Problem: win2k - dual pentium, CPU use is always around 50% w/ nothing running... (memory problem?)

[ZeroSleep]

I have an odd problem. I have this dual pentium 500 server w/ 500+ megs of RAM. I did a clean install of Win2K advanced server, installed the service packs, etc etc.

So I'm sitting here watching the machine consistantly soak up 50% of CPU power and it's not even doing anything -- it's supposed to be idle, no programs are launched! I have another single processor machine w/ the same version of windows and the CPU sits at 0% when idle (even w/ programs running).

What could cause this? Hardware? Software? My only guess is that windows is having a hard time w/ the RAM, but if that's the case, how do I verify it? Can anyone help?

Seriously confused,
ZeroSleep

 

[ceraph]

I had a problem similar to this when my CUSL2 (single processor) didn't like my memory configuration. At boot-time the CPU utilization would be 0%. As the machine continued to run, the CPU utilization would gradually increase in idle mode. After maybe an hour of uptime, the CPU would idle at like 30-40% (while doing nothing).

The quickest way to try and verify this would be to try to either change your memory configuration around, or try taking out some of the DIMMs. If you run with 3 DIMMs, try 1 if possible. Or try the absolute minimum amount of RAM that Windows 2000 Advanced Server will boot with (I think it's like 64ish, or at least somewhere near where Professional is).

Windows 2000 does a pretty good job on dual processor threading, so I don't think it has much to do with the OS.

And of course, there is the rogue process that could be eating up memory. You never mentioned if you went into task manager and looked to see what (if any) process was taking up the processor time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Need4Speed]

How about some system specs....i know on my old BP6, it was a problem with the BIOS. Check to see if you have the newest.

 

[ZeroSleep]

SON OF A &*#$%&!

Here is the problem:
http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Techref/Acpi/solution.html

If I only had NOT ditched those welding classes in highschool.... Drats.

 

[Killbat]

Ah, jeez. I've only done a sampling of surface-mount parts work, not fun without special tools.
If you don't have any soldering experience, I wouldn't attempt this!

 

[ZeroSleep]

I just changed the system to use a non-ACPI driver. I'm not sure what I lose, but at least the problem is solved.

 

[Cyph3r]

I had the same problem with my Gigabyte DUAL-CPU Mobo with W2K Pro. I switched over to non-ACPI mode and went to 1.1 in the BIOS for ACPI and indeed that took care of the 50% CPU utilization issue, but now the system doesn't shutdown automatically like it should with a ATX/ACPI system..

Other than that, I don't believe I've noticed any other shortcomings..Regards

 

[LumMoose]

That would be some do-it-yourself fix...lol