CPU Spikes

[imported_bcbcbc]

I recently switched from an external USB sound card to an EMU 0404 PCI card--ASIO interface.

I have noticed that my P4 @1.7 Ghz Willamette CPU seems to be maxing out on occasion if I am using/opening other applications while the music is playing. Windows XP Home SP 2 OS. 768MB RAM.

The Performance tab on the Task Manager shows the playback application (J. River Media Center) uses negligible CPU. But even if no applications are running the CPU regularly spikes to 40-50%. Opening programs--even opening the Task Manager itself--generates a huge spike near MAX.

It seems that these MAX events cause the playback to stutter/distort. What can I do to eliminate this? Is there a way to give Media Center a higher priority on the CPU? Any ideas on what is causing the spikes with no apps running?

Thanks for help...

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: bcbcbc
my P4 @1.7 Ghz Willamette CPU

I'm sorry.

Seriously that is a pretty bad CPU; that may be the problem.

Other than that; drivers? Other than that, sorry, no idea.

 

[imported_bcbcbc]

You are probably right.

The MB is Gigabyte GA-81RX. Both the MB and CPU are now 3 years old.

Is there any point in even considering upgrading the CPU and not the MB? I would like to keep expenses to a minimum. I've got 768 MB PC2100 RAM here--2@IBM HDD @ 120GB. Presently one is just for backup.

The drives have 40+GB free. Most space is occupied by 7,000+ mp3/ogg/ape/flac files. As the music collection builds over the next few years I'll probably use both existing internal HDDs for storage with one larger external HDD for backup. I think that will require USB 2.0 or Firewire on the MB. Or could I get away with adding a USB 2.0/Firewire PCI card to existing MB to connect the external HDD?

I don't do any gaming nor intense graphics. Lots of web surfing, Word documents, photo album, the music and occasional videos. No intense graphics, or editing video or music.

Thanks for the feedback...

 

[bobsmith1492]

I would look into an XP 2500 mobile or so and a cheapo Nforce 2 Ultra 400 motherboard; that kind of combo can be had for around 150 or less and would be a huge improvement.

 

[KF]

I suppose I should just keep quite about something I am unfamiliar with, like Intel, but...

You didn't have this problem with the USB sound? If this new card is a normal sound card, I think your old system should have plenty of bandwidth for what you are doing, even if the CPU might be weak judging by what is currently touted.

>Any ideas on what is causing the spikes with no apps running?
Virus scanner? Anything scheduled to start while the system is idle?

Your system may be going into a low power mode. Disable any powerdown in Control Panel, Power Options.

Windows does do some housekeeping on its own. The registry is constantly updated. Windows will swap out to the HD, and it'lll hog time when it thinks nothing much is going on, such as when you haven't moved the mouse or touched the keyboard for a while, or if it has put off housekeeping as long as it possibly can.


You could defrag the HD. Hey, it's worth a shot! A terribly fragmented HD could make updating the registry and swap files take extra time.

IAC, putting the sound card in a different slot often fixes sound card stuttering and static. It has to do with the drivers for different devices interfering with each other (because they share interrupts), even though, by spec, they would not if written correctly.

By all means update the drivers. The Windows built-in drivers work OK, but they are often pathetic compared to the ones, say, from Intel.

Any add-ons that you can fit in the case will be far faster than externals. Get a HD controller card for more HDs rather than a USB 2 card if you have to. But heck I just picked up a Hitachi (formerly IBM) 250G Deskstar HD for $70 AR. Watch Anandtech HOT DEALS. Cheaper than an extenal HD + USB card.

 

[imported_bcbcbc]

Thanks Bob--

I did a little browsing and found the Chaintech 7NJL6 Socket A Mobo and AMD XP2900 on special w/rebates for $99.99 at TigerDirect.

Is this a good combo? A good deal?

On the TigerDirect site it says PC2100 is okay. However the Chaintech web site does not show PC2100 as compatible RAM. I may have to break my heart and buy new RAM...

bc

 

[bobsmith1492]

Yeah, 2100 ram will slow you down a lot. Look at Mushkin at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-219&depa=1

I upgraded my motherboard which was a nasty SIS that would only run at 2100 speeds. The difference in games was amazing; they used to be choppy, but afterward smooth as butter.