Trying to understand if this is a Processor problem or not

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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when I use my computer, starting programs or even using normally the browser, sometimes the computer goes slow, unresponsive. now, I installed the AMD system monitor, since I have a AMD GPU it's useful to monitor not only processor and ram, but GPU too.
now, using browser, starting a program or something else makes all my 4 processor cores fly to 100% usage.
I have a i5 1.6Ghz with turbo boost, up to 2.6.
here, it tells me the ammount of usage each core is having. the speed varies, always jumping around, but never going further than 1800Mhz and less than 1500MHz. most of the time it stays fixed on 1800MHz.
I don't know what's wrong, I have FPS drops, usually would play games with an average 100FPS, now getting 50 is a miracle, sometimes I am forced to play with 10 FPS on online games. I am thinking it's because of this situation of the cores going 100% usage.
so, I am trying to understand if it's normal that when you open programs or use a program if it's normal that all cores can have - even just for a second - 100% usage.

here is a recording of AMD system monitor. during this time all the 4 cores went till 100% at least one time:

Metric Id,CPU Core1 Utilization,CPU Core1 Speed,CPU Core2 Utilization,CPU Core2 Speed,CPU Core3 Utilization,CPU Core3 Speed,CPU Core4 Utilization,CPU Core4 Speed,AMD Radeon R7 M265 Series Utilization,AMD Radeon R7 M265 Series Speed,AMD Radeon R7 M265 Series Memory Speed,
25/04/2017 01:19:46,18,1700,14,1700,15,1700,21,1700,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:47,30,1500,19,1500,30,1500,13,1500,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:48,31,1800,30,1800,36,1800,27,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:49,69,1800,78,1800,78,1800,87,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:50,98,1800,100,1800,100,1800,98,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:52,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:53,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:54,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:55,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:56,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:57,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:58,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:19:59,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,100,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:20:00,81,1700,81,1700,80,1700,86,1700,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:20:01,81,1800,83,1800,90,1800,81,1800,0,0,0,
25/04/2017 01:20:02,51,1800,44,1800,58,1800,64,1800,0,0,0,

as you can see here, the cores stayed at 100% for 7 seconds. I think this is what is making my computer to have low FPS and performance, being it on games or not.
meanwhile, I will go play a game to see if AMD system monitor responds to AMD GPU, so that I can know if it's working well.

anyone has any idea of all this?
 
Solution
browse over pcpartpicker.com. If you are not in the US, it's fine just browse one of the pc partpicker international mirror. e.g. ca.pcpartpicker.com is for Canadians, de.pcpartpicker.com for Germans, etc.

Anyway as far as asrock motherboard goes, some people swears by asus or gigabyte and never consider any other brand, but it's all personal preference, it's all about reputation. real trust worthy reputation or perceived trust worthy reputation.

if you want me to recommend a setup please give me a budget (how much you are willing to spend and which country in the world you are). and are you sure you want an intel system or an amd system?

Darthutos

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Sep 15, 2014
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are you accidentally running prime95 / running bitcoin or something similar in the background?
have you installed any software recently? gone to a new website recently?
Knowing nothing I'm leaning toward a virus problem. my recommendation is a clean reinstallation.
 

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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well, Last time I reinstalled windows 10 and the computer was working fine. I went to work, but I forgot the computer was ON. My mother clicked the power button to shut the PC down, but the computer Hibernated. it was hibernated for about 2 weeks. I use an SSD drive, and hibernation is not good with SSD's... anyway, when I reached home, I went to play a game and noticed this problem of low FPS and lower performance compared, in the time, to 2 weeks before.
Reinstalled windows again, but the problem persisted.
the computer runs smootly and as it should when the Cores are less than 30% in use. the problem is really when they suddently jump to over 60%, it it's only 1 core or 2, I can't even notice the difference... but when all 4 go to 100% there is a very noticeable drop of performance. when this does not happens, feels like I don't have a problem at all, the computer is smooth and fast.
 

Darthutos

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first thing to do after windows installation is cmd administrative mode powercfg -h off. it disables hibernation and save you space on ssd like maybe 30 gb or so.

when you reinstalled windows did you format first or did you just reinstalled it over the old system? If you formatted first, and the problem persisted, maybe more of a hardware problem. go into uefi/bios and load optimize default. then make sure your sata mode is still correct, reboot.
 

IHateSmurfs

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Mar 10, 2017
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Format your OS Drive and reinstall Windows. Reinstall everything and install AVG AntiVirus and SpyBot, run a full system check after you download the malware signatures inside the app, and you are ready to go! Hope I helped you!
 

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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I can't really remember, but usually when I format the computer I enter the advanced mode on the installation and I remove all partitions, making the SSD empty with no partitions. only then I go forward on the windows instalation.
but sure thing is, this problem started when the computer stayed hibernated for those 2 weeks, when I arived the computer was super slow, so I formated it and that's when I started having the problem. but, with this yesterday discoveries, I am now not sure if this can be a processor, GPU or SSD problem.

besides, yesterday I did everything I could: reinstalled older driver version, checked for malware, cleaned the pc, tweaked windows 10 services and regedit, etc, but on AMD system monitor I still can't find proof of life about the AMD GPU.
CPUID HWMonitor could sense something: from the 3 values one of them went till 50% when playing a game. the AMD program that changes GPU's according to the need of power has a monitor too. I made it monitor and games were using the AMD GPU, despite AMD system monitor does not shows it.

anyway, I guess I will put Gparted into a flashdrive, format the SSD drive with 2 or 3 passes and than install windows again. it's the only thing I can think of now...
 

Darthutos

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Sep 15, 2014
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what about a good run of memtest?
make sure you have it run for at l east one pass
did your screen turn red from memory error?
also try clear cmos. change jumper position (two minutes from 1 2 position to 2 3 position and back) or remove battery for an hour or two.
disconnect everything and build your computer from scratch (using the same ingredient, obviously)
 

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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also tried a memtest, memtest86+ or something like that, it comes with UBCD. it showed no problems at all...
screen is always fine, no red or blue colors, no errors... I don't know what tha heck is CMOS... gonna search it online. that stuff about jumper position, what is that? my battery is dead, this is a notebook, but I use it as desktop. a mobile desktop haha.
building from scratch... the only things I am able to do is to separate the screen from the other parts, take out the vent, and all that... all the other things, like processor and GPU's are part of the motherboard, they can't be removed.
 

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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I don't think it's a factory faulty cpu. a friend of mine also has this problem.
we both have Acer computer, same model: Aspire. the difference is that my model is Aspire E1-572g, and he's is Aspire 6930 I think.
also there's another thing that I can remember now, we both started to have this problem more or less after the computer made a year on our hands...
those are the unique 2 things relating us, the same model of computer and the time when the problem started.
but we are rare cases, I've been asking on other sites and all and nobody can answer me about why this happened or even give me a clue of what can cause a problem like this...
 

FixxeS

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May 23, 2016
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well, maybe it's time to send this computer to trash and buy a desktop. desktop are easy to build, easy to repair and last longer!
I can build the PC my self, I have tools and all that, but I have no money (for now) to buy decent hardware... I would want to buy hardware that can be used for more than 2 years and that can run pretty much everything, from Blade & Soul to high end games like watch dogs or GTA V, passing through Photoshop, etc.
can you, since you understand more of desktop world, recommend me nice series of hardware to buy? I am really bad doing that, have no experience... once said to a friend: I will put a i5 3.40GHz into a 40€ Asrock motherboard... he said: don't use an asrock... me: well they fit, they are compatible... and here he explained me a bunch of variables like speed and quality or something...

besides, my damn Phone is more powerful than my computer LOL, I have a deca-core Phone (Helius X20) with 4GB ram and one of the best GPU's on the mobile world... so I don't even need a laptop, the phone is better - and smaller.
 

Darthutos

Reputable
Sep 15, 2014
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browse over pcpartpicker.com. If you are not in the US, it's fine just browse one of the pc partpicker international mirror. e.g. ca.pcpartpicker.com is for Canadians, de.pcpartpicker.com for Germans, etc.

Anyway as far as asrock motherboard goes, some people swears by asus or gigabyte and never consider any other brand, but it's all personal preference, it's all about reputation. real trust worthy reputation or perceived trust worthy reputation.

if you want me to recommend a setup please give me a budget (how much you are willing to spend and which country in the world you are). and are you sure you want an intel system or an amd system?
 
Solution