Last core of CPU very high usage

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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Hello all. I just was messing around with my brother's computer and I noticed that when I go to the task manager and click the performance tab it shows his last core always being used(looks like 100%). The cpu is an AMD Phenom x3 720. I had the 4th core unlocked and had been running ok. Well I thought maybe that core has finally gave out so I went back into the BIOS and put it back to default 3 core and it still does it. I see no processes running that would be using it. Any ideas??? I've never noticed that before. I did just replace his dead ASUS 6870 with my old Shappire HD7950 Vapor-X card, would that cause something like this? I know the CPU isn't the best for this video card but needed to do something. Thanks for any input!
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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If 1 core is running at ~100% and no apps are running, or nothing shows up in task manager/processes that is in high usage, I would consider a virus or malware. Update the virus signatures for your virus app and run a FULL scan. Then run Malwarebytes and do the same. https://www.malwarebytes.org/
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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OK going to try that, I went into the resource monitor in windows(7 SP1 x64) and the only thing that has anything under CPU(guessing that's usage) is system interrupts and that number bounces between 23 and 31. This is weird.... Thanks for the reply, will be back to report....
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Well I ran all kinds of things and nothing but some cookies were found. I've taken the overclock off and it's still the same. Could it be that one of the other non-locked cores would be going bad, does this point to pretty much a failing cpu? It's a real noggin scratcher.... It's a pretty fresh install of Windows, about 3 weeks ago I did a wipe and reinstall. Could that maybe help if I'd do it again? Thanks again for your time!
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I suppose it is possible. I've worked with that processor and many other K10 AMD CPUs and never had that happen. If your BIOS allows, start disabling the 3 cores one at a time and reboot to Win. See if the issue is still present. If it is still there when you get down to one core, I'd be scratching my head too.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Well I went thru and disabled cores one at a time, different orders, etc.... Nothing, even with the main single core activated by itself it still makes that one core run all the time(looking at the performance tab in task manager). Should there be a reason that that happens? I really appreciate you trying to help me out. I have googled soooo much I see the words google when I close my eyes LOL!!!
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I'd like to see the screenshot of
1) the wild core when the system is completely idle.
2) the processes running sorted by CPU usage down. (be sure to click on 'show all processes'.)
Can you post it?
Also, try booting to safe mode and see what it shows for CPU usage. See if it is the same thing.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Hello again. Sorry been running around a lot. Here is that screen shot, hope you can see it ok.

BUtFydS.jpg


That number by System interrupts always stays at 29-32(bounces around a lot)
 
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clutchc

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That core isn't running at 100% at the desktop, it is only at 33%. Probably something in the background hogging clock cycles. Start disabling stuff in the tray and see if it drops. Then go to System Configuration/Startup and start unchecking boxes that aren't needed, reboot and see if it drops.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Ok well I thought it was cause the line in the graph was all the way up.... Anyhow, I tried disabling everything I could think of and nothing helped.. I did go over to my buddy's house who has the same cpu/mb and checked his resource monitor and all his cores are idle and his system interrupts are 0 also(maybe bounces to 1 but right back to 0). I'm no expert but seems like this problem is due to failing hardware? Thanks a bunch for your time and help! much appreciated.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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I'm going to be upgrading my CPU/MB here in the next few days so I'm just gonna let him have my old 6300 and MB. Just eliminate the whole thing lol, it's was a great cpu but time to retire it(the x3 cpu). Thanks much again for your time and help very much appreciated. Have a grand day/night. :)
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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Sorry I couldn't be more help. But there has to be some reason that Task Manager is showing that much usage. I don't think failing hdwr. could cause that. The CPU is using clock cycles. Something is causing it to process data. Failing hdwr. won't do that.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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No problem! I just glad there are people out there that offer the help!! It is weird tho isn't it? I'm gonna yank the video card I just replaced out of it and put the old one back in just for the heck of it and see. I never noticed this behavior before the video card swap(not that I really looked before tho). Let ya know... Thanks a lot.

Side note(off topic) I see you have the i5-4690K. How she been doing? That's the CPU I'm eying for replacing my 6300 replacement. I was gonna upgrade video card but was told I should go "blue". Just curious.
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I had a OC'ed FX-8350/Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 system with this same gfx card before. I could never quite play Crysis 3 at its max settings @ 1080p before w/o some stutter and lag. I can now. I guess the card just needed a processor with a faster IPS to keep up with it. I only mention that as an example of the improvement I got by switching to an Intel platform. I still love AMD and am hoping they have some kind of breakthru in the near future to catch up with Intel.
 
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Dougf1972

Dougf1972

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Cool thanks for the info. I'm pretty excited to do the upgrade. I can play stuff now with pretty good eye candy but often get lots of stutter/lag. I think the Shapphire 7950 Vapor-x with boost and the 6300 will be a good combo for my brother(considering what he has now). BTW I moved the 7950 to the other PCIE slot with the same results, so I popped in an older 6870 similar to his old one and it still did the same thing so I guess it wasn't the swapping of video cards. Well I'll stop rambling, thank you again for your time, ideas, and nicenesss(is that a word? lol)!
 
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