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NP5680 CPU Usage Problem

post #1 of 4
10/6/05 at 3:38am
Thread Starter 
Hi,

I have a Sager NP5680 with 3GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Pro with 128 MB, etc.
I recently have problems with memory module and bring it to the local laptop repair company. (Since I'm in South Korea and my warranty expired, so I didn't have much choice). They told me that the memory was damaged by the heat. So I removed the 2GB ram that I bought some months ago and installed the original 512MB that came with the laptop.
It seems like resolve the memory problem but I have some minor trouble. I really appreciate if anybody give me some advice.
The CPU Usage is always over 45% ~ 50% even if I don't run any applications after booting up the window. It stays the same after I close all the startup programs such as virus detecting software. I even closed the tasks one by one with task manager except for the ones crucial to run the window itself I refered from the web resources. But CPU Usage never goes down. Virus and spyware detection didn't help at all. I even used some windows optimizing programs I could find on the web, but didn't have luck so far. Here are questions.

1. Some people told me that 512MB memory is too small for 3.0GHz CPU and upgrading the memory will solve the usage problem. Is it true?

2. I'm not sure if BIOS upgrade would improve the performance, but is there any newer version of BIOS for NP5680. If there are, where can I download it?

3. The repair shop recommended to reinstall the windows to make sure the problem and asked me for a permission. They installed the Korean OEM version of the XP Pro on it. I may reinstall the English original windows using the recovery CD to see if it would help the CPU usage. But I lost original documents came with the laptop when I move back to the South Korea. Does Sager recovery CD needs serial when I use it to install the windows and software?

Thanks and I appreciate any advice.

Won
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post #2 of 4
10/6/05 at 10:58pm
Control-Alt-Delete and see what's consuming the CPU resources. An "idle" machine should be using less than 2% of CPU and at that in short spikes.

512MB should be enough for most cases; however 1MB would be better and almost the "best choice". You could try using just one of the memory sticks and still get 1GB. Use MEMTEST86 to test it out. I suspect the unwanted "heat" is caused by a rogue service running on your machine. Do you have Roxio "Drag to Disk" or NERO "INCD" installed or active? Also, there is an indexing service in Windows "CISVC.exe " that could go awry and consume a tremondous amount of CPU doing nothing - except cause the machine to use a lot of current and generate a lot of heat needlessly.
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post #3 of 4
10/9/05 at 2:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by won70
1. Some people told me that 512MB memory is too small for 3.0GHz CPU and upgrading the memory will solve the usage problem. Is it true?
Myth. You can use any amount of RAM with any processor. I could use a 64 MB stick with my P4 and it wouldn't make a difference (other than the OS running ungodly slow). That said, the OS is all that cares about the RAM amount. If you're on Windows, 512 is enough for most people, but gamers nowadays need 1 GB.

Quote:
Originally Posted by won70
2. I'm not sure if BIOS upgrade would improve the performance, but is there any newer version of BIOS for NP5680. If there are, where can I download it?
Upgrading the BIOS *might* help, that is, if it's a hardware problem, which is quite possible if the problem persists across Windows installations. This thread will get you started.
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post #4 of 4
10/12/05 at 1:39am
Thread Starter 

Thank you guy!

Thank you for your advice, Colin and Gary.
It's strange Sager doesn't provide BIOS upgrade with their website, while most other laptop companies are doing that. I may have to contact Sager for their help.

Quote:
Control-Alt-Delete and see what's consuming the CPU resources. An "idle" machine should be using less than 2% of CPU and at that in short spikes.
This is where I think which is most strange. When I open the task manager and look at the processes "System idle process" takes up to 50 to 65% of the usage and "System" takes 35~45%. That doesn't look very normal.

Quote:
Do you have Roxio "Drag to Disk" or NERO "INCD" installed or active?
Only virtual drive I have is the one installed with Alcohol 120%. Whould it be the trouble?

Quote:
Also, there is an indexing service in Windows "CISVC.exe " that could go awry and consume a tremondous amount of CPU doing nothing - except cause the machine to use a lot of current and generate a lot of heat needlessly.
That's a useful info. But i couldn't find it in the process list. I should maybe start with unchecking or uninstalling the Alcohol's virtual drive. Thanks again.
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