High CPU activity when idle

baggio4378

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Apr 24, 2009
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Hi I recently purchased an AMD FM2 5600k with a gigabyte a85 board. I have noticed that if I leave the pc after a few mins the cpu fan revs up. This also happens when I'm in bios and and the computer is idle. Is there some setting in bios I'm missing? I've left most of the cpu settings at default and I'm not overclocking.

I'm using the PC as a HTPC with Windows 8, integrated graphics, 8gb RAM, 64gb SSD with about 18gb to spare. When the fan revs up I notice the hard drive LED is also flashing away.

This is annoying because often I pause a movie and watch something else on the TV.. but after a few mins the cpu fan revs up. If I move the mouse it slows down again.

 

PapaCrazy

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Dec 28, 2011
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As a first step, I'd turn off any anti-virus and backup software you are using. High CPU activity with constant drive access coincides with those kinds of processes. If its still happening after you turn on anti-virus/backup open up the task manager, wait until the system gets worked up again, and try to see if there are any processes using lots of system resources. It sounds like a software issue, not a motherboard or BIOS issue. The motherboard won't fire up system resources like CPU or HDD without a command from software.
 

baggio4378

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Apr 24, 2009
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Actually just checked and the hdd led doesn't always flash at a higher rate when the fan revs up. I don't have any anti virus software running and have already disabled most services I dont need.
 

PapaCrazy

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Dec 28, 2011
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Next thing I would do is leave CPUID Hardware Monitor running in the background, walk away from the computer for a while, and reset the min/max data before you walk away. This would allow you to see the min/max CPU voltage, core temp, and fan speed while you are away. If the fan speed goes up, but cpu voltage and temps remain roughly the same, then the fans might be set to ramp up at too low a temperature. If the cpu v-core and temps shoot up as well, you can focus back on CPU power management as being the culprit. I would also disconnect ethernet or wifi to rule out networking issues as a problem as well.