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CPU usage high, is my Phenom x4 970 getting too old?

Tags:
  • Chrome
  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • CPUs
  • Phenom
Last response: in CPUs
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September 16, 2014 3:24:50 PM

Right now I have a google chrome window open with this tomshardware tab , netflix and youtube. If I'm not writing the CPU usage according to the Windows task manager and SpeeFan stays <5%. If I hold a key down it will go up to almost 30%. If I go to youtube and start moving the mouse really fast it will be around 40%. Loading any page on my browser will get it to >50%.

It's been like this for at least 6 months. Can't ever watch a youtube video at 1080p smoothly even if it's fully loaded (so it's not my internet connection). Can't watch Netflix on HD either, it's always choppy and sometimes the video is delayed from the audio.

Does any of this has to do with my CPU being kinda old or is there something I should do to solve this?

EDIT: Playing Battlefield 4 on high settings the usage will be anywhere between 80% and 100%.

More about : cpu usage high phenom 970

a b à CPUs
September 16, 2014 3:45:47 PM

That's a bit old but still a solid CPU. For a bit of perspective, many people get by with less power even when buying computers of newer vintage. The first paragraph seems a bit odd. Are these quick spikes or does it stay elevated for a while when loading a page, for example?

I'd ask you to boot into safe mode with networking and try some things there (whatever works in safe mode) and compare CPU. If things are markedly better there, it may be time to reinstall the OS, or at least try to clean it out thoroughly.
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a b à CPUs
September 16, 2014 4:14:18 PM

Temps? Could be time for a thorough case blowout, clean and reaapply thermal paste.
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September 16, 2014 7:10:43 PM

Hi, thanks for your answers.

@jitpublisher : Mi temps are really fine since I installed my hyper 212 evo. It only goes over 40 when I'm playing.

@SchizTech : Atttached is a print screen of the task manager. The really high CPU usage is because I was playing BF4. It comes down to 10% or so after closing the game. Then I went to youtube and started miving the mouse and that's why it comes back up again for a little, ~40%. Then it's idle.

As you see it has spikes like crazy. On the second picture is the usage as I'm writing this.



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a b à CPUs
September 17, 2014 6:02:11 AM

It's normal for it to spike when active. Also the gaming graph doesn't look egregious and it's normal for there to be a brief spike when you start a new task, load a page, or whatnot. Youtube is a heavy flash based site, and flash is kind of notorious for eating up CPU too. Is your flash player up to date?

It's not too bad. You might still check things out in safe mode to get a comparison. A clean out of Windows (removing unneeded programs, cleaning files, etc) is good every now and then anyway. As to whether your CPU is sufficient, does it still perform to your satisfaction in games and such?
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a c 816 à CPUs
September 17, 2014 7:58:54 AM

Considering you are playing BF4, I would say your CPU is starting to show its age. That kind of cpu usage is not surprising at all for BF4.
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September 30, 2014 11:06:09 AM

SchizTech said:
It's normal for it to spike when active. Also the gaming graph doesn't look egregious and it's normal for there to be a brief spike when you start a new task, load a page, or whatnot. Youtube is a heavy flash based site, and flash is kind of notorious for eating up CPU too. Is your flash player up to date?

It's not too bad. You might still check things out in safe mode to get a comparison. A clean out of Windows (removing unneeded programs, cleaning files, etc) is good every now and then anyway. As to whether your CPU is sufficient, does it still perform to your satisfaction in games and such?


Yes, all it needed was a good clean up. I did all the cleaning steps on wikihow and now the cpu usage is considerably low. I have no lag in youtube or netflix.

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Computer-System
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Computer-Run-Faster

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