CPU utilization jumps to 100% periodically

[S.K.A]

Hi

Recently, I've been confronted with a problem I can't seem to find a solution to, and it's driving me nuts.

It all started 2 or 3 weeks ago. Since then, my CPU utilization jumps to 100% on all 4 cores for about 15 seconds.
I know it's 100% on all cores, because I configured Everest to monitor the utilization in the taskbar.

I don't know what the issue is, knowing that I haven't installed or uninstalled anything in the time frame.
I know it's not related to any start-up programs, because I manually tweak my msconfig settings (the identical settings have been working perfectly for 6 months).

I can't isolate the problem, because it doesn't show up in the task manager. Everest shows 100% CPU utilization, and the task manager shows it too, but when I go under the "process" tab, I can't see where the problem comes from. No program indicates that 100% is being used.
I even downloaded "Process Explorer", but that doesn't tell me which program is using all the CPU resources either.

This problem occurs in windows and in games.
It slows everything down to a crawl.

I can't stand it anymore, because my games slow down and I keep dying. Or it keeps destroying my Fraps videos and kills gameplay.

My PC specs are in my signature.
I've thought of re-installing Windows Vista, but I really don't want to do it now. I've planned to do it at the end of August, maybe beginning of September. That will fix the issue for sure, but I don't really want to do it now.

If anyone could help me isolate the issue, I would be very grateful.

Thanks

 

[ikky68]

I would turn on the reporting side of Everst and see what's using the CPUs. Use Perfmon as well.

I'm guessing that your HDD is is causing the problem.

But I'm not really sure, all you described was Vista, 100% CPU util, Everest and TaskMgr, and a phantom/invisible process causing your CPU to peg to said 100%.

Check the paging, writes, and the que lengths on your HDD.

Come to think of it, it might be your video card going out too.

 

[dfuze]

Just an FYI, but your signature isn't turned on for your pc specs.

Have you run a virus scan? Or maybe it's your virus scanner that's doing it.

 

[S.K.A]

Ok, this is strange. I had a signature before, but now the forum tells me I am not permitted to have one ?

Anyway, I'll post the system specs :

- Q6600 @ 3.2 GHz (FSB 400)
- Asus P5E Motherboard
- 8 GB Kingston HyperX PC2-8500
- Sapphire HD4850
- Corsair TX750
- WD Caviar Black 640 GB + 1 TB
- WD Caviar Green 1.5 TB
- Samsung 250 GB
- Creative X-Fi Xtreme Music
- Windows Vista Home Premium - 64 bit

My OS is currently running on the 640 GB Caviar Black hard drive. The other hard drives are used for virtual machines and files and backups.

I'm guessing that your HDD is is causing the problem.

I don't really think so. I've done several full defrags (I use O&O Defrag), and I've cleaned up the drive as much as I could.
Just for you to know, I never do dangerous tweaks in the registry...
I ONLY use msconfig.

I would turn on the reporting side of Everst and see what's using the CPUs

I've been looking for the option, but I can't see to find it. I found a button called "Report", but it generates a huge file which takes 2 GB of RAM to open. I can't seem to scroll down it though. Like if it's stuck.

Check the paging, writes, and the que lengths on your HDD.

I'm new to this sort of stuff. Do you know how I can find out that information ?

Come to think of it, it might be your video card going out too.

In what way does high CPU utilization imply a video card going out ? That seems completely wrong.
My HD4850 is the newest thing in my PC, because my old 8800 GTS died on me 1.5 years ago. I don't think it's the culprit.

Have you run a virus scan? Or maybe it's your virus scanner that's doing it.

Yes, I have run a virus scanner. I run Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 and do a full system scan every week. So far, I have never found a virus on my computer.




EDIT : I found out why I can't have a signature :

We actually were allowing signatures starting with the first post up until a couple months ago. The reason for this change was... spammers.
*25 isn't really that many posts for a contributing member
*25 is more effort than most spammers are willing to put out
*we can usually identify most spammers before they reach their 25th post

Apologies for not allowing signatures right off the bat any more, but even with all the anti-spam tools we had, we needed to resort to this tool also to help control it.