System Idle Process (SYSTEM) is using up all my CPU cycles in WINXPpro

gaterl8r

Member
Jul 9, 2002
32
0
0
It seems when I first start up the computer, everything is smooth, but after a while the System Idle Process (a process that is listed when you press ctrl-alt-delete, which you cannot terminate), takes up lot of CPU cycles, and performance decreases in every single application and game that I run...
When I first start up it says "Cpu Usage : 10%", but after a while this System Idle Process thing kicks in and the "Cpu Usage" kicks up to 60%+, even when applications are all turned off...
any way to fix this annoying thing? Im resorting to restarting all the time...
 

GAZZA

Golden Member
Oct 18, 1999
1,987
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0
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but System Idle is what the CPU does when you're not running any programs, and it uses RAM but only when you're not using it. When an intensive program is run, System Idle releases the RAM and CPU time to said program
Not sure myself if the above quote is correct but does make sense , also my system idle process in Win2k and XP have always had a high idle rate until an cpu/memory intensive program was used.

Check this screen shot out noting the high system idle usuage XP Task Manager

Here is also a good list of service tweaks to stop or disable certain services that aren't required XP Services