CPU spikes on my T40

[ahsia]

This is getting somewhat annoying. Let me give you my current status:

Running, Lotus Notes, 2 IE Windows, ITunes, YM, Zone Labs Firewall, Microsoft Antispyware.

Specs: IBM T40, 1.5GHz, 1GB memory, 80GB 4200rpm drive.

Random, CPU usage will spike and there will be a momentary pause while moving the mouse, and the music will skip. There is no particular pattern to when it skips. I can open apps and it doesn't skip, but I'll be just reading a webpage and it'll skip. Any ideas why it keep doing this?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Watch the cpu graph sorted by processor utilization and see what app is causing it. My guess would be zonealarm, it has caused problems like this in the past for me

 

[ahsia]

Sigh... I looked and looked, killed processes and the same thing is still happening. I tried killing zone labs, still the same. Please take a look at the photo:

http://photos.yahoo.com/andy_hsia

During this period, I was just typing a document and listening to iTunes, nothing more. Those small period of spikes... I have no clue what is causing that. I am guess something is running in the background.

 

[Rankor]

Could be the Power Settings in the Control Panel.

What power setting do you have the laptop set to under the Power Options?

Is it set to Laptop/Portable or Max Battery?

If it is, set it to either Home/Office Desk or Always On.

If you're on battery, it will drain faster, but if it's plugged into AC it should be alright.

 

[ahsia]

Guess what it was? My wireless card. I guess it was trying to get a connection, and CPU usage goes way up while it's doing it?? As soon as I disabled my wireless card, CPU usage is pretty consistent, no more spikes. I've been using wireless a lot before, but lately been using a wired connection.

Does this sound weird to anyone?

 

[imported_Smallz]

Question:

Have you been able to confirm this 100%?

As in, buy a new card and not have any problems?

I have had this EXACT problem (Mouse Stopping/Jumping, CPU Spiking, Music Juttering/Skipping/Stopping) the past 9 months and its driving me crazy.

I always thought it was a problem with my Wireless Card (Netgear PCI) as i managed to resolve it before i rebuilt my PC... but could never remember what i did or where i found the resolution.

What wireless card did/do you have?

Also, if you did buy a new one and not have any problems - Any chance i can have the details so i can buy one?

Thanks.

 

[Teeeej]

I am getting this on my new system too. I also have a wirless PCI network card, safecom not netgear though. I also had wireless keyboard/mouse, when I switched back to wired the problem didn't really exist.

 

[imported_Smallz]

I would go back to wired if i could, but my router & modem is downstairs.

 

[tiap]

Originally posted by: ahsia
Guess what it was? My wireless card. I guess it was trying to get a connection, and CPU usage goes way up while it's doing it?? As soon as I disabled my wireless card, CPU usage is pretty consistent, no more spikes. I've been using wireless a lot before, but lately been using a wired connection.

Does this sound weird to anyone?

It's a well known condition with thinkpads. Glad you found it.
Personally, I've stopped using MS Antispyware and Zone. Also, unless you have changed your shipped configuration, you will find many processes running on a T series, adding to the load

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: ahsia
This is getting somewhat annoying. Let me give you my current status:

Running, Lotus Notes, 2 IE Windows, ITunes, YM, Zone Labs Firewall, Microsoft Antispyware.

Specs: IBM T40, 1.5GHz, 1GB memory, 80GB 4200rpm drive.

Random, CPU usage will spike and there will be a momentary pause while moving the mouse, and the music will skip. There is no particular pattern to when it skips. I can open apps and it doesn't skip, but I'll be just reading a webpage and it'll skip. Any ideas why it keep doing this?

Do you have an iPod? Ugh, if you don't I'd trash iTunes asap. Try to get another program for your iPod so you can access the data on there because iTunes on the PC is horrible but apple products in general are crap but are so much worse on the PC.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: tiap

Originally posted by: ahsia
Guess what it was? My wireless card. I guess it was trying to get a connection, and CPU usage goes way up while it's doing it?? As soon as I disabled my wireless card, CPU usage is pretty consistent, no more spikes. I've been using wireless a lot before, but lately been using a wired connection.

Does this sound weird to anyone?

It's a well known condition with thinkpads. Glad you found it.
Personally, I've stopped using MS Antispyware and Zone. Also, unless you have changed your shipped configuration, you will find many processes running on a T series, adding to the load

MS antiSpyware is ok, just long as it's not in the background cause you really don't need it 24/7 especially with FF. Just run a weekly scan and you should be fine, along with adaware because MS antispyware doesn't catch everything.