Constant idle CPU usage 7-10%, out of ideas.

[Glottis]

Sorry if this is a wrong section for this thread, but I need help badly. Here it goes:

After each reboot my CPU idle is 0-2%, then I start and play Battlefield 1942 for some time, exit and now idle is 2-4%, then I play some FarCry, exit and now 7-10%. WTF?!? Thanks god it stops raising at 10%. All the porcesses listed in task manager uses 0% of cpu at idle. Yes I scanned my PC using various anti spyware tools. Yes hibernation and system restore is off. I'm out of ideas here, any help?

Spec:
Mobo Asus P4P800 Deluxe
P4 2.8 @ 3.2
1GB 3700 RAM
9800PRO Cat4.3

[cbsboyer]

My guess is that it's services that haven't been unloaded. What to do about it? My only suggestions are live with it or Start->Shutdown->Restart...

cbsboyer

[Snarl]

Pull up Task manager after a re-boot, then after running each program and look for new services running. Also if you give it 5-10 Min will it drop back down ?

[Glottis]

I made some progress, I tested like 10 different games and this happens only after exit Battlefield 1942 or BF Vietnam games. So this maybe battlefield engine problem?

[shaihulud]

honestly, i am the same as you. when i see some supposed to be idel usage i wonder. but you are within the normal range. coolingware, certain applications, etc., will normally have this "symptom." seriously, take a look at what you have going on to gain a piece of mind. what motherboard do you have?

take a looko here e.g. of what i mean: http://www.techreport.com/reviews/20...p/index.x?pg=6

[Glottis]

Originally posted by shaihulud
honestly, i am the same as you. when i see some supposed to be idel usage i wonder. but you are within the normal range. coolingware, certain applications, etc., will normally have this "symptom." seriously, take a look at what you have going on to gain a piece of mind. what motherboard do you have?

take a looko here e.g. of what i mean: http://www.techreport.com/reviews/20...p/index.x?pg=6

my motherboeard is Asus P4P800 Deluxe and I don't have any coolingware installed afaik.

[VW_Factor]

Just an idea.. Is Windows using its swapfile after unloading those games.. ??

[Glottis]

Originally posted by VW_Factor
Just an idea.. Is Windows using its swapfile after unloading those games.. ??

How do I check that?

EDIT: i took screenshots of my task manager after i play some games.
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=54256
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=54257

[Glottis]

could anyone at least bother to check screenshots and tell me what you think? is it normal or not?
thanks

[Lupine]

That IS a problem! It should really be running at 100% since you should be Folding for Rage3D!

EDIT: normal is relative to your usage etc. It could be game related (memory leaks etc), but if it is, the solution would be to stop running said games. Unless it is giving you a performance penalty, I'd live with it and hope that the game mfg is aware of the "issue" and will include a fix in a future patch.

[Glottis]

OK I was doing some tests again and again and again... It looks like CPU usage increases after I exit any 3D application like game or even 3dmark03.
Before: http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=54608
After: http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=54256

[Glottis]

I installed TaskInfo2003 app and found process which is using 6-7% of cpu. It is called DPC Time. Anyone know anything about this process?

EDIT: I found this after a little googling:
DPC Time counter:
"Well-behaved" NT device drivers rely on deferred procedure calls (DPC’s) for the bulk of their processing. Unlike interrupt service routines that mask off lower-level interrupts, DPC’s run with interrupts enabled. Both interrupt services routines and deferred procedure calls run at higher priority than user and kernel threads.

Do I need it running? How make so it don't start after 3D app.