CPU Usage Maxed Out - Any Ideas?

[AJAX]

Recently, I built a brand new computer and installed Windows Pro XP SP2 and every few minutes my computer freezes, it pauses, and then resumes processing normally. I opened task manager to see if the CPU usage and processes running had anything to do with it. What I found out is that whenever the computer pauses, the entire CPU bandwidth is consumed. However, I can not determine which process is causing the issue because whenever the computer pauses, task manager freezes as well until the lull is over. Does anyone have an idea what process might cause such an issue or a piece of software that can help me monitor the system and determine which process is causing the problem? Thanks in advance.

 

[pscowboy]

First suspect with freezes, for me, is graphics. Check the back of your unit at the monitor connection. Make sure you did not over tighten those hex nuts. Just snug them up.

If you were getting BSOD's, then you suspect memory or power supply.

Go up into Safe Mode for an hour or so, and see if the freezing stops. If yes, then it's the graphics driver (Safe Mode uses the Standard VGA driver). Go get the latest driver from the video manufacturer for your graphics system.

If no, & you have onboard - go up into the BIOS and disable it. Temporarily throw in an old card (borrow one if you have to). See if the freezing stops.

If you have a card, swap it out.

 

[AJAX]

As soon as I get a chance I'll try what you suggested. I have a brand new nVidia 8800 GTS graphics card and Direct X 9 installed.

The only reason why I think it was the CPU is because there were 100% CPU spikes on the scrolling graph whenever the computer froze.

By the way, I didn't recognize the acronym - what was meant by "BSODs."

 

[pscowboy]

Blue Screen Of Death

(Sometimes - Black Screen Of Death)

 

[pcjim]

This may help - check the event viewer - (it's within the control panel - administrative tools folder) Check both the system entries and the application entries - look for Red X entries. (those are not good) If you double click the entry you will get more information regarding the problem and sometimes even a link to microsoft knowledge base on that specific issue. another possibility may be winxp2 is not recognizing your chipset/ide configuration - the cd-rom that came with your motherboard most prob. has the drivers for that or the manufactures web site may have an updated revision.

 

[AJAX]

Thanks, that event viewer really helped. There were several applications that had a red X by them and several system errors that had the same thing. It appears that one of my CD drives seems to be malfunctioning as well as a couple of application errors. There are a ton of "cdrom" errors in the system error log. Looking on microsoft, it tells me to replace the cable. I have an IDE drive and a SATA drive. Is there any way I can tell which one it is referring to? It says it is on \Devices\cdrom1.

 

[pscowboy]

If you have two - unplug them both. See if the freezing thing no longer happens. Run the comp for awhile.

Plug one back in - run the comp for awhile. Etc

If you have an IDE cd\dvd drive, make very sure you have it jumpered correctly. If it's on a middle connection, sharing the ribbon cable, it has to be Slave. If it's on an end, it has to be Master.

IF YOU HAVE A DELL, it has to be cable select (the location doesn't matter).

A SATA drive is always its' own master - no jumpers.