Laptop problem

JFreak · Dec 3, 2011

May not be right to post here, but just wanted to know what is my problem. My laptop processor will suddenly shoot up to more than 90% of usage for no reason, then my laptop will lag like hell, even though I have nothing running in the background. This even happens when I left it idle. When this happens, I can hear my processor fan running so loud that it is annoying. Problem started to appear few months ago, when I started playing Alice Madness Returns after its release. The problem will suddenly appear after that, gradually increasing in times. I can't even watch my animes properly (regardless of 10-bit/8-bit) and I know my laptop's spec definitely can support it.

I don't know why this happens? Is it because of accumulated dust trapped inside? Or the thermal paste was dried? Please enlighten me.

Here is the specs:-
Model: Asus K50IN 2009 model
Age: ~2 years
CPU: T6500 2.1GHz
RAM: 4GB DDR2
GPU: GeForce G102M with CUDA
HDD: 320GB
OS: Win7 x64 Pro Genuine

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 4, 2011

There's 2 possibilties:
1.) As you suspected, too much dust. Get a screwdriver and some TIM material.
2.) Windows Update service is known to do this. *You* could stop it momentarily and see what happens. To be quite conclusive, use the task manager and see what's going on there.

him_dox · Dec 5, 2011

this has nothing to do with dust or thermal gel, your cpu is being throttled, forced to work hard. Its definately not overheated, well it doesnt sound like it anyway. While temperature can cause a cpu to work harder/inneficiently it doesnt extend to 90%.
This definately sounds like a software issue, possibly drivers though i doubt it as it sounds like you havn't touched them.
Theres a definate possibility it could be a virus, many have a tendancy to stress out your hardware for little reason other than to piss u off.
You could try uninstalling the game that you suspect caused it though i highly doubt that will fix the problem.
Check task manager, go to the processes tab and check which process is using so much cpu during the throttling. If it doesnt come up then its likely a system service, likely corupted in which case a system restore to an earlier point should fix the problem.
If the problem really is physical then take it to a proffesional if your not capable of fixing it yourself but i seriously doubt it is physical.
report back with which process is causing the issue, if you have any other questions go ahead and ask
If its a virus, make sure to do regular definition updates and scans, just cause it didnt pick it up the first time doesnt mean it wont later. viruses often spread and can get clumsy, catching one contagious file can lead to the rest.
If you don't have antivirus... get some

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 5, 2011

TIM has a somewhat limited lifespan... especially the cheap ones. I've seen some of them go as little as in 2 years. Most recent Intel CPU's have a thermal envenlope protection feature and exhibits this when stuff happens. Seen it happen inside the lab when we were using el-cheapo TIM's on our servers.

I'll rule out virus as a possibility. Again, task manager and CPU usage is your best friend.

JFreak · Dec 5, 2011

I checked the task manager, and most usage goes to Firefox (I have many precious tabs on).
Well, I uninstalled the games, and my antivirus is up to date. I prevent my Windows from updating long time ago as I hate updates.

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 5, 2011

There's your culprit... Too many tabs open. Try compiling your own build of Firefox with... Oh wait... forgot that making Firefox builds on windows isn't as easy as it sounds.

him_dox · Dec 5, 2011

if you leave programs like firefox and wmp (theyre just the ones i know about) open for too long they use increasing amount of cpu for no reason with no end. Just end whatever process u think is using the 90% of your cpu and if you see a process called system idle process using a ton of cpu, ignore that.

Oh wait... forgot that making Firefox builds on windows isn't as easy as it sounds.

If that was a 'windows sucks mac/linux is better' you can leave it out of tech support buddy.

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 5, 2011

him_dox said:
If that was a 'windows sucks mac/linux is better' you can leave it out of tech support buddy.

I wasn't implying Linux > Windows. Just pointing out that there are ways to get firefox to perform better because of the way how the compiler builds the browser. (i.e. /arch:sse3 on MSVC 2008?/2010)

him_dox · Dec 5, 2011

ok, sorry bout that. Anyway on that note do you know why wmp and firefox use increasing amounts of cpu over the time they are active? i've often wondered myself but never came to a conclusion.

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 5, 2011

Probably due to poor coding of the underlying code. I'm a hardware specialist, so I'd have not that much of experience related with software, but I can definitely say that is the cause.

Maybe Firefox or WMP wanted to run some form of garbage collection on freeing up memory that it isn't using at random intervals or the code compiled at mozilla had an issue because of the way how the compiler put things together, although I have yet to run into this issue when I work with other pieces of OSS IPPBX'es like FreeSWITCH and asterisk.

As far as for the Windows Update issue, the idea behind of using 100% of a single thread is to ironically speed up the process of detecting what updates the system needs, but that turns out to be a disaster for older systems that have a less powerful CPU, and not to mention that the updates detector was probably coded with a single for loop lol.

WsE · Dec 5, 2011

Never had Firefox eat at my CPU, it does, however, eat at my RAM. Which is a well known problem when you leave it on for a longer period of time with multiple tabs open.

Koinkun · Dec 5, 2011

This is the big reason I switched to chrome (not to start a debate on browsers). Firefox hogged my cpu like a selfish child. It could be because I was using a 6 yr old compaqs prescario (I got a more recent computer from school now).

As Dox stated, I doubt its overheat (though good overheat countermeasures and routine cleanings are never a bad idea if you know what your doing ;P)

If your low on funds for A/V, then either AVG or Panda Cloud are wonderful freeware antivirus softwares, and for extra comfort, Super-Antispyware is a great program for removing what Panda/AVG may miss.

Oh, and never have 2 A/V installed at once, most don't get along with eachother, though having a few anti malware/spyware programs with your A/V is wise.

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 5, 2011

Microsoft's Security Essential does the job. No need to go and run out and pay just for an AV scanner.

alexsdu · Dec 5, 2011

NEVER USE AVG, EVER!
That's a friendly warning.
Tried it, managed to let some virus/trojan slipped away. If you wanna use free AV, use Avast.

JFreak · Dec 7, 2011

I checked again, and yea, FF does eat up my CPU. However, the more significant problem is that when I execute my MPC with madVR, my CPU starts shooting up 90%, and may suddenly hang (video only, audio keeps running normally), which never happened before. I even have NVIDIA to manage my MPC. I believe my specs are able to render 10-bit properly without lags... Have no issue with 8-bit, IF I change to other options other than madVR.

yamamamoto · Dec 9, 2011

Re-install you operating system, then if the problem is still the same, you must to take you laptop to customer care or any shop related.

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 9, 2011

No need for taking it to a shop. Just know wtf you are doing and you should be fine

Koinkun · Dec 9, 2011

coacoa said:
Re-install you operating system.

This is a very last resort option, there is almost never a need to do this, and backing up large amounts of data is a pain in the ass xP.

solomon · Dec 10, 2011

May you start task manager and end task what process run high % of CPU
Or why dont you reinstall or ghost windows :D
I always use this for my desk ^^

corocoro · Dec 10, 2011

To chirp in:

Firefox is using a garbage cleaning task to free up memory. It's not all that efficient, but usually keeps it around 25% RAM as a maximum (with temporary spikes when opening new sites). BlazingFast is a nice build for Windows users, as it's not as much a hog as Firefox proper.
High CPU usage is also often caused by scripts running - try deactivating Java and see if that solves the CPU problem. If it does, you might want to install NoScript (please note that NoScript can slow down your browsing and sometimes breaks shoddily-programmed video streaming services pulling data from twenty sources).

Finally, 10bit videos don't support hardware acceleration. They'll kill your CPU, especially if you try 1080p on an older PC.

As for AVs - avast! or MSE work fine. Supplement with the occasional run of SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes to get rid of a few more things.

Koinkun · Dec 10, 2011

I fixed 3 computers that all had this same weird virus, every time u start the PC it would put an image up pretending it was scanning, then tell u that u needed to buy some bs AV software. Superantispyware took care of that ;)

solomon · Dec 11, 2011

I dont think AV software good work when the virus in system file. It'll delete all. And....

Koinkun · Dec 12, 2011

SOL then I guess

Backups of important data/files, always a smart idea =3

MoreDeath-11 · Dec 12, 2011

Virus = PEBCAK.

Aka moron with computer

ExtremeShinobi · Dec 12, 2011

Use antivirus ESET Nod 32 Smartscan. It's a simple antivirus that won't slow your pc, But it's tough in any Virus. Download it google.

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