CPU usage monitoring

[gamer2525]

Hello all,

Lately, all of my games have not been running like they have been previously. I suspect that my CPU usage is the problem. When I was downloading a game yesterday and scrolling through facebook, my CPU usage was in the 90s and peaked at 100% a few times. How would I be able to look at my CPU usage while playing a game when my rig only has one monitor. I use MSI afterburner to monitor my CPU temps and they have been at around 78-82 degrees. Any help would be much appreciated. Have a great day!

 

[Omar Khan]

Not a solution to monitor usage at the same time as gaming with only one screen, but when you "alt tab" to go to an already open task manager, your game is still open and should still be giving load to your cpu while viewing task manager.

You can also just game in windowed mode so you can view both at the same time.

 

[Faktion]

Not a solution to monitor usage at the same time as gaming with only one screen, but when you "alt tab" to go to an already open task manager, your game is still open and should still be giving load to your cpu while viewing task manager.

You can also just game in windowed mode so you can view both at the same time.

Windowed mode will work but if you alt+tab out of a fullscreen game the usage is going to be far lower than while you were playing (for most games at least).

What are your specs, the games you are playing, the age of the PC, and how long ago did you change your thermal paste?

 

[spdragoo]

One of the nice things I like about CoreTemp is that it'll not only give you the CPU temp, but also show you the % use by core & their current frequency (i.e. indicating if it's idling or boosting).

 

[gamer2525]

Yes when I alt tab the usage is far lower. I have an AMD FX(tm)-4100 Quad-Core Processor, GeForce GTX 650 Ti BOOST on GK106 GPU, 8gigs of ddr3 ram, and a M5A97 R2.0 motherboard. Id say that the computer is around 3 years old. I have not changed the thermal paste in a while, but if I might get a new processor then should I change it? Shouldn't I just put new paste on a new CPU? I think I may get a new CPU.

 

[Faktion]

If you get a new CPU you wont have a choice and will have to put new paste on it.

I personally can not recommend upgrading any chip in the AM3 socket at this point. They are all lackluster performance wise and haven't come down in price to justify sacrificing the performance.

If you are going to upgrade you can still get Intel motherboard that support ddr3 in both the 1150 and 1151 sockets (the two newest generations) that way you do not have to purchase RAM as well.

Keeps the cost down a bit.


If you absolutely must upgrade your AM3 CPU and stay with the same socket.. the only real choices are the 8xxx 8-core CPUs. They are around $129-$179.

 

[gamer2525]

If you get a new CPU you wont have a choice and will have to put new paste on it.

I personally can not recommend upgrading any chip in the AM3 socket at this point. They are all lackluster performance wise and haven't come down in price to justify sacrificing the performance.

If you are going to upgrade you can still get Intel motherboard that support ddr3 in both the 1150 and 1151 sockets (the two newest generations) that way you do not have to purchase RAM as well.

Keeps the cost down a bit.


If you absolutely must upgrade your AM3 CPU and stay with the same socket.. the only real choices are the 8xxx 8-core CPUs. They are around $129-$179.

So basically if I decide to just get a new CPU, then go with the 8xxx 8-core CPUs and that will fix my problem. Or I could get a new mobo that supports the ddr3 ram i currently have.