Any computer gurus can give me a quick help?
 

I fixed my computer over the last month after it was out of service for 2 years.


Power supply died. I replaced it.


Had random crashes before that, once I replaced the powersupply I diagnosed a bad memory stick which was replaced.


I don't have any issues with the computer now. It doesn't crash anymore and works flawlessly.


But monitoring the task manager I see erratic CPU usage. Up to 80-90%. This picture below all I am doing is watching a youtube video. Like I said I don't notice any issues using the PC but it's old now so maybe this is a warning sign.


BTW the CPU is i5-2500


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1552673636

CRTL+shift+ESC

Bring up task manager.

Sort by CPU usage.
See whats using up the cpu.

Come back with what service is running.

Don't think there are any computer professionals on this forum.

Click "Show Processes from all users" on the bottom left and be sure to view while experiencing high CPU usage.

Are you noticing a noticeable slowdown when it hits 90%? How often is it happening and what are you doing when it spikes? I would run antivirus in safe mode just to be sure personally.

It's noticing the unnoticeable slowdowns that's difficult.:D

That's why you log incidents of >90% usages.

There are no other users. There is not even a guest account on my computer.
I have run Microsoft Security Essentials. Only thing I can think that it spikes when I alt+tab but that sounds silly considering im alt tab from web browser to task manager???
Well I just happened to notice the erratic graph on task manager while I was diagnosing my random crash issue. It still persists after fixing it. I notice occasional studders in a game I play but I thought it was because it was taxing my system. The screen shots I posted is with Firefox open with 5 or 6 tabs. Youtube, gmail, news article, and a couple forums

Apologies, but I just don't have the patience to tackle a response like this over a forum anymore. Good luck.

Sorry I'm not very computer literate that is why I was asking help :( :cry:

There is a button at the bottom of task manger on the left that says "show processes from all users" You are a user, the computer itself is another user, "sorta" It will show more things than what you screen capped.

Also , alt+tab does make the comp spike to 100% for an instant. That's normal.

Spikes to 100% are normal.

Extended periods of 100% aren't unless you are doing something that is pushing the processor. (rendering video, moving large files, ect)

An extended period would be having the processor pegged at 100% for over 30 seconds.

when i have weird windows issues, i swap a replacement hard drive in, install windows, and then slowly migrate my files over to the new OS.

this also explains why my current gaming rig has 6 hard drives.

It's just been a long week. x808 has you covered.

RAID time.

but they all have something important but different on them!

Yep this is all very normal, especially when you have multiple tabs of Firefox open. Firefox in particular appears to use more CPU than Chrome or Edge. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb...ources-how-fix

As @x808drifter mentioned as long as it isn't a prolonged hang up on your CPU then it is totally fine..

Thanks guys, I guess I am over analyzing

https://www.av-comparatives.org/consumer/
https://www.av-test.org/en/
https://www.virusbulletin.com

Welp, what I do when my desktop acts up, is to unplug it and then plug it back in.

Iffen that don't fix it, I go up to Best Buy and buy a new one.

Then I push the old one off to the side of my desk and try to fix it. After several months, I take it down to the basement, with the rest of my old computers (ask @Ultramaroon , he has seen my collection - :D).


:iono:


humfrz

I prefer norton for its ease of use, but it depends on how active you want to be with it. Norton is almost install and forget, which I like. Just have to make sure it updates itself every so often, which is usually done automatically.

There are tons of freeware and cheaper options though.

Sometimes the windows program itself can skyrocket cpu usage, sometimes itunes will do it to. You have an older processor, but it happens to everyone occasionally.

Also if you have a mechanical hard drive you should upgrade to an ssd. It makes everything better. I'd suggest samsung just because it is the easiest to deal with as it comes with all the software you need in the ssd package.

If you look through the benchmarks you'll see there is no real value in a 3rd party A/V system if you are actively running Windows Defender on Windows 7 or 10. It scores as high as other systems.

A lot of organizations are dropping 3rd party A/V in favor of other types of protection.

A combo of Windows Defender and something like Malwarebytes is very effective. Windows itself will soon have malware/ransomware protection built in (its in the early release programs now).

For what its worth, I work in cybersecurity, its what my degree is in, and I hold 2 cybersecurity certifications. I don't use any 3rd party AV on my home PC, Windows Defender does basically everything I need. It scores just as well or better than 99% of third party AV programs in AV comparative tests. I also run the extension uBlock Origin in my browser (Chrome). A good ad blocker not only cleans up my browsing experience by hiding intrusive ads, it also increases security by hiding fake download buttons or other things that try to trick users into downloading trojans and ad/bloatware onto their machine.

^ Ditto those last 2 posts.

I honestly haven't run a third party program since 7 came out.
99.999% of the time the infection is caused by PEBKAC.