CPU usage problems with Pentium III 1Ghz

[Aeolus]

Hi i just got this PIII 1 Ghz CPU yesterday and I have put it in a Abit VH-6 II motherboard. For some reason CPU usage is always at 30% at least, even with nothing running! My old PII 350 Mhz cpu used to zero out when it was idle on usage.

Also there is "jerkyness" to the system sometimes, like it is studdering trying to do simple things like unzip files, open browser windows and when you are clicking on diologe boxes...

System:
Pentium III 1000 Mhz (7.5 x 133) not over clocked
Abit VH-6 II Motherboard
512 Meg PC133 Ram
GeForce DDR 32 Meg
Aureal Votex II Sound
WD 20 GB 7200 RMP HD
Windows 2000 Pro clean install, no updates yet.
DX8 and nVidia 41.09 drivers

Also the system has "froze" twice... this is VERY strange for a Windows NT system, my 98 systems crash all the time but NT system usually never crash, and my old system never crashed once...

What could be wrong? Any known issued?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Some possibilities:
(a) you could be running at 66 MHz if the BIOS couldn't start properly at 133 and reset to safe speed.
(b) you might have a virus or spyware that happened to start running around the time of your upgrade
(c) your memory might not run well at 133 if you were at 100 before (run a memory test program

 

[Aeolus]

I did a clean install of the OS with the new parts, format with NTFS...

 

[Aeolus]

anyone else got any ideas?

 

[Aeolus]

Ok, couple if things I have noticed.

1.) When I first boot everything is fine, CPU usage stays low, no jerkyness.
2.) I had an MP3 playing because the sound wans't working and I was testing it. When the Mp3 was playing I opened a web browser. The web browser makes a little "click" sound when it loads a page. When the click sound was made the sound quit working. Mp3 still playing but no sound.
3.) Now CPU won't ever go below 30%

so the system is looping the sound I think - but I can't hear it thats because the audio goes dead.... thats why the CPU stays pegged... maybe..

 

[DaveSimmons]

Then www.vortexofsound.com might help, or getting a new soundcard with better Win2K drivers.

[ edit ] I'm assuming that you've actually loaded vortex drivers, and checked hardware settings to see that it's operating properly.

 

[Aeolus]

Latest drivers are installed, I think it's a motherboard compatibility thing. I think I remember somewhere that the Via Apollo chipset doesn't like Aureal cards.

Only reason I have this card is for A3D 2.0 for use in Half-Life/Counter-Strike.

 

[Aeolus]

ugg, well now it seems it only does it after about 10 mins of use, the sound dies and the CPU gets pegged.

 

[blackhawk]

Via drivers OK?

After that, check for some compatibility problems, forced hw etc. or hw drivers. Not familiar with 2000 though. Do a search or check MS database.

 

[PCMarine]

Like above, try updating your VIA drivers...

Although Im not sure, but your model P3 might throttle the processor speeds when it gets too hot.

If it isn't a slot 1, then make sure you have the HSF properly seated and that you have some thermal paste between the CPU and the HSF.

 

[OverVolt]

update your BIOS see if it helps.

And did you ever disable your onboard audio if u have it. i dunno your board but sometimes it's the simple things that cause all the trouble