looks fine (System Idle is at 99% etc). When I look at the graph it shows a very clear peak from 10% or so to 90+ for a few seconds and then down again.

I found a program called Security Task Manager that shows the graph and if you hover the cursor over the spike it shows what the process is - apparently it's the game I'm playing (Red Alert 2). But it also happens in Jedi Knight 2, Quake 3, Age of Empires ... basically any game. I'll try Process Explorer and see if I can figure out what's going on.

06-06-2005, 10:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rlyss The Pusher Location: Edinburgh	Program to track CPU usage Hi all. I've had this problem ever since I bought this notebook a few months ago. Dell won't help me as they say it's a software problem. <a href="http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=85314">See my other thread.</a> Something is slowing my computer to a crawl every 30 seconds or so, sometimes more frequently and sometimes less. I can never seem to catch it with Win XP's task manager, by the time I get to check it the CPU usage is back to normal. I'm looking for a program that I can use to track individual processes, or something like that. The CPU usage history graph is good as it shows me the CPU spike, but doesn't show me what's causing it, and I can never get to the processes tab quickly enough. Does anyone know of a program that will do this, or any way I can pinpoint the process that's causing this? Cheers.

06-06-2005, 10:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
trache Insane	Sysinternals Freeware - Processes and Threads Utilities has many programs that perform similar functions; you may want to try them out. __________________ "You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

06-06-2005, 10:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	I had a very similar problem but it was somehow a file that I ripped from a CD? Until I deleted it and rebooted it would do this. Run scandisk and defrag I guess :/ It sounds odd and totally out of the question for diagnosis, but if the problem was at all like mine, it'd help.

06-06-2005, 11:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	Using task manager, you could find it. Go to the processes tab, and look at the processor %. Alternatively, Process Explorer might be what you're looking for.

06-07-2005, 12:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rlyss The Pusher Location: Edinburgh	Cheers guys. I'm not quick enough to grab it in task manager. The whole computer slows down so by the time I hit ctrl-alt-del and the screen comes up the slowdown is over and it's back to normal, everything looks fine (System Idle is at 99% etc). When I look at the graph it shows a very clear peak from 10% or so to 90+ for a few seconds and then down again. I found a program called Security Task Manager that shows the graph and if you hover the cursor over the spike it shows what the process is - apparently it's the game I'm playing (Red Alert 2). But it also happens in Jedi Knight 2, Quake 3, Age of Empires ... basically any game. I'll try Process Explorer and see if I can figure out what's going on.