CPU maxing OUT

[humpfry]

system:
athlon 64 3000+
ABIT av8 mobo
corsair 512 ddr pc3200
seagate 200 gb SATA
geforce 2 GTS 64mb
xp pro with SP2

I just got my system all up and running with minor difficulties. But then i started installing a new game, world of warcraft. the last time i installed it i did not have the SATA drive or the Service pack 2. everything else was the same. Now for some reason my CPU is maxed out, and bouncing up and down task manager. I have Never seen the installation of a game do this to a processor.
Has anyone come across something similar.

 

[wisdomtooth]

If it does not affect game performance (i.e. no stutters or anything), then it's normal.

If it does, then something is indeed amiss.

 

[Regs]

This is normal. The programming of the game makes the CPU address all available memory in its bandwidth. Nothing to do with the hard drive or SP2.